For thinking a cafe should not be asking for donation's from their customer’s

81 replies

Bambooparty · 19/01/2025 21:19

Would love to hear other opinions on this .

Lovely little cafe near to where I live. Overinflated prices, but I don’t mind paying as it’s small local business with good coffee. Owners are mid 20’s.

It’s busy all the time, they pay staff, have lots of corporate clients etc.

I was quite shocked when I went in today as there were quite a few posters asking for donations for a kitchen renovation. They had QR code which directed us to a site asking for them to help pay for a new kitchen, stove, flooring etc. and help with costs as they will be closed for a week.

AIBU for thinking this should be something they should save or ask the bank for a loan ?

OP posts:

gamerchick · 20/01/2025 13:34

Meh, shy bairns get nowt.

You don't have to donate.

LarkinAboot · 20/01/2025 13:43

I think a poster asking is fair enough, I wouldn't do it myself and i would be unlikely to donate but it's no different to a tip jar really.

I think if they were asking at point of sale I would stop going in though. They're not doing that.

I do agree it's a bit cringe but it's rough for businesses out there at the moment.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 20/01/2025 14:04

DalzielOrNoDalzielAndDontPascoe · 20/01/2025 10:49

Have they actually said why the new kitchen is essential to the business, and how the current one is unworkable? Or do they just fancy jazzing it up with something a bit funkier?

I don't know the owners of this particular cafe, nor their needs or motives; but it's surprising how many people there are out there who summarily fail to understand the difference between a need and a want.

I know it's an extreme example, but I'll never forget the young woman I saw on one of those 'I'm struggling with money and don't know what very obvious changes to make to my spending' TV programmes a number of years ago. She had just bought herself a brand new Mercedes on credit, and was now in a seriously bad way financially. It turns out that she'd bought herself a new Merc (same model) one year previously, but they'd just slightly changed the shape/styling of that model, and she genuinely couldn't understand how that didn't mean that her current 1yo car had now been rendered obsolete and useless.

Edited

I can't watch that kind of programme as I start shouting at the TV. I caught a few minutes of one once where the presenters were explaining that if you buy a whole chicken and roast it, you don't have to throw away what's left at the end of the meal. You can pick the rest of the meat off, put it in the fridge and use it for other meals. The couple concerned (well on the way to middle age) seemed amazed. (Yes, I know everyone on Mumsnet is aware of the fabled Mumsnet chicken which can feed a family of 12 for a month, but this pair clearly weren't MNers.)

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 20/01/2025 14:08

NotThatPhotoAgain · 20/01/2025 09:48

I have just recently donated to a crowdfunder for our local cafe. Difference is that they have been in situ for 30 years and the owner has had a stroke. That along with the cost of living, rental rises, business rates rises and the rise in NI means they have less than a month's running costs up their sleeve. They needed to raise 5k just to get them through until March when things would be better for various reasons.

Donated £30 and have gone there more often than usual. For me it is worth it because of my knowledge of the cafe and the context.

In those very specific circumstances, and similar, such as the other one mentioned where the business had been flooded, I'd probably donate too. Not for normal running costs, though.

mondaytosunday · 20/01/2025 14:29

I give a cafe my custom and that should be good enough - if their business model is failing that's on them and they need to deal with it in a more professional manner.

Rachmorr57 · 20/01/2025 21:24

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