This is one of the best advertisements for free wireless I’ve seen:

This was seen outside none other than La Madeleine, a combo bakery-cafe-bistro thingy that’s well, frenchy.  I’ve been there a couple times for brunchy goodness, but I’ll take a normal everyday stuffed breakfast taco any day over a scone or something I can’t pronounce.  Which doesn’t really leave out a lot.

I think that sign is the best so far.  I’ve seen the generic “free wireless here” or similar boring signs, and once in a while I’ll see a non-boring but clearly not great one like “Search for your next job here on our free wireless internet.”  Why can’t they have something funny and sexy like “Have your next internet affair here!” or “Surf with your clothes ON for a change” or I dunno, *some*thing out of the ordinary.

In some ways I can see how free wireless is an attraction, because people can sit down, drink their coffee or eat their donut or whatever, and browse around or work.  But aren’t they taking up a seat?  What if they sit there for 4 hours?  Is that still a good thing?  I guess maybe it is, because they’re probably going to get hungry or thirsty enough to buy something, but it still seems like it would backfire with dozens of stingy slobs taking up valuable customer space just so they can use the free internet access.

Plus, I don’t think I could work while sitting in a coffee shop.  The seats are too uncomfortable and I’d always be distracted by the people coming and going, aka “customers”. 

What free wireless signs have you seen that caught your attention?