Do you talk on your cellphone while being checked out at a register?
By SusanLee
@SusanLee (1920)
United States
August 29, 2012 5:25am CST
I work at a department store and I've noticed how rude people are while you're trying to wait on them.
It is so annoying. They expect you to give great customer service but they can't stop yacking on their phone long enough to even take their bagged merchandise when they leave the counter. They are so preoccupied with their phone conversation you can't get their attention long enough to get them to verify the amount you punched in, sign their receipt or take their change.
Personally, I'd like to shove the phone down their throats. God forbid the thing rings in the middle of counting back change to them. Women tear at their purses digging for the phone lost at the bottom no mans land like their lives depend on it. Everything stops while they 'get that real quick' and you hear 'Oh hi, yeah I wanted to let you know I found the lip bleaching kit you recommended from Wal Mart bla bla bla'
I mean PLEASE! Everything comes to a stand still while she discusses what kind of coupon she used to save ten cents.
Do I use my phone while shopping? Yes. I also tell whom ever I'm talking to to hold while I give my sales associate my undivided attention. If my phone starts ringing while I'm checking out, I either ignore it or find it quickly and mute it.
The person waiting on me deserves the same consideration I expect from them.
Are you indifferent to the person waiting on you? Do you think it's okay to yack on your phone while you're being waiting on?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@CosmoOwl12 (411)
• United States
30 Aug 12
Ugh! That is one thing that really gets on my nerves. I've worked in retail and fast food and people have done that at both jobs I had. I worked at Burger King and this man came in on his cellphone. I could tell from what he was saying that he was arguing with his phone company about why they raised his payments. He was very rude to the person on the phone so I just knew he was going to be rude to me as well. He did tell the person to hold on so he could give me his order, but he went right back to arguing with them while I was waiting for him to pay for his food.
He finally gave me his money and I gave him his change which he dropped most of on the floor. Then my manager asked him if he wanted sauce for his onion rings and he wasn't paying attention because he was yelling about his cellphone plan. My manager said it a little louder and he yelled "YES I DO!" in a very rude tone. But as soon as he got his food and chose a place to sit, he told the person on the phone he would have to call them back so he could eat. Now why he couldn't have done that when he first walked in, I don't know.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
30 Aug 12
Thank-you. Those are the people I'm talking about.
The ones that don't need to be on the phone but are so indifferent to the individuals waiting on them that they can't give them courtesy of a few minuets of their time.
I have yet to wait on someone that's on their cell and it's an emergency. I know because I have yet to NOT hear the conversation.
I work retail and we have these huge sales. The line is backed up, people are cranky, we're going as fast as we can. You finally get them taken care of, they half look at the receipt as they're walking away.
Suddenly they stop, step in front of the person you're now waiting on and want to argue about all the clearance they bought. Why isn't it 75% or 85% off like the sign says?
Where as had they not been jacking their jaws on the phone about how their socks bind their ankles, they would have caught it as you were ringing them up and you could have explained what the clearance sign said. Because you see, had they not been on that stupid phone they might have been able to read the sign in the first place.
The place was a mad-house one day. Registers were backed up and her phone went off. Everything stopped while she dug around in her purse. Then we all had the pleasure of hearing her explain to the deaf person on the other end of the phone about what time she put the casserole in the oven.
Cell phones aside, it's amazing to me how people become illiterate when they step into a store. Or they have 'Selective comprehension'.
@CosmoOwl12 (411)
• United States
30 Aug 12
I know what you mean about people becoming illiterate. When I worked in retail, there were signs up all over the store stating how much things cost and people would still come up to me asking "how much is this?" or "are these on sale?". I never understood if it was because they honestly didn't see all the signs or if they just didn't pay attention. Some of them weren't even preoccupied with cellphone conversations so I guess they just genuinely didn't pay much attention.
I just can't stand it when people ask obvious questions so that's another reason why I hate it when people are on their phones when they should be giving their attention to cashiers. And another thing that completely ticks me off is when you see someone in the store with their children and the whole time they're on the phone yet wondering why their children aren't behaving. I just want to yell "PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR KIDS! YOU'RE IN PUBLIC!"
