Consumer rights? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

subnet_rx · 11-12-2003, 11:22 PM

I don't really know where to start to look up information on this, so I'll post it here and see if anyone knows anything about this or had a similar experience.

I recently found out that a couple of my friends that go to a coffee shop with me are being kicked out because they are being obnoxious towards the workers there. The problem is, is that we are also being discriminated against because we associate with these people. They don't want to serve us and they are putting our names on a list in the shop that says and I quote "Friends of the creepy guys" This is the only coffee shop in town that stays open late and we are there 3 to 4 nights a week. We have never said a word to the workers besides a greeting and maybe "Have a good day" My question is, do we have any legal right against this or can they just refuse to serve us without a reason?

empu · 11-12-2003, 11:43 PM

I don't think they need a reason, although it may depend on regional differences in the law. Most places post a notice to this effect.

I applaud the owner of the coffee shop for sticking up for the employees. If you really are innocent in this situation then you can probably work your way back into their favor with a sincere apology (perhaps after a bit of time away from the place.)

Sounds like your bigger problem is with your creepy obnoxious friends.

numist · 11-13-2003, 12:06 AM

All stores have the right to refuse service to anyone.

This means that if they dont feel like it, they can refuse to give you anything. Kicking you off the property is slightly different, but it still lays mainly in the store's realm.

Ditch the 'friends' and try talking with the manager.

subnet_rx · 11-13-2003, 01:00 AM

well, we highly doubt that a manager or owner has been contacted in this situation. Your right on the friends, and we are, but I really don't like that my name is posted like this without so much as a warning that they were even doing anything.

onetime2 · 11-13-2003, 04:38 AM

Have you talked to the workers that made the list to tell them that you recognize your friends' behaviors as being obnoxious and you hate that they do it? If not, then that's the first step.

If you still get attitude from them I would get management involved. Of course, I probably would then stop going there since the employees would not be happy and I don't like to get food/beverages from people who dislike me. Throw in that if they're juvenile enough to create a "friends of creepy guys" list they're probably juvenile enough to spit in your food.

Cynthetiq · 11-13-2003, 08:48 AM

Every business has the RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE.

We have seen though that they cannot refuse service based on SEX, RACE, RELIGION, DISABILITY, and all the other discriminations.

One of the reasons why it's important why you "don't shit where you eat." When my friends were asses like that and jeopardized my situations, they got eraseds off the friends list.

If you were ever in their company at the coffee shop all together and your friends were being obnoxious and you didn't stop them, you are equally guilty and deserving to equally be banned.

quadro2000 · 11-13-2003, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
If you were ever in their company at the coffee shop all together and your friends were being obnoxious and you didn't stop them, you are equally guilty and deserving to equally be banned.

I disagree. It's really very difficult to stop obnoxious people from being obnoxious. Obnoxious people tend not to listen, they're in their own world and nothing's going to pull them out of it. And why is it his responsibility to stop them, anyway? The very best he could have/should have done at the time would have been to disassociate with those people after they made a scene. I would agree, though, that you share some of the blame if you continued to hang with them when they were being obnoxious. You can't necessarily stop them, but you could have walked away.

I think the best you can do, subnet, is go talk to the manager about it, as others have suggested. Explain that you have never caused a scene, that you enjoy patronizing their shop, and that you promise never to cause a scene anything remotely like the one that got everyone banned in the first place. Tell them that if they ever catch you acting in that manner, they have every right to ban you. And then stick to your promise. And buy coffee.

subnet_rx · 11-13-2003, 01:53 PM

thanks for the replies, we have talked to the workers and explained the situation. Which is, we don't laugh or condone this activity, and that's really what put us on the "friends of" list and not the list itself. Which, as I read this, I can see where this all sounds childish, but we just like the place and go there alot, so it's important to us that we aren't treated like outcasts, especially when we didn't do anything. I guess the owner is now our only outlet if anything else happens.

11-12-2003, 11:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
subnet_rx Upright	Consumer rights? I don't really know where to start to look up information on this, so I'll post it here and see if anyone knows anything about this or had a similar experience. I recently found out that a couple of my friends that go to a coffee shop with me are being kicked out because they are being obnoxious towards the workers there. The problem is, is that we are also being discriminated against because we associate with these people. They don't want to serve us and they are putting our names on a list in the shop that says and I quote "Friends of the creepy guys" This is the only coffee shop in town that stays open late and we are there 3 to 4 nights a week. We have never said a word to the workers besides a greeting and maybe "Have a good day" My question is, do we have any legal right against this or can they just refuse to serve us without a reason? __________________ ESiteNow Web Design

11-13-2003, 01:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
subnet_rx Upright	well, we highly doubt that a manager or owner has been contacted in this situation. Your right on the friends, and we are, but I really don't like that my name is posted like this without so much as a warning that they were even doing anything. __________________ ESiteNow Web Design

11-13-2003, 04:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
onetime2 Junkie Location: NJ	Have you talked to the workers that made the list to tell them that you recognize your friends' behaviors as being obnoxious and you hate that they do it? If not, then that's the first step. If you still get attitude from them I would get management involved. Of course, I probably would then stop going there since the employees would not be happy and I don't like to get food/beverages from people who dislike me. Throw in that if they're juvenile enough to create a "friends of creepy guys" list they're probably juvenile enough to spit in your food. __________________ Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

11-13-2003, 08:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	Every business has the RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE. We have seen though that they cannot refuse service based on SEX, RACE, RELIGION, DISABILITY, and all the other discriminations. One of the reasons why it's important why you "don't shit where you eat." When my friends were asses like that and jeopardized my situations, they got eraseds off the friends list. If you were ever in their company at the coffee shop all together and your friends were being obnoxious and you didn't stop them, you are equally guilty and deserving to equally be banned. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

11-13-2003, 01:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
subnet_rx Upright	thanks for the replies, we have talked to the workers and explained the situation. Which is, we don't laugh or condone this activity, and that's really what put us on the "friends of" list and not the list itself. Which, as I read this, I can see where this all sounds childish, but we just like the place and go there alot, so it's important to us that we aren't treated like outcasts, especially when we didn't do anything. I guess the owner is now our only outlet if anything else happens. __________________ ESiteNow Web Design

11-12-2003, 11:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
empu Crazy	I don't think they need a reason, although it may depend on regional differences in the law. Most places post a notice to this effect. I applaud the owner of the coffee shop for sticking up for the employees. If you really are innocent in this situation then you can probably work your way back into their favor with a sincere apology (perhaps after a bit of time away from the place.) Sounds like your bigger problem is with your creepy obnoxious friends.

11-13-2003, 12:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
numist Banned Location: UCSD, 510.49 miles from my love	All stores have the right to refuse service to anyone. This means that if they dont feel like it, they can refuse to give you anything. Kicking you off the property is slightly different, but it still lays mainly in the store's realm. Ditch the 'friends' and try talking with the manager.