Starbucks unveils free Wi-Fi, but is that wise?
Much of the culture surrounding Starbucks, whether acceptable or infuriating, has been the guy in the 
corner on his laptop, sipping a latté for the world to see.
To stereotype: he might be wearing a tweed blazer and the style of jeans fitting a man ten years his junior. Chances are, he also doesn’t mind spending $5.25 on a coffee, so long as he can show the world that he’s almost finished a screenplay that “Bradley Cooper would just be perfect for.”
For better or worse, this is Starbucks personified. But sure as these bozos are out there, there’s likely a share of the coffee chain’s customers who just want to pop in to visit their local barista, maybe sit and check out the paper for 15 minutes and vamoose. They don’t want to plop down and take up a table for three-and-a-half hours.
Starbucks is no doubt aware of both groups. Though the decision they’ve just made favours only one.
The U.S. coffee giant announced today they will begin rolling out free, unlimited Wi-Fi in 750 of their Canadian Starbucks locations, reversing a longstanding tradition of holding customers to just two hours of wireless access.
Before, coffee drinkers also needed to purchase a food or drink in order to log onto Starbucks’ Wi-Fi service.
Now, according to a Starbucks exec, allowing unlimited Wi-Fi to all passersby won’t be a legitimate concern to traffic inside the restaurant.
“We’ve found that customers who bring laptops to Starbucks have averaged about an hour of Wi-Fi use during a visit,” the exec told the Star. “We don’t expect that free access will make people linger longer.”
But the sceptic in me wonders if allowing – nay, promoting – casual Internet browsing among laptop and smartphone users won’t alienate a large chunk of potential customers.
Starbucks drinkers are no doubt loyal, but how many times will they continue to nab a coffee from their local outlet when there’s a reduced prospect of being able to sit and enjoy it?
If there’s a Williams or Second Cup or, goodness, even a McDonald’s next door, will Starbucks be able to keep its customers when so much of the Starbucks experience involves treating your pricey beverage like a dessert – one that begs you sit down and savour every drop?
Of course, I don’t even really like coffee, so what the hell do I know here? You tell us.
Starbucks drinkers: do laptop users taking up prime real estate bug you, and if so, will allowing them to dominate your chain’s landscape turn you off a bit?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: John Tjon | Jul 2, 2021 9:42:18 AM
I don't hink that totally FREE wi-fi is needed. I think , yes the abuse of this privilege will make Star-buck cehap and its loyal customers will reduced. 1 hour free, and than charges should be adopted. those who really want to pay more will stay. This is wise Economics.
Maybe technology is too cheap, so there is no special value in it. We got too much spam, garbage online. We don't have unlimited Bandwidth with all these meaningless, useless garbage.
Posted by: Patrick | Jul 2, 2021 10:09:19 AM
I thought they had free Wi-Fi here in Starbucks. I have been to Starbucks in other countries that have free wi-fi, enjoying a coffee and checking messages from home on my small laptop. There did not seem to be a problem in these places. People would have their coffee, work on their laptops and spend less than an hour in the place. The places were busy and nobody complained. I did notice that on your receipt is the password to access the wi-fi and they use the same password all week. You would think some people would just sit outside with the password they received the prior day and use the internet, I did not see that. I do not believe people would abuse that, well maybe a couple people will.
Posted by: Glen | Jul 2, 2021 10:18:31 AM
I think this is great! I don't carry my laptop around regularily, but there have been times that I've been traveling through the city without anywhere to hook-up and get my emails. And with these iPhones and other wifi devices becoming common, this is going to be big!
And besides, I like Starbucks coffee. When I get the craving, I go for the coffee! If I can justify getting what I want, because it lets me do more working (and be more productive - nudge, nudge, wink, wink) I think I'll be all the much more happy!
Posted by: Kat | Jul 2, 2021 10:49:39 AM
The internet access at Starbucks was close to free anyways. If you bought a Starbucks card, kept like 5 dollars on it, you were entitled to 2 free hours of free Wi-Fi a day. Maybe they just saw how many people were doing that. I don't mind paying for Starbucks, because I am able to choose options that are not available at the cheap coffee places. Lactose free, soy, etc. For those who may think the price of coffee is too much, why complain when they give something back?
