From the NY Times blog, Freakonomics, comes another round of the (Internet) age-old discussion, is offering free wi-fi a good thing for cafés?
It’s a lively discussion, and it’s spurred on by the strategy of a café in Holland which offers free wi-fi, but frequently changes the name of its wireless network to such things as the title of this post. You can read the post and the rest of the discussion here. I think that’s a clever way to remind customers that when you’re offering them something as a benefit for their patronage, they need to particpate in the transaction too. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.
Wireless broadband has really made it redundant in Aus
Ah yes, the old catch 22- which came first, the coffee or the wi-fi? The cafes that have consistently exceptional drinks and service win my patronage regardless of wi-fi. And they tend to be crowded at all hours even without free internet. However, I will say that in the long run, I probably spend more time and money at cafes with free wi-fi. When I find both free wi-fi and great drinks together(which is rare), I think I’ll be in heaven.