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Limiting Wi Fi internet connection in our shop

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Hey everyone. We have the classic problem of customers coming in, spending $1.50 on a cup of coffee, and then setting up their office at one of our tables for the next 5 hours. A couple of them even have the audacity to complain when the connection goes down once in a while. I'd hate to limit our internet, but with the rules in our city we have VERY limited seating and we need to create more turnaround. Anyway, long story short, I don't know how to limit the wi fi connection in our shop. I'd like to give customers a certain amount of time on the internet every time they buy a coffee, but I don't know how to set that up. Can anybody help me? Thanks for your input.

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Permalink Reply by vanessa love lupiba on April 29, 2008 at 10:03pm: HAHAHAHAHAHA..thats so funny...wel, thats reli true,if they complain jus look for a reason.in my cafe, i just tell my customer that ur lptp may hav a prob or our network is down..though internet access is free but electricity consumption is not. we charge only 30pesos(thats about 0.75cents), unlimited use of electricity. But sometimes i noticed some customers would take advantge of that. nweys, thats cafe life..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack Groot on April 30, 2008 at 6:25am: Hey Josh, you need to control the access. Use a service like WEBbeams or if you or a friend can set it up make your own network control. You need to get people to get a password from you that changes. Then attach it to a purchase. That way it is still free, but it is free for the customer.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Justin on May 15, 2008 at 12:31am: I'm interested as to how you solve this. As someone who travels a lot and constantly needs wifi, I've come to expect coffee shops to have it. Even when they don't there are usually so many networks to choose from that it wouldn't matter if the shop didn't offer it. Another solution may be to get rid of your outlets - my battery won't go longer than an hour so I'd be likely to come it, get a cup of coffee, catch up on my email and be off in 30 minutes to find a plug somewhere.
On the other hand, if you keep me around I'll almost always buy a cookie or lunch. It seems like you have a stable supply of customers with laptops that want to be in your store and they have to be a good demographic. Instead of kicking them out you might be able to find a way to monetize them.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ray peck on July 4, 2008 at 11:20pm: Thank you to Tim Bartz for his courage and stand to not offer wi-fi in his shop!!!. I thought I was the only jerk (in the eyes of the wi-fi people) to also not offer said service. I have never been infected.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Barry Zeitlin on July 5, 2008 at 5:40am: Solution is a simple one....

Offer FREE beverage with paid wifi access.

Think of the promotional opportunities of offering a Coffee House/Espresso Bar offering FREE Coffee...; ▶ Reply to This

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