To think coffee shops should bring back the newspapers

[dottypotter]

Dont go to coffee shops much but always remember they had papers to read while you were in there.

Been going in a few times lately and realised no papers. I asked and they said they dont do them anymore!

Why does everything have to be cut out? Not everyone wants to be playing on their phone? Surely part of a coffee shop is to have a paper?

No i dont want to buy a paper before anyone says? It should be provided? Everything is always taken away. Coffee shops and a newspaper go together!!!

Coffee shops always provided a paper for a customer

Well, some did, but it was never universal

And in straightened times, it's one of the things that can go.

The rise of the smartphone has contributed as well.

Magazines and newspapers are completely different. Todays newspapers aren't relevant tomorrow, hence why they're released daily.

Magazines aren't about current affairs.
Some hairdressers only replace them every 3 months or so.

I agree that it was nice and I miss them. I suppose the crux of the matter is that I haven't stopped going in there and buying a coffee since they stopped providing them so they're not losing custom due to not having free newspapers in there. So it's an easy cost cutting measure that probably doesn't impact sales. It's a shame though.

My hairdresser has stopped having magazines and it’s a wounder! I don’t buy glossies but I used to like a cheeky flick through. They do still make me a cup of tea though.

Well it depends doesn't it. If it's Starbucks they probably won't miss the OP but if its a local independent they are more likely to miss a regular customer. The opinion of an individual customer matters much more to some than others.

How many newspapers would an independent coffee shop be expected to provide? One of each? Two of each? Delivery cost? It's all expense, and I wouldn't have thought it was worth it.

I don't remember seeing them in coffee shops. I haven't read an actual paper in 10 years or more. Most places provide free wifi which is the modern equivalent of newspapers - wifi isn't actually free of course!

Totally. I pay over £100 a month at a gym and we always used to have newspapers. I asked the manager about this and she said it’s a cost saving measure. Short sighted if you ask me as I used to go on a Sunday, pay for breakfast in the lounge and read the paper, then have a swim, then back to the lounge for coffee, May end up staying for lunch. Now I’m just in and out for a swim. I can’t be the only one.

Why eat into their profits when then don't have to ? It's just another thing we've got used to
You want one , you buy one

How do you know most people are happy to bring a book. Have you asked everyone who goes to coffee shops?

Well it depends doesn't it. If it's Starbucks they probably won't miss the OP

I don't think the chains ever provided free newspapers.

Cafe Nero sells The Times at weekends (or at least my nearest one does)

just two papers would be fine!

When you pay over £100 pm for gym membership you can stretch to buying yourself a Sunday newspaper.

just two papers would be fine!

Which two? That's not many for a whole cafe is it?

just two papers would be fine!

And if somebody else is reading them?

No they arent out of date magazines at all, New ones. Come to think of it the dentis waiting room used to buy magazines as well.

you wait of course. Not expecting them to provide a paper for everyone. Just a couple.

So you would like a staff member, every day, to take time out of serving in the shop to purchase two newspapers, for customers who may want to read them?

Odd thread replies. I'm completely with you OP. In my local area newspapers in cafes had disappeared when they reopened after covid, understandably for germ reasons. I thought they would return but not yet. I haven't asked though. In one of the cafes the rack to hold them is still on the wall, empty. I loved a coffee with a newspaper- often I'd choose one I wouldn't normally buy to get a different view on the world. As it is I only really go to the cafe now that has a book swap shelf and do my best with that. I think it probably a small outgoing for the cafe that recoups the money back.

better than none at all.

A small bookshelf with used books you could borrow or leave would be a nice alternative. No current affairs but a bit more homely.

What did they do before when they did provide them? They managed. Someone got them!

Just go back to doing that!!

We're in a different world to the one we lived in three years ago. Costs have gone up so much (including the cost of the papers themselves). And coffee isn't a high margin game, never was.

I'm sure lots of coffee shops would love to lay out papers again but I think the bald truth is that they can't afford to.

Thank you op, you’ve just brought back lovely memories of sitting in Les Deux Magots, sipping extraordinarily thick chocolate and reading the newspaper on a stick.

Well it would be part of their job, so there wouldn't be an issue.

So you would like a staff member, every day, to take time out of serving in the shop to wipe the tables for customers who may want to sit at them?