Was I being unreasonable or were they?

[Musicforthemasses18]

So I was at the front of a cafe queue ordering with my kids. Dd 6 was just on her way to the only free table in the cafe when the people behind us, who were yet to order, ran out in front of her to take possession of the table. I could see this happening & so said loudly, go & sit down to my DD- which she did. The people behind then got the hump and loudly said- well I guess we can’t sit there now.

My view is that if I am in the middle of ordering & there is only one table, then I have priority over the table as I am paying for my stuff. It’s bloody rude to table jump in front of me when you haven’t even ordered. It’s a tiny little cafe with 3 tables inside & a couple outside.

Aibu or were they?

So if someone was paying for their food, and you hadn’t even ordered, you’d go and take the only free table in the cafe. confused that is entitled. And really really rude.

Of course. It’s the only practical way, for reasons I’ve detailed above. How would I be to know whether they’re queuing to buy food to eat in or takeaway? You don’t order unless you have a table, that’s just basic logic. Or you’re screwed if you receive your meal and there’s nowhere to sit

I would assume if they needed a table they’d have gotten one before ordering rather than take a chance on one being free when it’s too late to go elsewhere.

Or you’re screwed if you receive your meal and there’s nowhere to sit

Eh so is the person who bothered to order, pay and then get a table by your logic.

Rude.

Defend it and do it as you please. It doesn’t make you less rude.

But they know full well that ordering without a table means they might end up with nowhere to sit. They’ve chosen to take that risk. It doesn’t make any sense to me, but it’s their right to do it anyway.

It’s genuinely surprising to me that you find this rude. Are you able to recognise that to someone who sees getting a table first as the normal thing to do, it’s not remotely rude? That two customers can have different ‘norms’ as to how to approach this? Literally everyone I know would do the same and assume that’s the normal way to approach it. Are they all somehow rude despite it being what everyone else does?

Position in queue is irrelevant, they were cheeky though, but you won out.

They were extremely cheeky.

I think it's rude to take a table before ordering because if everyone did that, tables would be needed for longer and fewer people would get to eat in.

Order and then sit, unless there are signs or staff telling you to do otherwise.

Are you able to recognise that to someone who sees getting a table first as the normal thing to do, it’s not remotely rude?

I am able to understand when I’m being patronised by someone unwilling to admit to their own rudeness.

Nobody does it where I live as standard, anyone who tries tends to find out its pretty rude.

You’re an odd duck, Ye. You sound very prickly and miserable. Quite ironic that you’re calling somebody else rude!

HalfDivided if you say so.

Still think it’s properly rude to snag the last table when you’ve not even ordered, especially if you’re pushing past a little kid to do it.

But hey, you’re happy with being that person, own it.

I sincerely hope someone pulls you up on it in future though. Remember this thread when they do eh?