Drink free coffee for a whole day in the restaurant
By Simon1223
@Simon1223 (903)
China
September 7, 2011 3:31am CST
Yesterday I heard a news that attracted the attention of people in my city. It is said that hundreds of elders gathered in a IKEA restaurant every Tuesday and Thursday. They only drank coffee using their member cards and talked with each other for a whole day. According to the rules made by IKEA, people who have member cards could drink coffee for free on weekdays. So the consequence was that during those periods of time there was no seat for people who really wanted to consume something in the restaurant. IKEA suffered a lot due to the conduct of those elders. But those elders thought that they did nothing wrong for they totally followed the rules of IKEA. What do you think of such conduct? Do you think they should be blamed? I'm expecting for you opinions.
5 people like this
16 responses
@ReverendShaggy (415)
• Philippines
7 Sep 11
With a rule set up like that, what did IKEA expect? They were asking for it to happen. There isn't a thing wrong with the elders sitting and enjoying the coffee and conversations. The fact that IKEA had the rule that allowed the problem to arise just means that they didn't put into affect a fully thought out business plan in that respect. Trying to fix it now is of course gonna cause again more problems. Had they had stipulations in place initially then there would be no arguments would there? On a simple sidenote to it though, do you know if anyone considered just asking the elders if they would mind moving on so that they could also enjoy the atmosphere of the area?
2 people like this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
7 Sep 11
Exactly. That is the way I feel. There should have been a limit to the amount of coffee a non-paying client could consume, and if there were a crowding problem the paying customers should get the tables.
1 person likes this
@voracious (624)
• Philippines
7 Sep 11
Wow that's cool! Free coffee for everybody. I wish there will be a free coffee in our country because coffee here has an anomaly price of 100 million pesos dang.
1 person likes this
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
7 Sep 11
Thank you for your response. Free coffee is not for everybody, just for those who have member cards. A member card usually costs you a little money. If you drink coffee there frequently, you'll feel it worth the money. But the problem is they occupy the seats for a whole day and talk with each other loudly. If you are a customer who wanna consume something in the restaurant, I'm sure you won't like such atmosphere.
@voracious (624)
• Philippines
7 Sep 11
At least they can drink coffee if they will have a membership card. But here Coffee is also a source of corruption in the government. I hope that there will be free bottomless coffee here in our country.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
7 Sep 11
Well, that wasn't planned out very well, was it? It's the IKEA's fault for not setting limits. They should have set a number of free cups of coffee and they should have ranked their paying customers as more valuable. They should have been able to reserve tables for paying customers. Let the free customers stand if they want their coffee. Paying customers always get the seats if there is a crowding problem... that should be a given.
1 person likes this
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
8 Sep 11
Thank you for your response. I agree that IKEA should responsible for such situation for it didn't anticipate such a group of people. In reality, most customers who have member cards usually buy other foods in the restaurant while drinking free coffee. But for we live in a city where more than 20 million people live, it's not strange that some of them like to gain petty advantages.
@Digitalgal (91)
• United States
7 Sep 11
I think it is really inconsiderate for the elders to act that way. But they feel entitled to act that way because Ikea lets them. Perhaps Ikea should let them have free coffee only during certain hours of the day.
1 person likes this
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
8 Sep 11
Thank you for your response. These elders didn't break any rules made by IKEA. But it's obvious that they abused their rights of enjoying free coffee as a member. If they just drink coffee in one or two hours in the restaurant, I guess nobody will mind that.
@naseemkum (1803)
• India
7 Sep 11
Free is the only thing people like in everythings. I cant find fault with those elders because they are given freedom by IKEA To drink coffee in weekdays. As seems to say that they are following the rules. If want to stop them they want to loose all the old members for new members. Its my personal opinion
1 person likes this
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
7 Sep 11
Thank you for your response. It's true that these elders didn't break the rules made by IKEA. Now IKEA has taken some methods to solve this problem. It regulated that on weekdays people who drink free coffee should sit in a certain area of restaurant so that other customers could have the opportunities of enjoying their meals. But this method was opposed by these elders and there occurred a conflict between elders and IKEA.
