Studying in Fast Food Outlets and Cafes

[Jedi]

Is it a unique scene in Singapore whereby people especially students occupying seats and studying in the fast food outlets like McDonald, etc and Starbucks/Coffee Bean cafes, etc for almost the whole day?

Do we see such behaviour in our neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, Thailand or even in North Asia countries like Japan, Hong Kong?

I have been to Starbucks on a few occasions whereby there were not available seats for patron customers because almost all the seats were occupied by students. The Starbucks Manager couldn't do anything about it as he was afraid of antagonise these students. I have seen patron customers holding on to their drinks and snacks and ate them in standing positions.

Sometimes, I wonder why people like to study in such places whereby the are meant for eating. If you want to study, why not go to a library, school or stay at home or even at friend's place, etc. At the same time, restaurant and café managers are afraid to tell the people to move on.

In my observation, for example, if one guy ordered a drink which costs $6.50 but he sat there for 8-10 hours. These 8-10 hours will cost the café a larger lose in revenue as compared to just $6.50. In other words, the café, etc could have earned more by not allowing people to sit there for "too long".

 

[ed9119]

just follow the japanese/chinese/koreans and share-book a hotel room near to home/school with a few school-mates for a pre-exam cram camp

parts of Changi Airport terminals can also be used for weekend cram camps

 

[ninelives]

i'm pretty sure i saw some cafes in singapore put up a sign "no studying".

can't remember where thought.

 

[justme77]

Do we see such behaviour in our neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, Thailand or even in North Asia countries like Japan, Hong Kong?

I am sure each country may have that, but may not be so wide spread as Singapore is really a small place and the transport systems here allows you to gather in many places easily. In Malaysia, it's not that easy to go a Mcdonald or Starbucks using the public transport. You practically need a car or someone to fetch you.

parts of Changi Airport terminals can also be used for weekend cram camps

Quite a large part if you ask me. All the places with seats/all the places where a group can gather and sit/all the places that are meant for tourist are just occupied by these students.

 

[d2xpeter]

Is there any rules limiting duration customers can stay in cafe?
How about enjoying myself the whole afternoon browsing the internet with my tablet? Chatting in KPT literally? But instead of chatting with mouth, chat with fingers/tablet? LOL

 

[Jedi]

I am sure each country may have that, but may not be so wide spread as Singapore is really a small place and the transport systems here allows you to gather in many places easily. In Malaysia, it's not that easy to go a Mcdonald or Starbucks using the public transport. You practically need a car or someone to fetch you.

Yes, you may be right about traveling distance but I think that it is more like cultural thing.

 

[justme77]

Is there any rules limiting duration customers can stay in cafe?
How about enjoying myself the whole afternoon browsing the internet with my tablet? Chatting in KPT literally? But instead of chatting with mouth, chat with fingers/tablet? LOL

I think it depends on shops and cafes. Some fast food outlet specifies no studying during peak hours (lunch and dinner) while others states the specific hours.

Anyway, students are not the only cases. You have property agents, insurance agents, non-customers (aunties and uncles) that occupies the seat there for 1 to 2 hours to rest their feet or wait for friends and end up not buying anything and leaves.

 

[Jedi]

Is there any rules limiting duration customers can stay in cafe?
How about enjoying myself the whole afternoon browsing the internet with my tablet? Chatting in KPT literally? But instead of chatting with mouth, chat with fingers/tablet? LOL

So far, there are no rules on the timing. They assume that people will know what to do aka "Zhi Tong". Unfortunately, this is not the case in Singapore.

 

[edutilos-]

i'm pretty sure i saw some cafes in singapore put up a sign "no studying".

can't remember where thought.

Esplanade library has such a sign, I recall.

 

[edutilos-]

Is it a unique scene in Singapore whereby people especially students occupying seats and studying in the fast food outlets like McDonald, etc and Starbucks/Coffee Bean cafes, etc for almost the whole day?

Where does the buck stop though?

If I want to go to McDonald's or any food establishment to chat with my friends, buy a drink and sit down and catch up... If I never touch my drink, the same story applies. It isn't limited to studying. Do we really want to be a city where eating places are just to eat quickly and leave just as quickly? Where do you end up socializing then? Void decks? Grass patches? If you argue that socializing doesn't take up to 8-10 hours, certainly the scenario where customers have to wait for people to finish chatting (which can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the group, and this DOES happen in many countries, definitely in Europe) applies.

