Queue jumping in cafés

[JoanThursday1972]

I was in a queue buying coffee to take out today. It was practically full and in front of me was a man by himself buying a sandwich and tea to stay in, and one available table only.

Two women came in behind me, one swanned off and took the only spare table whilst her friend bought the drinks.

Basically they'd pushed in. I think it's extremely rude. I didn't see what happened as I got my takeaway coffee and left. I do hope he challenged them though.

ooooh it's getting like Covid/CoL/Govt shenanigans never existed, all the old regular threads popping up again!!

there are 2 schools of thought, there will always be 2 schools of though. Neither side will convert the other!

My opinion:

prefer to go somewhere with table service, but when that's not an option..

Put your bag, coat, book, laptop, whatever on the chair/table, then get your food/drink. I'm not buying it if I can't sit down.

That's classic CF behaviour. I feel sorry for the lone man who lost his seat.

The same type of CF will pull right up to the automatic car wash at the petrol station, then HOP OUT to go buy their ticket in the shop, leaving their car unattended at the entrance of the car wash. Meanwhile, people who had arrived shortly before the CF and had dutifully bought their ticket before driving their car into to the wash queue are now forced to wait behind the CF's car while he or she strolls back from the shop.

Phew I feel better now

That's generally how it works at cafes... at least for the last 20 years at least. Nobody's table is guaranteed unless you reserve it with a bag/coat/scarf before going to order.

They didn't jump the queue. They got a table first to make sure they would have somewhere to sit.

Then they need to learn the 'usual practice' otherwise it's like driving the wrong way up the motorway.

Why not just go home and have a cup of tea there and save a load of money?

He didn't 'lose his seat' it was never his to lose.

it's not CF, it's 'usual practice'.

I'd have thought you extremely odd for doing that.

People aren't to know who in the queue needs a table, but if you see someone with a tray looking for a table before you have food/drink then you should offer the table.

This is one of those morally indefensible things that 75% of the population tells themselves is acceptable because they want to be able to get away with it themselves, like second home ownership or eating all the Malteasers out of a shared tub of Celebrations. You're not wrong but you have to decide if it's the hill you want to socially die on.

In fairness to the ladies, some cafes have signs up and/encourage you to only order once you have a table to avoid this very thing happening. Perhaps they have become so accustomed to this that that's how they 'know' coffee shops to work.

Some shops also tell you not to reserve tables before ordering so it's definitely down to the shop to instruct customers how they operate. If shops don't go one way or the other, then people are left cross and confused when people do the 'other' thing to them.

@Bagsundermyeyestoday

morally indefensible

😂😂😂😂

if 75% of people do it one way, why do you think the 25% are in the right?

Totally the norm to find a table, reserve it either by one of the party sitting at it or by putting your coat/bag there, and then join the queue for food and/or drink.

There is no way I am spending good money on hot drinks & food without a place to sit first.

The notion that this is queue jumping is absurd.

I take a couple of carrier bags put one inside the other and 'pouffe' it out, so it looks as though it's shopping.
I put the bag plus a free newspaper, on a chair to 'reserve' it, while I get served.

This is usually in my local M&S cafe, where the 'gangs of two' are rife.

Hat, coat, shopping bag! Something that’s yours on the table! I have learnt the hard way….

@WinterMusings because I'm in the 25%, obviously.

It's not queue jumping, it's normal behaviour in many cafes.

The coffee shop where my DD works advises customers to find a table before coming to the counter to order.

Ah, the best thing to do, if you are not a CF and have therefore queued, but find yourself then with food and no table … march straight over to one of the tables with a CF sitting there and make yourself at home. Sit down with your tray, smile sweetly, chat away. They will then go and join their friend in the queue.

I regularly go to cafes and coffee shops alone, and if they're busy I often feel a bit stressed while queuing that I might not be able to find a table. I'm usually in a busy town/city so everywhere is busy so I can't just find somewhere quieter. Seems most people on here are happy for people to save a table so in smaller places I think I'll do as others are doing and leave a coat or other belonging at a table to save it for myself as soon as I arrive. I've never done it because I thought I'd annoy people in front of me in the queue but seems I was wrong and they won't mind.

What if you are in a big group of five or 6 people, including impatient small children? Does everyone still have to stand in the queue? 🤔

I think it's first come first served on tables. It's a dog eat dog world in my local Costa.

I don't think there is any rule with tables. I would always grab a table if out with a friend while she queues. The queue and the table part are entirely different parts of the cafe and being first in the queue does not guarantee you a table. You have to work that out / risk it / save it with a coat.

I had no idea people weren't doing this. Why would you stand in the queue silently fuming that others are getting the tables. Just save a table!

Ha ha it was never 'his seat.' I just can't fathom how anyone can think using your head and guaranteeing yourself a seat is cheeky. Fuming in the queue in anticipation of being pipped to the post is daft

Have you all never sat your children and granny down and queued up? My Nan doesn't queue with me, ever. She sits. Is that cheeky? This is so funny

This annoys me I have a young child with me. I can’t leave them alone at a table unless I can see it at all points in the queue.

However someone comes in at the back of the queue and reserves a table. Drives me mad esp as our local costa can take 10mins to get down the queue at times

@badgermushrooms yes I will die in it and would like everyone to join me. It's the only way

@user143677434 now that is cheeky!