Watch Out Where You WiFi

Wireless Freeloader Charged Because He Never Bought Coffee is an interesting story.

A Vancouver, Wash. coffee shop tired of seeing a 20-year-old man mooch off their free wireless Internet access called the police, who charged him with "theft of services."

Comments

[Stephanie]

Can't tell you how many times I have wifi'd with just the minimum drink purchase at Panera - and twice I have been asked by management if I was going to buy more!!!! This seems like a legitimate thing for management to do during busy times, but it is equally legit that I would then avoid ever eating at those establishments again because I know only a certain "level" of patronage is really valued.
S

[Michael Kruse]

I don't dispute the business' right to control the access to their WiFi service. I also agree that it is rude to take up valuable table space for a cup of coffee when others may want the space for eating a full meal. However, it seems to me that the business could look at the WiFi as a loss-leader service, much like convenience stores look at gasoline sales. It is something to get people to your location in hopes they will buy more when they are there. It seems to be that the abusers could be handled on case by case basis. If you don't have a meal in front of you between 11:00 and 1:00 you are not welcome to use a table.