I suspect these establishments have already factored in the costs of doing so into their pricing, if not they would certainly chase the students away. Or establish policies to circumvent such occurrences.

 

[d2xpeter]

I think it depends on shops and cafes. Some fast food outlet specifies no studying during peak hours (lunch and dinner) while others states the specific hours.

Anyway, students are not the only cases. You have property agents, insurance agents, non-customers (aunties and uncles) that occupies the seat there for 1 to 2 hours to rest their feet or wait for friends and end up not buying anything and leaves.

How about uncle chatting in forums with his MacBook and tablet? LOL

 

[Halfmoon]

I think in sg, house is too small so they hv no proper area to study at home?

 

[user12343]

Free aircon, buy one drink can find table with nearest wall outlet and hog the place lor...

 

[hanzohattori]

I think in sg, house is too small so they hv no proper area to study at home?

+1 :thumbsup:

 

[justme77]

I think in sg, house is too small so they hv no proper area to study at home?

Its also one of the reason. Not many people have large units and those that have would have families. Not convenient for people to come over to study. Unlike Sion's place where he has a garden

 

[Jedi]

Where does the buck stop though?

If I want to go to McDonald's or any food establishment to chat with my friends, buy a drink and sit down and catch up... If I never touch my drink, the same story applies. It isn't limited to studying. Do we really want to be a city where eating places are just to eat quickly and leave just as quickly? Where do you end up socializing then? Void decks? Grass patches? If you argue that socializing doesn't take up to 8-10 hours, certainly the scenario where customers have to wait for people to finish chatting (which can take anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on the group, and this DOES happen in many countries, definitely in Europe) applies.

I suspect these establishments have already factored in the costs of doing so into their pricing, if not they would certainly chase the students away. Or establish policies to circumvent such occurrences.

You are taking it out of the topic. I am referring to studying.

You can socialise with friends at these places for 1-2 hours, just like having a meal there which may take up 1 hour or so. But now we have a large group of people staying there to study for long hours or even the whole day, so it is alright as per said by you. You may not even find seats to begin with your chat chit session with your friends at the first place.

 

[d2xpeter]

You are taking it out of the topic. I am referring to studying.

You can socialise with friends at these places for 1-2 hours, just like having a meal there which may take up 1 hour or so. But now we have a large group of people staying there to study for long hours or even the whole day, so it is alright as per said by you. You may not even find seats to begin with your chat chit session with your friends at the first place.

Then it should not be on just studying. Because if the studying is done within the 1-2 hrs as deemed OK by you, then studying is not at fault.
So it actually boils down to the DURATION.

 

[richiemccaw1]

Perhaps the issue is how considerate the users are for the others. I dont think there would be any issue if the students were studying during off-peak periods but perhaps they can give up their seats during peak periods when the eateries need the seats the most. Yes there can be signs put up for this but why make it awkward for the eateries to have to send staff to enforce such 'policies'?

As we continue in our glacial improvement towards being a gracious society, I am confident that come one day our students would be 'zi dong' enough not to hog the seats for hours at one go.

 

[d2xpeter]

Perhaps the issue is how considerate the users are for the others. I dont think there would be any issue if the students were studying during off-peak periods but perhaps they can give up their seats during peak periods when the eateries need the seats the most. Yes there can be signs put up for this but why make it awkward for the eateries to have to send staff to enforce such 'policies'?

As we continue in our glacial improvement towards being a gracious society, I am confident that come one day our students would be 'zi dong' enough not to hog the seats for hours at one go.

+1. Well said

 

[Jedi]

Then it should not be on just studying. Because if the studying is done within the 1-2 hrs as deemed OK by you, then studying is not at fault.
So it actually boils down to the DURATION.

Bro, it is not whether I am ok or not. If somebody needs to consume his meal for 1 hour, can we chase him off? Sometimes, we have to be reasonable.

As for what you said about studying for 1-2 hours, yes, it may seem alright but in reality, how many of them really study for just 1-2 hours and then pack up?