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
2 Nov 17
Thank you for your response. I guess IKEA thought that setting limits would negatively affect its reputation.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
8 Sep 11
well, i think that since IKEA is the one who set up the rules, they must bear the consequences... again, the elders just following the rules and they do nothing wrong in my opinion... take care and have a nice day...
@naka75 (795)
• Singapore
8 Sep 11
The IKEA restaurant in my city was also crowded on both weekdays and weekends. Over here IKEA members do not have the privilege of free coffee using their membership cards but the food were sold at a concession price. The food prepared were tasty and the restaurant was usually crowded. I don't think it make sense for IKEA to give out free coffee on weekdays as the restaurant business is doing very well. Besides, customers have to go through a long queue before they can find a place to sit. It won't make sense to go through the queue just for a cup of coffee. Perhaps the IKEA in your city should make it a rule that free coffee will be given when the customer buys a set lunch or dinner.
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
11 Oct 15
I think those old people are really selfish.
I think Ikea will do away with such tricks.
Ikea has such marketing in so many countries, and yet only in China does it backfire.
i think the mentality of the Chinese has to change.
They have to learn to be considerate, so that businesses can extend such good benefits for a longer time, and benefit more people.
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
12 Oct 15
It's quite difficult for those elderly people to change their behaviors. They grew up in an era that people fought with each other according to the policies of party and government. Such severe environment made them only care about their own interests. Reputation meant nothing to them. But with the rise of income and education level, people take reputation more and more seriously. It's obvious that young people behave much more politely than elderly people. I'm sure such news will appear less in the future.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Sep 11
I think both in part are to blame but more so on the part of Ikea though. They should have anticipated issues such as these as not just the elders but when people hear free it is common that a lot will take advantage. If there are no restrictions I certainly can understand some wanting to get in on them.
The elders that are being blamed, well all I can say is that them and or anyone really should be a bit more courteous when it comes to "free". It is not fair that the paying customers do not have a place to sit and enjoy the items they paid for.
So the only way around this is for Ikea to make some type of change and or do like some other places where they do limit the hours and or limit the complete free part of he deal.
@BannedHelsing (693)
• Philippines
8 Sep 11
As you said, the elders are within the boundary of the rules set by IKEA itself. They are not breaking any rules. I think the one at fault here is IKEA because they started a promo without analyzing the possible effects of abuse.
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
7 Sep 11
It is a difficult question and one that requires consideration. Some of our elders are unique people who have contributed much to our world and deserve credit and respect from us. Perhaps it is a social ill rather than a marketing problem but I think we have to deal with this kind of issue delicately. If it was just a marketing issue then IKEA could remove that promotion and start another that actually works?
@Simon1223 (903)
• China
7 Sep 11
Thank you for your response. Actually I totally understand those elders. Due to the certain reasons, they didn't receive good education so that they didn't earn much money. They tried their best to save every cent. But such conduct also damaged the interest of IKEA and other customers.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
7 Sep 11
I do not see that they did anything wrong. I think Ikea did not expect for the elders to go and sit and drink coffee for an entire day, atleast not so many and for it to affect the restaurant. Maybe if they limit it to one day a week, that way the elders can still go sit and chat, and the restaurant wouldn't suffer as much, or maybe even just limit the coffee to being free from 8 am to 12 pm, so that those who want to go for lunch can still go.
@flowerfest08 (1677)
•
7 Sep 11
hi:)
wow that's a good strategy to attract people, but perhaps the membership fee is also expensive. well they should expect that from the start, members will surely enjoy the benefits and for sure they will drink coffee more than they could really consume just to get back every penny they pay for the membership, perhaps it's better if they change their strategy,they can make it 50%off for members, I think that's fair enough.