Posted by: stacey | Jul 2, 2021 10:52:30 AM
Doesn't make a difference here where I live in Barrie Ont. Starbucks already have FREE wi-fi. as a regular customer (when I can afford it) I have never seen anyone just sitting there for HOURS on end. It won't change who is a regular and who is not.
Posted by: Jatan | Jul 2, 2021 4:37:42 PM
Is this guy just trying to get his name on a print so has to write something about nothing. Most hotels specially in West Coast of US have free Wi-fi, most Airports have free Wifi.... so what if starbucks is adding it for their customers convenience, than trying to remember more usernames or passwords.
I think it's great. We love going to Starbucks and sometimes sit their for an hour.
I still don't understand why people find Starbucks expensive. I am in Canada where ppl. talk about Tim Hortons (to be honest their coffee is worse than what my dog or cat can make) and their large is smaller than the Grande size of Starbucks. And the large is just 12c cheaper. So really is it cheap? And "Loyalty" doesn't come from just looking ooh lala. For a coffee shop, loyalty comes because of the product and service they provide. Ever try telling the server at Tim Hortons that the coffee is disgusting and try the same at Starbucks and the service response you get is what makes me go back.
Posted by: NikkiSS | Jul 2, 2021 8:02:43 PM
I love this. I am a nomadic telecommuter. I usually work from home, but if I have appointments during the day I love the fact that I just have to find the nearest Starbucks (or library, or Safeway), and I can work between appointments instead of driving all over the city to get back home. In our area, we currently get 2-3 hours of free Wi-Fi, and I don't usually use that up before moving on to my next appointment. I ALWAYS get a coffee when I'm there. Often I will be the only one in the store with a laptop. And this is something I do, maybe twice a month. I greatly appreciate businesses that offer Wi-fi to their clients. I know it makes my life easier and more productive. Thank you Starbucks!
Posted by: Sav | Jul 2, 2021 11:16:36 PM
About Time!!!!
Posted by: Ryan | Jul 5, 2021 5:01:56 AM
I spend about an hour in starbucks every day. So far I have not noticed much increase in laptop use. No shortage of seating at my local location.
Posted by: Andrea | Jul 5, 2021 8:37:33 AM
Wow, so you are either the stereotyped 'Bozo" who uses the internet to show him/herself to the world while doing something materialistic and taking up seats or one of the 'normal' customers who just pops in' and wants to sit down.
Talk about loading the question. Who writes this stuff ? Aren't false dichotomies slightly propagandist ?
What about the many grad students who use coffee shops to study so that they can be social, or the business personal who travel and desire a known location to update their online activity (Among so many other stereotypes)
Posted by: Andrea | Jul 5, 2021 8:38:33 AM
Wow, so you are either the stereotyped 'Bozo" who uses the internet to show him/herself to the world while doing something materialistic and taking up seats or one of the 'norma' customers who just pops in' and wants to sit down.
Talk about loading the question. Who writes this stuff ? Aren't false dichotomies slightly propagandist ?
What about the many grad students who use coffee shops to study so that they can be social, or the business personal who travel and desire a known location to update their online activity (Among so many other stereotypes)
Posted by: Mark | Jul 7, 2021 10:28:24 PM
I want to note that the internet previously available was only free to bell customers. If you weren't bell you had to pay for the internet. Thus this new service is not so much as a waive to the two hour time limit, as it is the ability that I can now check my email on my laptop / smartphone while I enjoy my coffee & paper. Well .. if one of these wifi-starbucks was in Halifax.
Posted by: Sue.Japan | Jul 15, 2021 11:03:43 AM
But dear, i've seen a post saying free wi-fi isn't safe at all.
check this post for me please.
http://mftown.com/2010-07/free-wi-fi-challenges-safety-specialist/
Posted by: Bill | Sep 25, 2021 7:52:29 PM
Yes, I've gone to Starbucks and sat there for 2 hours hours working on my laptop and drinking coffee. Sometimes I need to get out of the house and work on stuff, so I choose to go there. When you're charging $5 for a coffee drink you can afford to give free Wi-Fi.