Free Fast Food Internet (and cafes too)
I like Panera Bread, especially because they have free WiFi (wireless Internet access). I go out of my way to have lunch or a cup of coffee at Paneras. Yeah, the food is great and the coffee quite respectable, but the free Internet does it for me. If I have a morning meeting and can grab lunch WHILE dealing with email, then I arrive at the office ready to work instead of slogging through email. Then maybe I can get home and see the kids before they go to bed or maybe even run to the healthclub.
Krystal Co. Hamburger chain has added free WiFI to its stores, according to Computerworld. Although there are no Krystals in my area, the chain has about 250 stores and has been around for over 70 years. Bravo to Krystal!
In contrast, Starbucks irritates me. The food is nothing exciting, the coffee doesn't suck big time but it's NOT great by any means (they over-roast ALL their beans), and the Internet costs money - about $7 to read my email. They would get A LOT more of my business if they had free Internet!
Of course it boils down to a biz decision, but give me free Internet, and I'll come hang out and eat and drink!
Krystal Co. Hamburger chain has added free WiFI to its stores, according to Computerworld. Although there are no Krystals in my area, the chain has about 250 stores and has been around for over 70 years. Bravo to Krystal!
In contrast, Starbucks irritates me. The food is nothing exciting, the coffee doesn't suck big time but it's NOT great by any means (they over-roast ALL their beans), and the Internet costs money - about $7 to read my email. They would get A LOT more of my business if they had free Internet!
Of course it boils down to a biz decision, but give me free Internet, and I'll come hang out and eat and drink!
posted by Ted Demopoulos at 1:46 PM
Comments on "Free Fast Food Internet (and cafes too)"
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molly said ... (Monday, August 15, 2005 7:53:00 PM) :
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marianne said ... (Wednesday, August 17, 2005 12:07:00 AM) :
post a commentHi Ted,
I went to starbucks today, in fact. Coffee dates are easy. No cleanup! Thanks for visiting my site. i've added a few more thoughts. see ya!
The free internet does it for me also...the coffee is better at Starbucks and Barnes and Noble but paying for internet is just out of the question. We just had a 4 day power outage and St. Louis Bread, aka Paneras was packed with charging cell phones, laptops, the email and internet starved and the just plain starved...I think we ate every meal there. Gratefully, very gratefully!