@CosmoOwl12 (411)
• United States
1 Sep 12
Sorry for the mouth-full. Lol I tend to ramble on when I'm talking about a topic that I can relate to.
Yesterday my boyfriend and I were in an antique / thrift store and I was paying with a debit card. The cashier asked me for my ID and it was in the car so my boyfriend went to get it. He came back in, handed me the ID, and I tried to hand it to the cashier but she didn't take it. I looked up at her and she was texting! She procceeded to send her text message and it took at least 30 minutes before she realized I was handing her my ID. So I suppose the lack of cellphone etiquette goes both ways.
@anix101 (44)
•
29 Aug 12
Wow, maybe customer service just isn't for you. You ask everyone whether they speak on the phone while at the check out, but paint it in such an awful light before hand, and seem to have directed it only at women. hmm, maybe you just had a bad day. If I am on the phone before hand or if my phone rings while checking out I don't see why I should have to ignore what could be an important call or end my phone call just to check out. I have no problem pausing my conversation long enough to listen to how much I owe, pass the money over and take my goods. Someone at customer service does not need my undivided attention and I don't consider being on my phone rude either. I have worked customer service myself for a long time and don't mind others doing it either. I guess it all just depends on what kind of person you are. Obviously if its to the point where the person is completely ignoring you for the sake of their conversation, then I consider that rude, simply because the individual could have just gone to check out a little later instead of when completely preoccupied.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
31 Aug 12
I have a prepay phone so I'm rarely on it cause it costs a bundle per minute. However, I am a cashier also and I've noticed people doing that a plenty. Though I think some are getting better at it and I haven't had too many urking me. I did have one lady though who was on her phone with her husband discussing what she was allowed to buy and a child translating for her that took 20 min I swear! She needed to either bring the husband with or just plain step out of line but no I had to call for back up
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
2 Sep 12
I do understand how you feel. I don't do such a thing coz I do not want to start a fight. I also get annoyed of those people blabbing over their cellphones while walking in malls or supermarkets. I mean, I know that the mobile phone was invented to have faster communication but to use it in public, and let everybody know that "Fred left Janet for Ellen" thing? Who wants to know about what happened to them? I think they should make calls short unless there are emergency calls.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
5 Sep 12
You are so right about those personal conversations about personal things.
The music is out in our store because the satellite was hit by lightening a couple of weeks ago. I have heard the most personal things being discussed amongst the clearance racks.
I can't wait for the music to be fixed. They talk so loud it makes we wonder if they're even aware that anyone within ten feet of them can hear every word they're saying.
Yep, I'll be glad when the music is fixed.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
29 Aug 12
Hi,
I also get annoyed when someone talking on cell phone and I am waiting for him to talk with me. Some people give more importance to their cell phone than people who are with them. It is very unfair to neglect the man in front of you for the sake of talking on mobile phone. It's like insulting others.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
30 Aug 12
My point exactly, it's very rude and it happens more and more all the time. I live about 20 miles from town. It's not unusual for me to call my mom and talk with her on my drive. If I stop at a convenience store I always tell her to hold while I give the person waiting on me my full attention.
@Otanetix (508)
• United States
30 Aug 12
Yes, for me, I tend to only be talking on my cell phone when I am not face-to-face with another person. It's even more difficult to distinguish when someone is talking to you when they are using Bluetooth headsets. I have been in those positions where I tried to ask someone some directions and I could not tell he was not talking to me; although he was facing my general direction, I didn't realize he was using a headset until after a few minutes of talking. Anyway, when you are at the cash register, you should be kind enough to pay attention to the cashier. Because if you continue talking on the phone instead of paying attention to the cashier, you might end up holding up the line because you are unaware of the things around you.
@SusanLee (1920)
• United States
31 Aug 12
It happens every day. People don't think twice about talking on their phone while holding up the line. It doesn't matter how many people are behind them.
I've answered people on their blue-tooth too. They'll be walking up the aisle and it looks like they're talking to me. That doesn't bother me. It's just when they're at the counter and don't have enough common courtesy to give the associates their full attention that bugs me.
