Starbucks Asks Customers in South Korea To Stop Bringing Printers and Desktop Computers Into Stores

An anonymous reader shares a report: Starbucks patrons in South Korea are setting up de facto offices at the coffee chain, bringing along their desktop computers and printers. The company implemented a new policy banning bulky items from store locations. In South Korea, where office space is scant, remote workers are using cafes as a cheap place to work.

Starbucks South Korea is experiencing this exact phenomenon and is now banning patrons from bringing in large pieces of work equipment, treating the cafes like their own amenity-stuffed office space. "While laptops and smaller personal devices are welcome, customers are asked to refrain from bringing desktop computers, printers, or other bulky items that may limit seating and impact the shared space," a Starbucks spokesperson told Fortune in a statement.

Life imatates art?

[timeOday]

Or the other way round?

Either way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

Simple solution

[Locke2005]

Don't offer any power outlets. You can use your laptop in the store until the battery goes dead.

Re:

[Valgrus Thunderaxe]

IDK of any battery-powered fax machines.

Re:

[Locke2005]

There are battery-powered printers. Real FAX machines require landlines, although I'm suspect there are still websites that will let you send/receive faxes.

Re:

[_merlin]

Any USB modem should be able to send/receive faxes. You need an analog phone line, though. Nokia GSM phones could function as an analog fax modem if you had an appropriate serial interface cable, but I don't know if phones that work with today's networks can.

Re:

[Jogar the Barbarian]

Or rent out metered power plugs.

Re:

[Retired Chemist]

They are doing this because it is free.

Re:

[nightflameauto]

-1 No Hot Grits Down Pants

Re:

[Jogar the Barbarian]

3. Profit!
2. ???
1. On Soviet Slashdot, a Beowulf cluster of alien Natalie Portman overlords welcomes pouring hot grits down YOUR PANTS!

Re:

[seichert]

I bring a laptop, 27" monitor, and a Jackery. No outlets required. I do sit outside though. https://stu.photos/000312.jpg [stu.photos]

How rude

[Anonymous Coward]

I would die of embarrassment before I brought a desktop and printer in to Starbucks. If they can't work in an office, can't they work from home? The place where they keep those objects?

Re:How rude

[MightyMartian]

About ten years ago I was working late at night on a server switchover at my office. Starting maybe around 9pm I start hearing this beeping that sounded like a UPS on battery. I poked around the office, when into the server room, looking for this damned UPS. I decided it had to be next door, so I went on with my work. I went out about a half hour later for some fresh air, and there was a guy on the front steps with a laptop and a very large UPS. He apologized, said he was using our wifi (we had a public SSID for clients), and his laptop battery was dead so he'd borrowed a UPS. Here he was, UPS alarm blaring in his ear, a 25lb UPS, sitting on a concrete step in the pitch dark for free Internet.

The next day I set the schedule on the access point to shut down Internet at 5pm.

Re:

[ls671]

LOL! I often disable the bell on UPSes if doable via software or just rip the thing of the board physically if not. I configure UPSes to send alarm via email or email to sms if needed.

Re:

[dsgrntlxmply]

Years ago I needed to capture ATSC HD digital TV content for testing. I bought an rx/demodulator, leased a capture/analyzer, and found a car cigarette lighter inverter that would power the instrumentation. I had to drive to an area that was not impaired by terrain. Somehow I managed to sit in a car for several hours, with a Yagi antenna sticking out the moon roof, and a glowing screen inside, without the cops (who passed by twice) even slowing down.

Re:How rude

[battingly]

Embarrassment? We're living in a world without shame. Propriety is a quaint notion from the past century.

Re:

[arglebargle_xiv]

But why else would you go to Starbucks if not for the free office space? It's not like you'd go there to (shudder) drink things is it?

By combining dirt and water our scientists have discovered... mud! It's now available at your nearest Starbucks in twenty exciting flavours!

Re:

[Chaset]

Yes, I understand that their coffee was ground in the morning.

Re:

[Valgrus Thunderaxe]

They should just offer a limited number of slots to rent spaces for people to sit at a table that supports such devices.

There are plenty of business in SK that cater to this and these people are welcome to go there instead.

Re:

[Retired Chemist]

They are not free. People will do amazing things to get something for free, even if the actual cost is minimal.

Re:

[alvinrod]

That's what I was wondering about as well. South Korea is well known for PC bangs (internet cafes) so it's a little odd that people would do this, but if it's popular enough that it's a problem Starbucks should adjust their business model there to take advantage of it.

Re:

[Xenx]

but if it's popular enough that it's a problem Starbucks should adjust their business model there to take advantage of it.

