Yesterday, after spending the morning in the sewing room I tried to escape the heat again. I had some work to do on my computer and though I could have turned the air conditioner on at home and worked, I opted to go to Starbucks. If I stay at home my patchwork calls to me or housecleaning (that voice isn't too loud.)I normally have no problem with Starbucks. A sandwich is nice. They always have something refreshing or warming (depending on the season) and it feels like a treat to go and spend some time there with a book or paperwork. Yesterday was the first time I've taken my computer to the Japanese Starbucks. I know enough not to expect Starbucks in Japan to have WiFi. That's why I figured I could take my computer and not get waylaid reading blogs.
Settle down with a sandwich and a cool Yuzu Frappuccino (yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit). Yum. Spend about an hour and a half doing what I had to do on the computer. Ah. The battery is running low.
"Excuse me. Could I use this electric outlet for my computer?"
I was sitting right next to one. The girl went away and came back a moment later.
"I'm so sorry. Customers are not allowed to use the outlets."
In a way I'm not surprised... In Japan, what isn't available for everyone isn't available for anyone (the outlet was only by my table, not any others.) On the other hand, an extra service option would have kept me there another hour and maybe sold me a cookie or pastry or something. Don't college students in America hang out at Starbucks with their computers? Is the electricity so dear in US Starbucks too?
I did NOT finish my work and came home to procrastinate...
Seems to me Starbucks could have made a little more money off of me and made me happier too.
8 comments:
We often plug our laptops in to outlets in either Starbucks or Panera (a similar chain). Even independent coffee shops; if there's an outlet near a table we set up there. (Usually when we bring our laptops to the coffee shop it's for cafe and wifi..)
It wouldn't occur to me to ask! I assume if the outlet is there it's there to be used.
Ah, but you see, you asked first. If I ask first, the answer is normally "no", but if I just go ahead and plug in, no one will dare say anything. I've learned that from my husband. He just plugs in and orders another drink (or if it's at Gusto's - some dessert) with a big smile and the server smiles back at him and nobody tells him to unplug it.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Wow - I can't believe they said no! But I don't own a business either, and the thought of all the customers sucking the electricity kind of makes me cringe. So I can see her point. But still.
Perhaps Starbucks will search for "Starbucks" and see your blog. Well, maybe they won't, but they would be wise to do so and know what is being written about them. Surely, a customer in the restaurant is worth more than a customer outside the restaurant. Allowing you to charge up would have been a good idea for them. Let's see, is there another restaurant nearby with electricity AND wifi? ;)
I was thinking the same thing that A and Y thinks, it is because you asked. They can't give you permission, but they probably wouldn't say anything if you did. I think it is a sad way to go, but I know several people who live by the motto "Easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission." I think it would be better if people were more free with the permission, so that people with higher morals don't get the short end of the stick, but I don't make the rules.
Darn, now you have already asked and been refused permission. If you ever go back and there are different people working there you might try plugging in to see if they ignore you or if they ask you (politely of course) to unplug. Over here many coffee shops advertise "Free WiFi" to encourage people to come and use the place. I have not done this myself, I only assume one can plug into the power. How much power does a lap top use? How much power do 8 lap tops use at once? I would think it would balance out to be better for the business in sales due to people staying longer, buying more product. But I'm not a business owner so I am only guessing.
One of my friend told me that she could use electric outlet on the train (intercity train)!
Hi Tanya,
Here our Panera has outlets along the wall in the back at each high top table, just for plugging in. Quite often we see business people sitting in that section working. I guess the restaurant figures they charge enough for food and drinks it's worth it to let them plug in.
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