Reputations and Perceptions

It's great that more and more businesses are offering free wireless Internet.  You almost expect to the see the service in coffeehouses.  I have to admit that I laughed when I saw a sign for free Wi-Fi at a Denny's restaurant.

While I haven't been in a Denny's for a long time, my memories of the chain include slow service.  While I realize that it's probably illogical to think this, somehow I feel that using the Internet at a Denny's would involve a slow connection.  I can't imagine any kind of speed being associated with the restaurant.

At the same time, I would imagine that McDonald's would have a fast connection.  Is this because McDonald's serves food quickly?

Somehow I don't think that a potentially more crowded McDonald's would have more people online, resulting in a slower connection.

This is a good example of the irrationality of our perceptions as they can apply to a brand.  If I could consider myself a test group, I might suggest to Denny's that its advertisements suggest, "lightening fast connections," in order to overcome my belief that I would be frustrated both waiting for my food and for websites to upload.