I guess this shows there are two sides to the story. first off, if your business staying open is dependent on me buying a bottle of water, you better close the doors, you have no idea how to run a pool hall.
I guess I'm one of the old timers that won't buy a bottle of water. I think I have only bought two bottles in my life, and I felt bad when I did. Funny how people complain about those that don't want to pay for a glass of water to drink because it hurts the business to give it away, but the same people have no problem taking a free GALLON of water and taking a dump in it.
When I go there to play pool, that is why I am there. I am not there to support the business. I am there to either practice, or to make some money myself. Funny how the same people that complain about not supporting one business man complain about supporting another business man when they have to pay the time when they lose. Or complain when the better players actually want to charge them for info so they can get better.
Bottled water is one of the biggest scams out there. But, you young 'uns have grown up seeing it, so it doesn't bother you like it does us older folk. Now, if the room owner is going to offer bottled water, then a dollar is about right. I say that because he has to go buy the stuff himself, and make a little profit on it. But, I also feel he shouldn't be buying it to start with. Most bottled water is nothing more than tap water anyways. Some just filter it a little more, some don't.
As to sitting around the room for a few hours- remind me next time I'm working the counter to kick you butt out the door as soon as you are done shooting. It's called good business for those that don't have a clue. I might be sitting around for a few hours today and not spend a dime. I'm window shopping, ever heard of that?? But tomorrow, I might be in a game and spend a hundred or two on table time. Not like the one or two hours of table time you spend. Having bodies in the room is WAY better than having no bodies in the room. If the parking lot is empty, people will drive right on by.
Years ago, I basically lived in a pool room for a while. There were about half a dozen of us that did. The room was semi-divided in half by the bathrooms. One side was the action side, the other side the banger side. Any time you came in you could find at least 3 of us laying on the benches. Guess which side made the owner the most money? Yeah, the side with us "frreeloaders" made the owner 3 times the amount of money as the other side.
So, all some of you have done here, is show that you really don't have a clue.