If you want to hang out or use the restroom at Starbucks, you’re going to have to buy something.

Starbucks on Monday said it was reversing a policy that invited everyone into its stores. A new code of conduct – which will be posted in all company-owned North American stores – also bans discrimination or harassment, consumption of outside alcohol, smoking, vaping, drug use and panhandling.

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said the new rules are designed to help prioritize paying customers. Anderson said most other retailers already have similar rules.

  • Etterra@discuss.online
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    14 hours ago

    Past: Person goes to Starbucks to hang out, ends up ordering coffee.

    Present: Person isn’t allowed to hang out in Starbucks, goes somewhere else.

    Future: Starbucks backpedals in desperate attempt to win back customers.

  • bitwolf@sh.itjust.works
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    23 hours ago

    The best thing I’ve seen in a coffee shop was a “Please no laptops” sign.

    Its ridiculous how everyone just goes and works in coffee shops all day.

    I understand buying a coffee, and working while you enjoy it. But once you’re done, and your work is saved gtfo.

    We need more third spaces.

    • Flocklesscrow@lemm.ee
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      4 hours ago

      People are also desperately lonely and isolated. They hang out in coffee shops just to have other living humans around them- even if they’re not actively interacting.

      We are all alone, together.

    • LaunchesKayaks@lemmy.world
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      15 hours ago

      I troubleshoot a VPN connection for a man who does his work from a Dunkin at least once a week. He doesn’t even drink coffee or eat donuts. He just hangs out there and works until his VPN breaks.

    • COASTER1921
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      15 hours ago

      Starbucks coffee isn’t even good anyway. But without more coworking spaces or some other alternative people like me will occasionally be forced to work from one for one reason or another. In the towns around military bases especially you frequently see spouses of those who work on base in Starbucks doing their remote work since it’s the only possible place they can work from if they were staying in a hotel the night before.

  • ddash@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    Quick reminder that your local library probably does not follow those rules. Go hang out at your local library instead! Depending on location/country they might have a café too.

  • frunch@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    “Hey, look at us–we’re the new public hangout, everyone’s invited”

    Expands into an empire dotting the entire country

    “Sorry poors–paying customers only, please.”

    Embrace, extend, extinguish all over again 🎉

    • BmeBenji@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      If I remember correctly, this policy was introduced after they got flack because some employee called the cops on a black person who was just hanging out inside the store.

      Turns out money is more important to them than the appearance of inclusion surprised pikachu face

  • kirbowo808@kbin.melroy.org
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    1 day ago

    Well this gives me a good excuse to never go to Starbucks ever again (even though people shouldn’t be going to Starbucks anyway)

    • ArtVandelay@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I can piss and shit on Starbucks management by not going there - all doing it for real does is force some underpaid barista to have to go clean shit up, and management learns nothing.

    • nomy@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      Yeah starbucks is a coffee shop for soccer moms and affluent suburbanites. There are a dozen better coffee shops that serve actual coffee for less AND you don’t have to deal with Starbucks entitled customer base.

  • bcgm3@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    My fiancee got a Starbucks gift card from work, so we stopped by the one nearest us. The drive-through wrapped all the way around the building, so we went inside. Inside, there was only one huge table, with only one spot with an electrical outlet, and the music and cafe atmosphere were so loud… I can’t imagine anybody trying to bring a laptop and “work” there.

    But if I did, I guess I’d buy a coffee? That seems fair. I definitely prefer my local library for remote working outside of the house, though.

    • AlecSadler@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      It’s been awhile since I went to a library, but are there places for taking remote meetings to avoid disturbing others?

      • bcgm3@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        To add on to the other replies here, both of the two closest libraries to me have several small rooms for this as well.

      • BradleyUffner@lemmy.world
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        23 hours ago

        My local one has 10 or so small rooms for maybe 3-4 people max, and 2 larger conference rooms that could easily hold 30+ people each. It’s not even one of the bigger city libraries either. The ones down town have even more facilities.

    • lud@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      I don’t work in coffee shops or even drink coffee. But I don’t believe that the star bucks that people work in are the road side ones. Surely those most be the ones that are in town.