How come the couch is always free in Central Perk?

When did you ever walk into Starbucks (other coffee chains are available) and find that it was free? The place is crowded, people are sat at tables but for some reason, nobody has bothered with the super-comfy couch. Hmmmm. Let me think. That would be NEVER. Obtaining the couch in a coffee shop always calls for stealth manoevures. You go in, and you check who’s on it, then you check how full their cups are…anything less than half and there’s a chance it will be free before you finally get served so you keep watching, slipping your coat off so you can bagsy the couch if the lazy gits ever move. Which of course they don’t so then you reach the counter and your purse is on your bag but you can’t look properly because you’re holding your coat and the girl serving tuts and rolls her eyes, meanwhile the bastards on the sofa look like they’re falling into a coma.

You never get the couch in coffee shops. It’s the law.

Unless your name happens to be Monica, Rachel, Chandler, Joey or Ross.