Select Starbucks Blocking Ports To Prevent Wi-Fi Camping

Have you visited a Starbucks in a major city recently? Not for the coffee, but for the wall outlet and the free Wi-Fi? Shame on you! But in honesty, Starbucks had to know 'campers' would come once they removed the cover from their Internet and offered it to all. But Internet's only as good as the power that comes with it. Once your laptop battery dies, all the free WLAN waves in the world aren't going to do you any good.

It has apparently become quite the problem. A new report from Reuters points out that some highly trafficked Starbucks facilities in New York City are actually blocked electrical outlets in a bid to keep campers moving on and provide seats for actual customers who just need a place to rest after buying up a latte or yogurt cup (or whatever else Starbucks sells).


Starbucks spokesman Alan Hilowitz didn't provide much of a statement, but here it is: "Customers are asking (for it) .... They just purchased a latte and a pastry and there is nowhere to sit down in some of these really high-volume stores. If this is what the store needs to do to support the business, then they're allowed to make the decision to do that. It really is all about the balance."

That's what you get with free, we guess.