As they mentioned, other business already provide a monetized service to cater to these people. Those people are at Starbucks to save money. Yes, Starbucks could monetize the process like the other cafes. However, now they're directly competing against those other cafes. Those customers are also an annoyance to their established customer base. As such, they would need to relocate/redesign to accommodate that new(official) customer base without further alienating their existing customers. I assume this last

I'm sure they don't mean me

[93 Escort Wagon]

I'm not selfishly tying up any tables or seats, after all... I thoughtfully bring in my own office chair and standing desk.

I've seen this in America

[sinkskinkshrieks]

People bringing desktops and monitors into coffeeshops. Meh. Okay. If the shop allows it, cool.

Not everyone can afford FedEx-UPS, not everywhere has a library, and not everyone can afford a laptop.

I'd kinda prefer people bring use office gear in a library first, if they can, but it's not always practical or possible.

Made me think of Steven Wright

[fahrbot-bot]

Last time I went to the movies I was thrown out for bringing my own food. My argument was that the concession stand prices are outrageous.
Besides, I haven't had a Bar-B-Que in a long time.
-- Steven Wright

Why?

[registrations_suck]

Starbucks smells. Badly!!!! How the hell could anyone stand to be in one all day? The stench is unbearable!!!

Why the fuck would these people just not work from home?

So confused.

Re:

[registrations_suck]

Enjoy the stink!

Re:

[PPH]

Why the fuck would these people just not work from home?

Annoying roommates?

Re:

[registrations_suck]

So, you can live with their presence, but somehow not work with their presence?

In any case, seems like it would be better to find a new place to live.

But not at Starbucks. Don't live there. The smell is unbearable.

Re: Why?

[ToasterMonkey]

Write a poem about cats drinking coffee.

US Starbucks are sometimes study/coworking spaces

[sinkskinkshrieks]

When people are broke and there are declining public spaces with office/study resources like libraries, people can't always afford laptops or to go elsewhere. There may only be a Starbucks, a Dollar General, and a pawn shop.

How’d the get these things to the Starbucks.

[Smonster]

Wild. I am now picturing these same people lugging their printers, monitors, and towers with them on the train to the local Starbucks. I can’t imagine too many people who can’t afford a laptop affording a car in S.Korea.

Re:

[93 Escort Wagon]

I remember when Apple released its first flat-panel iMac - it wasn't too long afterward that carrying cases for the all-in-ones also became available... and it appears they are still a thing [amazon.com].

It appears there are also carrying cases for generic desktop towers as well, [amazon.com] or even backbacks [amazon.com] (image #6 is hilarious [media-amazon.com]).

Re:

[GoTeam]

I was picturing something like this [grainger.com] with a few bungee cords wrapped around it. However, that last one you posted was absolutely amazing, lol!

Re:

[_merlin]

They've been around since the '80s. There were carry bags specifically for the original Macintosh and various other machines.

Homelessness?

[rsilvergun]

I can't think of a lot of good reasons to bring a freaking desktop PC and monitor to a coffee shop besides being working homeless.

Even if you're traveling for business you would be setting that stuff up at your hotel room.

This has the feeling of somebody that's scrounged up some computer equipment to try and get a job. Like some real dystopian shit.

Re:

[dohzer]

Why don't they just sign up to compete on Squid Game?

Re:

[will_die]

No most people live their parents and they have smaller homes then in the USA and europe. This has lead to the the cafe, love hotels (hotel renting by the hours), and the pc bangs( those stores you see renting out gaming computers). So if you want time alone you can go to those it is not uncommon in residential areas to go to cafes and groups of women and men chatting away while the kids play on the floor with their toys.
Currently with the higher heat lots of people are spending their time in the cafes.

How?

[smooth wombat]

where office space is scant,

Considering the economic powerhouse South Korea is, combined with its declining population, how can they not have office space available? Or is this another case of companies "downsizing" to save money without thinking through the ramifications?

Re:

[test321]

cagongjok, students who study and watch lectures in coffee shops. They seem to feel it's better than home to focus on their study. The paper next says they also study (after graduation) for additional professional certifications. They associate the place with focus on study so that's where they go when they need to focus. Here a long article from 2023 https://asianews.network/what-... [asianews.network]

What kind of person does this except as a joke?

[kriston]

What kind of person does this except as a joke?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

I've done this...30 years ago

[Daina.0]

30 years ago a friend and I went into a local non-franchise restaurant and brought in a desktop with a huge monitor. We sat in a back corner and plugged in. We were there all day for several days. It was not a popular place so there was always room. We ordered meals and lunch and dinner. No other customers complained because there was hardly anyone there. The place is no longer there. No surprise. It was a cheap way to get quiet meeting space and food too! It sure would have been nice to have a la