# If you're going to have WiFi at your business, make it fucking work **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 6, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118 "2015-08-06T01:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/41 "2015-08-06T23:22:22Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Do you do banking from your iPad? Or access the Internet? Your passwords are exposed. Well then whoever has them is playing the long game. I read the article posted up-thread. All of that assumes somebody is actually going to the trouble of doing it. I accept the risk is there, but how much is this actually happening for real? Seems one is more at risk when hackers get into some company’s database. Are random people routinely getting hacked on the McD, Starbucks or airport WiFi networks? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/42 "2015-08-07T00:11:24Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Do you do banking from your iPad? Or access the Internet? Your passwords are exposed. This isn’t true. If the connections are “secure,” the passwords are encrypted, along with the data. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/43 "2015-08-07T01:28:55Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > Are random people routinely getting hacked on the McD, Starbucks or airport WiFi networks? Very difficult to determine, given that a compromised account can go weeks/months/years before being used or detected, and a lot of people will just assume it was a result of a company hack instead of something like an open wifi connection. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/44 "2015-08-08T00:15:22Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > I should not have to re-log on after 30 minutes or whatever. You do know that they are providing wi-fi for their _customers,_ and that at most McDonald’s and coffee shops 30 minutes is plenty of time for you to eat, drink, and LEAVE? Staying longer you’ve stopped being a customer and started to be a leech who is hogging a table a paying customer might need. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/45 "2015-08-08T01:19:05Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > I’m surprised to see that people actually care about wifi in public places. To me, wifi is something that you use only when you absolutely have to. At work or home it’s nice, but when out and about the only time I can recall using it was at a hotel where I didn’t have a cell signal and really needed to view something on my phone. > > Can I ask why people need it? > > Is it because you don’t have enough data? > You don’t get enough cell reception at most places? > You have a device that’s only wifi and doesn’t have it’s own cell signal? > > Are people complaining about not having a signal for their phone, tablet or laptop? It’s not really a data issue for me, if I have a 4G connection I’m content to eat up my own data to do what I need to, email hardly a data hog. It’s a nice perk to not use data when wifi is available but not a necessity. Cell phone reception in my area is often an issue. In MA people are unreasonably anti-tower and cell towers have limitations based on geography. With Verizon I have cell phone reception in most areas, a few have horrible reception but I know when people call and some areas I don’t even get cell reception. There are restaurants I will not eat at because I get no reception at them. When it comes to data, not nearly enough areas have a good network coverage so I much prefer places that have wifi available, I might not be able to hold a conversation on the phone but at least I can communicate with customers via email. I have a smart phone and a tablet both are cellular. I can live without wifi but life with it is much better. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/46 "2015-08-08T05:09:00Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > We’re reaching the point where Wi-Fi is just as important to customers as toilets. Bandwidth is just like electricity and running water - a precondition for running a business. Public toilets, yes. Internet, not so much. In my experience having free wi-fi everywhere is much more the case outside the U.S. More restaurants and coffee shops are going this way but it isn’t as common as when I’ve been traveling. I don’t think many people over 40 and certainly over 50, make decisions about what businesses they patronize based on free public Wi-Fi. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/47 "2015-08-08T05:47:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > You do know that they are providing wi-fi for their _customers,_ and that at most McDonald’s and coffee shops 30 minutes is plenty of time for you to eat, drink, and LEAVE? Staying longer you’ve stopped being a customer and started to be a leech who is hogging a table a paying customer might need. The only reason I go into McD’s is the WiFi. I buy an iced tea and sit with my iPad. Were it not for the WiFi, I wouldn’t go in there at all. If a business were assholish enough to ask me to leave after 30 minutes I’d point out that they would be losing a customer permanently as a result. Point being, WiFi works as a way of attracting customers like me. Hence, make it work well so we keep coming back. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/48 "2015-08-08T06:21:19Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > The only reason I go into McD’s is the WiFi. I buy an iced tea and sit with my iPad. Were it not for the WiFi, I wouldn’t go in there at all. If a business were assholish enough to ask me to leave after 30 minutes I’d point out that they would be losing a customer permanently as a result. > > Point being, WiFi works as a way of attracting customers like me. Hence, make it work well so we keep coming back. What makes you think McDonalds would want to keep a customer that buys an ice tea then takes up a table for more then 30 minutes? I think they’d want to lose such customers, maybe that’s why they limit it to 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/49 "2015-08-08T06:56:36Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > The only reason I go into McD’s is the WiFi. I buy an iced tea and sit with my iPad. Were it not for the WiFi, I wouldn’t go in there at all. If a business were assholish enough to ask me to leave after 30 minutes I’d point out that they would be losing a customer permanently as a result. > > Point being, WiFi works as a way of attracting customers like me. Hence, make it work well so we keep coming back. > [@boytyperanma](#): > > What makes you think McDonalds would want to keep a customer that buys an ice tea then takes up a table for more then 30 minutes? > > I think they’d want to lose such customers, maybe that’s why they limit it to 30 minutes. Yeah, there isn’t a business on the face of this Earth that wants customers who just buy iced tea and sit for hours at a time to use the wi-fi. If that does ever happen to you, **Llama** (and I really hope it does), you can safely spare them the righteous indignation. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/50 "2015-08-08T12:04:18Z")
They need to come up with a different login protocol that does not require the user to log on. Some device recognition where the device itself would seamless connect and exchange any logon credentials along the way. I don’t think the carriers would like this however. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/51 "2015-08-08T12:12:56Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > They need to come up with a different login protocol that does not require the user to log on. Some device recognition where the device itself would seamless connect and exchange any logon credentials along the way. I don’t think the carriers would like this however. What about unprotected wifi? At home our wifi isn’t password protected. If you’re close enough to use it, you’re in our home or on our porch, and I trust my guests. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/52 "2015-08-08T12:38:11Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > What about unprotected wifi? > > At home our wifi isn’t password protected. If you’re close enough to use it, you’re in our home or on our porch, and I trust my guests. It still requires logging in (connecting) for the first time. I was thinking more of a trusted wifi hot spot and a trusted end use device (such as a smartphone) would just connect automatically. They would workout the details how such a device would be trusted. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/53 "2015-08-08T16:08:21Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Yeah, there isn’t a business on the face of this Earth that wants customers who just buy iced tea and sit for hours at a time to use the wi-fi. If that does ever happen to you, **Llama** (and I really hope it does), you can safely spare them the righteous indignation. Versus never going there and never buying anything? I’m not sure I agree with that. First of all, I personally never take up a table when it’s crowded. I’m sitting at a table that nobody is using anyway, I’m buying a product that has a huge markup, and I’m doing it a few times a month. I’d say McD’s is winning with people like me, especially when you figure some of them will also buy food (which I do once in a while also, but not often). The whole point of having WiFi is to attract customers. It’s working. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/54 "2015-08-10T06:49:49Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > What makes you think McDonalds would want to keep a customer that buys an ice tea then takes up a table for more then 30 minutes? > > I think they’d want to lose such customers, maybe that’s why they limit it to 30 minutes. Starbucks seems a bit more relaxed about the time issue. I had to run to a nearby one to do and submit some homework (home connectivity was down), so I got a drink and a piece of their banana bread (which I really like). I was probably there for 45 minutes, and the staff didn’t seem bothered by that long a stay. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/55 "2015-08-10T07:56:52Z")
> [@Llama\_Llogophile](#): > > The whole point of having WiFi is to attract customers. It’s working. The point of having customers is to make a profit. In your case, the free WiFi seems to be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/56 "2015-08-10T15:15:30Z")
The 30 minute limit at McDonald’s is more about stopping homeless people from camping out there for hours. If you buy something, _and it’s not crowded_, then no one will say anything to you if you are there more than 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/57 "2015-08-10T15:25:25Z")
A bar/restaurant near us has free WiFi. The waitresses all tell customers that, “the password is JohnDeere, no spaces, like the tractor”. Only it is actually JohnDear. I don’t know if it is a joke or what. I got it right just trying different spellings. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/58 "2015-08-10T15:31:49Z")
> [@Gary\_Kumquat](#): > > The point of having customers is to make a profit. In your case, the free WiFi seems to be a bad idea. Fast food places have a HUGE profit margin on drinks. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/59 "2015-08-10T16:14:08Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > It still requires logging in (connecting) for the first time. I was thinking more of a trusted wifi hot spot and a trusted end use device (such as a smartphone) would just connect automatically. They would workout the details how such a device would be trusted. It’s not your device they don’t trust, it’s you. The log in is so you can click on the part saying you won’t break the rules so if you do they can say it wasn’t our fault, we told him not to do it when the owner of the copyright or site hacked or whatever traces it back to the owner of the WiFi. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118/60 "2015-08-10T16:17:51Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Fast food places have a HUGE profit margin on drinks. A McDonald’s iced tea costs around $1.66. Even if the profit is 100%, $1.66 for someone who then wants to sit in a restaurant and use the wifi for as long as they like is not a viable business. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-youre-going-to-have-wifi-at-your-business-make-it-fucking-work/727118.md?page=4)