How does Starbucks justify charging for wi-fi in 2007?

Seems like these guys are from the dark ages. I met a client at a Starbucks today, opened up my notebook and saw the T-Mobile Hotspot wifi come on. My client and I got up and went to Panera Bread where it's free. Didn't buy a thing at SB. Seems wi-fi is free everywhere except Starbucks. We have it throughout our downtown area and in every airport I visit...no charge. Same with nearly all hotels.

Just thought it was weird in this day and age. Do all SB locations charge for wi-fi?

RMX

 

How do they charge for it?
Do you have to get a password each time or each day at SB?

It's always been free everywhere I've. Never tried at SB tho.

 

I don't know if the starbucks by me has wifi. They didn't for a long time after other places did. What they did have though is wired telephones on a table. I used to just unplug one and plug my dial-up modem into it.

I don't like their coffee that much so I hardly ever go there. I'll have to check to see if they have wireless.

 

Pretty much..... it's a pain in the ass though it's better than nothing when travelling and other wifi hot spots can't be found. Out here in west Texas it's the only place to get the New York Times otherwise I would never go to SB.

 

Charging for wi-fi is a really bad move IMO. They're big enough to absorb the cost. WTF.

BTW, I love Panera Bread! Wish they had them here. I have to go to Vegas to visit one.

 

SB charges because people will pay it.
It's a status thing.

 

Perhaps it's a congestion issue more than a profit issue. They may not want dozens of people hanging out to use the WiFi for hours. There's not much space in most SBux and they're trying to move people through.

 

I am still trying to figure out how they justify charging for that waste they affectionately refer to as, "coffee".

- Christopher

 

Amen, as any REAL coffee lover (imo) with any small idea of what proper coffee/espresso/etc should taste like would NEVER buy their swill. Even their hot chocolate is crap! Starbucks tried opening up stores in various parts of Europe and guess what, quite a few did not survive due to their usual fare of low quality PRODUCT, as atmosphere alone and (perceived) status does not cut it.

Foolish Americans seem to go for the STATUS thing versus actually getting a quality product (hmm, saying that on a Ferrari board seems very appripro!).

 

I thought so too until I stayed at the downton Hyatt Regency Houston. $10 a day, fugeddaboudit. Couldn't belive there wasn't a free network in downtown houston for cryin' out loud!

cool F102 av Franco!

 

Wne you connect to their wireless network, your browser is pointed to a web page asking for your T-Mobile HotSpot ID and password.

http://hotspot.t-mobile.com/

Hard to believe this is still going on.

RMX

 

Barnes and Noble does this as well.

I think it's about 1 or 2 dollars an hour.

Ridiculous.

edit: Thinking about it though... might make sense for liability purposes. Say you went to Starbucks/B&N and couldn't resist firing up that Limewire (or whatever kids use these days) and downloading the newest piece of crap by one of the RIAA's favorite artists... They now can tie your download to your credit card number. Sure, it's a stretch, and why not charge like a buck for a user account that will always get you on, but still...

 

That's easy...they just figure that any fool that will pay $4 for a 99 cent cup of coffee will do anything...

 

If you go to Starbucks and bring a laptop you need to be kicked in the nuts.

Them charging for Wi-Fi is just an added bonus.

 

There is NO CHARGE at our McDonalds. The coffe is cheaper too. And if you are lucky enough to spill the hot coffee on your lap, baby you're in the Big Bucks (not the Star Bucks).

Hope this charging thing doesn't catch on here. They'll charge $10/hr and it will be a status thing.

Starbucks tastes like the coffee has been "burned" to me.

 

Fully agree with you and below image is in support of your stance.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

they should charge for wifi so all the annoying starbucks customers with laptops who stay there for hours LEAVE!

u cant even get a seat in any starbucks anymore just to sit down and drink your coffee and eat a snack for 5 minutes cuz too many laptop squatters are there

 

Where exactly should I meet a client when there's an online requirement? At home? No way. My office was half hour away.

Panera Bread... = thumbs up!

RMX

 

I never understood it either, not really a fan of SB coffee, it's just another way for them to make money. I'm more of a fan of the smaller, independent coffee shops. The only thing I don't understand is how they can afford the free wifi service if their customer base just sits around & drinks coffee? (Unless they offer lunch) I'd think the overhead would be steep.

On another note, since I got my MacBook, I've used this site & even added to it, great site if you travel quite a bit.
www.wififreespot.com

 

I just found this out on our last trip. I let someone borrow my laptop at SB and as I'm hooking it up, I notice there's a charge.

I like the local guys better anyway. I guess I'm spoiled, the www.villagecoffeeroaster.com hosts our Sunday car gathering, has free wifi and great coffee. No reason ever to go to SB.

 

It's like 60 bucks or something similar a month for wifi at sb. It's such a rip off when in reality, you can just go down the street to a better coffee shop and get free wifi. SB is the only place I've come across that charges.

 

Here in seattle Starbucks main competition is Tullys Coffee, and i always pick a Tullys over a Starbucks becuase they offer Free Wi-Fi, and their intense dark chocolate mocha are really good.

 

Wow. Is there any way you could be a bigger snob and ****** at the same time? Sorry that I have an opinion that's different than yours. I'll try and be more like you and your super-sophisticated coffee pals in the future. Wouldn't want to be a "foolish American", would I?

 

I know I'm digging up an old thread but......

I stopped into a starbucks today and brought my laptop in with me. I asked about wireless internet, they told me they think they still have it and that it is t-mobile. I look at my available networks and connect to the t-mobile one. I try to go to a website and it goes to a T-Mobile site asking for a user name and password. I go ask the girl behind the counter. She tells me I have to go to T-Mobile and open an account. ???

Luckily the shop next door in the strip mall had an unsecured network so I just used theirs.

I'm finding wifi available more and more places. I cancelled my sidekick, am thinking of getting on of these. http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=6nxo34Fr8LtpaMdg_9li1M57BkGu_zPcvA4=?ProductSKU=COM1BLACK&Dept=computers&CategoryName=cpu_PersonalCommunicators

 

As far as bringing a laptop to Starbucks- no one wants to be a ****** bag- but in this rat race occasionally you have to play one.
I have an office in Merced CA and while I was waiting for the internet to get turned on I met clients at Starbucks - paid those bastards quite a bit over the few weeks I was there. There just wasn't any other options - all other wi-fi connections were encrypted. People would sit at Starbucks all day and spend like $6 on coffee- like someone said it probably just keeps the kids and deadbeats out that would set up camp all day.