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.

@GoodChat that’s a very good point.

That's absolutely insane. Imagine standing there expecting staff to find you somewhere to sit.

I just don't get this at all. It's absolutely normal where I am for someone to get a table, someone else to queue.

I'm usually on my own. Yes it's a bit frustrating if I think there's a table & then there isn't - but I'm usually just getting a coffee so I'll join another table with a space or wait a bit.

That would be considered cheeky where I am - maybe it's a regional / cultural difference!

If I was that woman I would have sat right there with you

Because if there’s someone in the queue in front of you buying food and drink and only one free table it’s obvious they’re in front of you. To grab that table first because there are two of you and you can is selfish and you absolutely know you’re nabbing the table from someone who’s getting served before you. Places often have signs up saying don’t do it. The fact that so many people do it doesn’t mean it’s ok, just that lots of people are selfish and inconsiderate.

I think it’s cheeky to bag tables when it’s crowded tbh, but this has been done loads of times on MN and it always comes out split.

Reading more of the posts, it seems a lot of people on their own think they should have a table to themselves? It obviously depends on how busy it is, but I would never expect to have a table to myself in a busy coffee shop, and am happy to share someone else's. The one I go to has a counter area too so I'll usually sit there so people in twos / groups can sit at the tables.

I absolutely want a table to myself if I can get one. I’ll let someone take the other chair / share it if needed, and I’ll leave as soon as I’ve finished, but I’m not going to sit at the counter or intrude on someone else if I don’t have to.

Because if there’s someone in the queue in front of you buying food and drink and only one free table it’s obvious they’re in front of you. To grab that table first because there are two of you and you can is selfish and you absolutely know you’re nabbing the table from someone who’s getting served before you.

How about if the person in front of you is waiting for their panini to cook and in that time you're served with your cup of coffee? Do you have to wait still because they were served first but just happen to have ordered something that takes longer to prepare?

How are you supposed to know if the person in front of you is eating in or taking away?

Exactly the same in mcdonalds in my town.If you're not fast you're last around here.

Except that one person on here has said even if a coat is reserving the table they'd sit there anyway. I suspect if it were a person not a coat they wouldn't just sit down.

I really hate this, things would work so nicely if people just selected a table and sat down when they had their food/drinks!

In the current system (which most people follow) tables are wasted as people sit there reserving them, whilst sometimes people have food and no where to sit. It seems bonkers to me and makes no sense. There are actually signs in a few places round here (subway is one) saying not to do it.

I almost had this problem yesterday until I saw the cafe had a new idea. As you arrive you take a 'reserved' card and place it on a table. You then go up and order and they bring the order to you at your table. This is great for me as a single person because it means my table doesn't get pinched. Someone can't just move your card and sit down because it's your order being delivered to that spot.

How do you all know that the purple queuing aren't getting a takeaway? Is that a London thing? You'd have no idea from an average queue how many actually need a table. Meanwhile the extra coats, bags and humans are far better tucked away on a table than filling up the queue. If I'm solo then usually I'll just pick someone to share with if the tables are full. The vast majority of humans are friendly.

In places where you have to queue to buy drinks, it's very very common that people will take a table before queuing to ensure they have one before going and ordering.

They aren't "pushing in" as they are joining behind you in the line to order. How would they know if you are expecting a table, taking out sitting with someone etc?

I really don't understand why people get so aggrieved over this topic which appears so frequently.

I'm not going to queue up for ages and order food and drink only to have nowhere to sit and eat it afterwards so if I'm on my own I tend to avoid busy places, or sit at a table first then queue leaving something there.

No they wouldn't people would be wandering around with full trays?! It would be better if people came in, had a table ordered and then took their food to a table. What if there are families of 5 with kids all queuing up not able to sit down? Bonkers goings on.

And many places have signs up to state the obvious 'find a table before ordering' & many places you need to give your table number.

the 25% that get a tray full of food then stand around looking like dorks, pressuring people to leave, are the ones that need to stop swimming upstream.

it's not selfish or inconsiderate to get a table in a cafe.

It’s not unusual to grab a table whilst one person gets the order? How were they to know what proportion of the queue were takeout/eat in? It doesn’t sound like being purposefully rude? In tiny places I’d usually assume most were takeout. Not malicious?

I checked yesterday in my local coffee shop (independent) it says please find a table before you order! No it's not pushing in, it's sensible

@PinkTonic my local independent takes your table number when you pay so you must grab a table before you queue! The number of people getting takeaways is negligible especially in winter

I park myself at a table while the other orders, or they park themselves at one while I order.
If you queue for food / drink without bagging a table first in a busy place then you can't find a seat, it's your problem not mine.

It’s irrelevant if you take your turn.

I just cant fathom the logic of going to a busy cafe, ordering and then just hoping you can find a table.

of course you reserve your table before ordering!