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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Today I experiencing the coffee shop dilemma which is always discussed on here

98 replies

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 28/03/2015 22:35

Went to costa. In the queue on my own. Looking around, several free tables, other parties join queue and one member grabs table. As I'd paid for my drink the one vacant table I was banking on was swiped by someone who's friend was at the back of the queue.
Man I was pissed off. And the first thing I thought of was this place!

OP posts:

Strongerthanyoucounton · 30/03/2015 08:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shapebandit · 30/03/2015 09:03

I normally try to stick to the get your drink first THEN find a table rule (which is actually printed on posters in some places as a request), I don't get annoyed if older people or little children etc sit down first though while someone else is in the line. I've sat down first when I had younger babies that needed feeding straight away.
I did have a situation recently that I thought took the piss a bit though.
My family (5 of us) walked into coffee shop at same time as group of 3 older people. Only one table free, 2 of the older people legged it to grab the table, we all joined queue to get drinks. Just as we got our drinks a bigger table just became free which would fit all 5 of us. We headed over to it. At which point, the 2 older people (with no drinks yet) got up from the smaller table and literally jumped in front of me to sit at the bigger table. I did say something (politely) but the lady was insistent that she wanted that table and had sat down first so it was hers. Even though there were 5 of us standing there with trays of food and drink and there were 2 people now sitting at a table for 5 (without any drinks yet) while an empty table for 2 sat next to them.
I told her she was incredibly rude (was a bit Gobsmacked) and in the end several people nearby who all saw and who sympathised with us switched around tables so that we ended up with 2 2 person tables next to each other so we could squeeze on together.
Surely it's common courtesy to consider others!

padkin · 30/03/2015 09:15

It happened to me yesterday. On my own, queued up to get lunch (Costa, I think). It was about half full with 5 or 6 tables available. I didn't have a coat, and wasn't going to leave my handbag across the other side of the room, and in any case I think it's incredibly rude, so I queued.

As I reached the front of the queue and ordered, various couples behind me had split and went to reserve tables so that all the tables were taken. I moved to the serving station and was given my coffee, and I just stood there waiting for my toastie as there was nowhere to sit. It does really really annoy me. So I stayed at the serving station, not moving my tray (a bit passive aggressive, but I didn't want to pick it up and then be left wandering with a heavy tray and nowhere to put it...). Then the nice serving girl asked me to move it as the next order was ready, (an order for someone who had already bagged a table, I might add). I told her there was nowhere for me to sit at present so I was waiting until there was. She looked out over at the tables full of people sitting with nothing in front of them and sighed. Then my toastie arrived, but I still didn't move as I still had nowhere to go and sit. She then went and moved a table out of a corner where it couldn't be accessed and squeeeeezed it into a space where there wasn't really room, and offered it to me.

I don't know what the answer is, but the debate continues. I think maybe the cafés should be clearer on what they think is acceptable, and then customers can stick to their rules....

Sparklingbrook · 30/03/2015 09:46

Now they all have free wi-fi it seems to encourage people to hang around longer than they usually would. I imagine they think people will buy more food/drink but is that the case?

MsJudgementalPants · 30/03/2015 10:01

I think it's common sense to bag a table first, but only a table that's the right size for your party. What really pisses me off are the people sat there with their book/paper, who have finished their drink, and sit there oblivious of the people waiting.

ZingEasteryName · 30/03/2015 10:30

haha hazeyjane did you start a row because they touched your propert?

when on holiday, do you get up at 4am to bag a chair by the pool with your towel as well? that is a whole other sport. should be an Olympic number

pictish · 30/03/2015 10:36

I'm a believer in bagging tables first as well. Sorry. If I've got the kids with me, there's no way I'm paying and staying without a seat. I agree it is a bum deal for people on their own though.

Higgle · 30/03/2015 10:42

An 88 year old mother with a stick who walks quite slowly is a good companion if you want to go table bagging - no one ever objects to her holding a table for us!

