If you order just coffee & sit at your table and read the paper for more than one hour...?

Question

should you be charged a certain dollar amount minimum?

Answer 1

just coffee and luxury tax (sales tax) if applicable.  Store owner has to allow for such a customer.

Answer 2

Depends on the restaurant, the day of the week and the hour of the day.

If you are sitting in a booth and there is a line, then yes, you should be charged a minimum.  You are also keeping the server from making any money, they depend on the turnover to make money in their shift.  

If the restaurant is not busy and you are a regular customer, then they won't mind.  If ALL you do is order coffee and take the table for an hour and drink cup after cup of coffee, then they will be well within their rights to charge a table minimum.

Also, some restaurants are frequented by students, who usually have no money.  Restaurants need paying customers to stay in business.  So they may have a minimum to stop this activity.

Peace.

Answer 3

Depends on the restaurant and how busy they are.  We went to a Mc Donald's (before I knew better) that had a 20 minute limit for "dining" in because they were so busy all the time.  I went to Panera once, had only something to drink and stayed for over an hour without any problems about it.  Another place (can't recall the name) wanted to charge a fee for just walking in!  I walked out instead.

As for the "shoulds" of it I'd say that is entirely up to them.  They are in business to make money.  If that's what they feel they need to do they're within their rights.  If we don't like it we can go somewhere else or order something more.

Answer 4

No way!!!! Take me about an hour to drink my coffee anyway.

Answer 5

I think it should be posted or on the menu if there is a minimum one should be charged if you take up table space for more than 30 minutes and you just order a drink.  After that, you must order an appetizer or dinner item more than like $3.