I haven't seen a coworking place that isn't insanely overpriced compared to a coffee shop so it's no surprise they're not doing well.

In my experience price isn't the only issue. One of the (smaller) coworking spaces I can have access to locally, closes at 6pm while a coffee shop at around 9-10PM and it's also open on weekends.

But then again, I find working in coffee shops too distracting, so work from home and randomly popping into a coworking space now and then.

Little overpriced but I've found Loop Earplugs to help working in coffee shops, etc. Muffles out most of the sound but not everything, enough to focus but not fly off your seat if someone taps your shoulder.

What's the purpose of doing this over working at home where this problem doesn't exist?

I work at home 99% of the time but occasionally it's nice to get out of the house and see the world of the living.

For many you really want a distinction between “work area” and “home” - one way is to have a separate office at home to do work in, but you can also leave the house and go somewhere.

If you work on the kitchen table and that’s where you play, also, the mind and body have hard times disengaging from work.

Yeah, but isn't the question whether the co-working place is overpriced or if the coffee shop is underpriced or maybe both?

I tried wework. The seats were unbelievably uncomfortable. For the low-low price of $500 usd to get a hot seat, it's just much worse than coffeeshops.

Coworking spaces need to colocate with services. Starbucks, Fedex Kinkos, massage chairs....

Imagine if a little critical thinking like this had been allowed to enter the minds of WeWork investors.

Companies pay more than coffee prices for offices