OP just be grateful you don't live in Stroud, a town which has many more cafes and small restaurants than you might expect because they are all stuffed with people who manage to loll across 5 seater sofas entirely on their own, hog whole tables for them and their lap tops all morning and bag entire tables for weeks at a time for them and their friends ( in one café I'm sure you need membership to ever sit at the round table by the door. )

Bambambini · 30/03/2015 10:44

Shape bandit - I just find that strange. The 5 of you stand in a queue and order food and drink even though there are no tables? I would just move on somewhere else tbh.

yearofthegoat · 30/03/2015 10:54

In Singapore tables are bagged by placing a small packet of tissues on them while queuing. Teens often study in Starbucks, McDonalds etc and charging points for laptops are provided. They get a drink then sit doing their homework. I don't think I've ever seen anyone in England doing their homework in a cafe/fast food joint, but it is commonplace here. Amazingly managers/other customers don't seem to mind.

hazeyjane · 30/03/2015 10:57

Next time I am going to bag the table by leaving a nappy bag on the chair with one of ds's soiled nappies in it.

WorraLiberty · 30/03/2015 11:00

I don't think I believe some of the non table holders here.

I mean if you and say 3 of your friends walked into McDonalds with kids in buggies, how on earth would you manage without asking one of the adults to sit at a table with the kids?

Would you seriously all queue individually (thus making the queues much longer), and then teeter around, balancing a tray full of food and drinks in one hand and pushing the buggy with the other? Really?

In all my 45 years on this earth I have never see this and if I ever do, I'll be sure to get my phone out and capture it

ZingEasteryName · 30/03/2015 11:00

Don't bother with a nappy. you need a big jar, broken in half with a label "snake". put it on the table, in a bag and watch it while queuing. as soon as someone touches it you start screaming hysterically about how they broke your table, allowing your poisonous snake to escape.
I guarantee you will clear some space

ZingEasteryName · 30/03/2015 11:01

*broke your jar

BinToHellAndBack · 30/03/2015 11:05

I'm always torn on this issue.

What's needed is a numbering system so that when you walk in the door you take a number for a specific table. It's therefore saved until you get to it with you drinks (or some of your party can go straight to table if wanted).

When you leave, you put your number back for someone else entering.

Simple!

hazeyjane · 30/03/2015 11:08

Honestly zing, if it came down to a poisonous snake and one of ds's nappies, you'd choose the snake.

BananaDrama34 · 30/03/2015 11:19

I recently queued in a cafe with my pfb in a pushchair & there were lots of tables free. By the time I'd paid though, all free tables had been taken by people with friends in the queue. I was trying to find somewhere to sit when a lady with two children told me I could sit with them. She then offered to hold my screaming pfb so I could eat my dinner while it was still hot. I was so grateful to her.

SignoraStronza · 30/03/2015 11:24

Sounds like a terrible dilemma. I spent five years being able to walk into a cafe and be acknowledged/served immediately (I've no idea why this is such an impossible feat in the UK) no matter how busy the place is, so tend to avoid anywhere with a queue.

Jayne35 · 30/03/2015 12:00

I'm not a table bagger and I do find it annoying, especially in places like Mcdonalds where people eat food quite quickly so the tables clear fast anyway, by the time you have been served you can normally sit down.

muminhants · 30/03/2015 12:15

Oh no another thread about this yet I am inexplicably drawn to comment!

If I am on my own, I do any of the following (a) grab a coffee and go elsewhere (back to office/to a park bench etc) (b) go to a cafe with waitress service (c) go to a cafe with self-service but lots of empty tables.

If I am with friends/family one of us gets drinks/food, the rest sit down.

In some self-service places you go to counter, they take your order and bring it to your table so you need to have chosen your table beforehand anyway.

And it makes no sense to have 5 people in the queue when 4 people can sit down and one order the food and drinks.

ZingEasteryName · 30/03/2015 12:21

hazeyjane

almost 14 years of non-stop nappy changing (of 1, 2 or 3 kids), I'm almost immune to nappies. even the rucksack poos don't phase me anymore

hazeyjane · 30/03/2015 12:28

....even a near 5year olds poo, after 10 sachets of movicol....

WizardOfToss · 30/03/2015 12:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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