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Another Perspective
Missing Chairs
Nothing like making a shopper fell unwelcome.
“Have a seat,” used to be a polite invitation, which now has metamorphosed to “Where are the chairs?”
Time was not long ago that businesses provided chairs, inside and out front. The thought occurred at a well-attended antiques show out near the airport this past weekend, where men and women, having paid 8 bucks to get in and spend their remaining money were required to stand outside, leaning against the building, to smoke, talk, or while away some time. No longer are chairs there. Only sore backs.
This is so in many places, including plush venders’ establishments. Trying to wedge one’s way inside a well-known coffee shop, hoping that those occupying the spaces inside with their laptop computers or recent novels, there is nothing to do to but while a way outside. There is a double chair within view far down the walkway, too far to offer access to coffee or to guess which of the semi-permanent guests inside might decide to leave.
There could be several reasons for the disappearance of chairs. Theft of those outside is one, but a remote one. More likely the disappearance is due to a desire of business not to encourage guests to linger. Buy, and leave, seems the motto. The antique emporium provides a single chair at each antique offering site, occupied by the entrepreneur whose stand it is.
Speaking of buying. Ever hear of a mall with an admission charge? The minimum at the antique show is usually eight dollars, eight dollars for the privilege of wandering inside to see if there is anything worth having.
The absence of chairs for those who wait is simply a sign of these times. They never heard of those who also serve but only stand and wait.
About the Author
Reid Collins is a former CBS and CNN news correspondent.
Darin| 9.22.10 @ 7:05AM
I'm no fan of shopping. I go, get what I need, and leave (shop is a verb). My wife prefers to look around and check things out (shop is a noun). I have no problem going with her if the store has someplace I can sit while she does her browsing (my knees don't like excessive standing). The absence of chairs translates into the absence of me. And since we consult each other on significant purchases, it also means the store is likely to lose a big sale.
Appleby| 9.22.10 @ 7:31AM
I was at an airport gate waiting for a delayed (for a change) overseas flight; the gate attendants kept advising us to *take a seat* long after all the seats were taken.
Even all the seats that had been occupied by the luggage and coats of people who were clearly annoyed that they had to sit next to someone.
Flit Andersen| 9.27.10 @ 2:09PM
Regarding seats for luggage...In these situations, I always place my luggage on the floor in front of me and if I see people waiting for a seat will remove my coat from the adjacent seat so that they may use it. Conversely, I have no shame in "asking" somebody to remove their luggage for a seat I would like to use. Sometimes hand-signals are neccessary to those pretending they don't understand English, but even the termially-ignorant get the point pretty quickly.
I've never had to pick up somebody else's bag and remove it myself, but I'd have no problem doing it if I had to.
Don't let people get away with this ignorance!
Curly Smith| 9.22.10 @ 8:09AM
You had the answer and you left it waft away. Businesses removed the outside chairs because they attracted smokers who would fill the air in front of the store with second-hand smoke and litter the entryway their cigarette butts. Non-smoking customers would have to wade through the "deadly" plumes to gain access and many said "no thanks, I'd rather live another day" and all those butts were just unsightly. The chairs inside for non-smokers were then removed after the smokers who worked for the business pointed out the discriminatory nature of the chairs. So, you lost your seat because of the second-hand smoke hoax. But, remember to smoke for the children! We need the tax money!
PolishKnight| 9.22.10 @ 11:23AM
I'm sorry, I don't have sympathy for the poor smokers who are addicted to their substance worse than crack. The stuff is vile and obnoxious and it needn't be poisonous (which it is) to be a nuisance.
I think they should up the tax to 10 bucks a pack. Or even 20. They're addicts so they'll pay anything.
Texas Mom 2010| 9.22.10 @ 11:53AM
By your reasoning, addicts should pay. OK fine, how about caffiene addicts? Impose a tax on coffee drinks, say a dollar a cup sold. They will pay it, right? The punish the addict for engaging in lawful activity because you do not like the activity is not a good argument. Btw I am not a smoker just someone who is tired of the government punishing people for lawful behavior. Really tired... Of the antismoking lobby, PETA, Code Pink, etc. The same people saying opposition to th GZ mosque is intolerant. Well where is the tolerance for the rest of us? Sorry about the rant you just hit a nerve with the tax smokers, tax the rich etc.
Texas Mom 2010| 9.22.10 @ 11:55AM
Oh yeah, and the fat police, green police, salt police recycle police, it goes on and on. Groups trying to force their wishes on the rest of us.
Kevin Riley O'Keeffe | 9.23.10 @ 2:57AM
Anyone who objects to people smoking outdoors is an asshole. If you don't agree, then your opinion is worthless.
Anastasia Mather| 9.22.10 @ 9:12AM
Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth, NJ is a man's paradise. Comfy seats. So theoretically, he could go to a book store, get something to amuse himself, maybe a CD, get something munchy from the food court and set up shop while his females pursue the bargain in the outlet stores that populate this particular mall. It's a thing of beauty.
Hoboken John| 9.22.10 @ 9:50AM
Until you return to your car to find it stolen or broken in to...happened to me twice with two different people...a dreadful parking lot in a dreadful part of NJ
Maxwell| 9.22.10 @ 2:06PM
Lori and I had a deal, on the way to get my new Cooper 22 at New Jersey Firearms Guild we would stop at Nordstroms in the Edison Mall. While she would shop I would sit on the sofa. Was not long and I was out like a light snoring the whole time. Lori said I was so loud not only did she hear me but so did the rest of the store. She shopped and I got a new gun. Life is good.
Tamed| 9.22.10 @ 10:08AM
Dress Shops and cobblers need chairs so that spouses can wait and hold packages while the wife tries things on. I've taken to carrying a Pakistan made shooting stick as chairs are so often unavailable.
Don L| 9.22.10 @ 10:38AM
I have a back that allows me to stand for just minutes at a time. Those missing chairs coast a lot of companies my business.
Appleby| 9.22.10 @ 4:46PM
Bookstores used to have comfortable seating, but so many unemployed Yners were wasting the entire day in one of those comfy seats, reading the merchandise, that real customers started to get seriously annoyed and fights broke out. So now you have to sit on the floor. Which is fine until you need to get on your feet again!
P.S. If you have children with you when you happen to find seats available, PLEASE do not allow those children to STAND on the seats. If you do, please wipe the dirt off before you leave; it's a good example for the children and will save your having to declare the next person by "anti family! anti child!" when s/he objects.
Erica Brigid| 9.22.10 @ 7:59PM
I do a lot of craft shows. It's a venue where no one gets a seat unless one brings one's own. I always bring at least two folding chairs, and offer one to the non-browsing member of a couple -- he's the one carrying the money.
Adult toys | 7.4.11 @ 3:38AM
To me, it's the least important thing in the world to be "politically correct".l like the space.support.
thank you.