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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think most people wouldn't carry on speaking on their mobile while being served in a shop?

255 replies

angelos02 · 03/07/2013 09:14

On Lorraine (sorry) this morning they were talking about a case in which a cashier refused to serve someone until they finished their mobile phone conversation. What kind of person would carry on speaking on their mobile while being served. I've never seen it happen but clearly it does. Manners? Anyone?

OP posts:
schoolgovernor · 03/07/2013 09:19

Yes, it's fucking rude. According to what I read she actually made the phone call while at the checkout. There wasn't anyone behind her, but what's that got to do with anything? She should have more respect for the person dealing with her. I'm sure a lot of people will think it's OK to deal with phone calls while shopping, but honestly, we lived without mobiles glued to our ears until a very few years ago, and lived.

ShabbyButNotChic · 03/07/2013 09:25

I think it depends on circumstance to be honest. I have done this a couple of times, once when i had finally been called back for something work related (at the till! great timing!) and once when my mum called to say gran was in hospital. But both times i said to the till person 'sorry, its important do you mind?' And they smiled, said no its fine etc.
i wouldnt do it if i was just chatting to my mates or something though.

pudcat · 03/07/2013 09:26

Very rude, but what is worse is when a shopkeeper is on their mobile when serving. Two small independent shops have lost my custom because they served me without saying a word to me. I wish I had had the courage to say "No thank you" and leave.

dubstarr73 · 03/07/2013 09:27

I worked on checkouts and its my biggest bugbear.They are not concentrating and get arsey with you when they make a mistake.

Cause they cant hear you asking them questions.
I had this someone on the phone i asked did they want cashback,they said no so i put their card through.
She gave out and said she wanted cashback but i had a lovely man behind who told her if she wasnt on her fucking phone she would have heard me asking her.

Sirzy · 03/07/2013 09:28

When I used to work in a shop I would ask as many questions as possible to anyone who was on a mobile phone (unless they apologised in the way shabby said)

Alisvolatpropiis · 03/07/2013 09:29

It is so incredibly rude to remain on your phone whilst being served in the shop.

Clearly the woman has no manners.

That cashier said what I spent years biting back.

Yanbu

ARealDame · 03/07/2013 09:33

I have quite regularly seen this (in London, guv). I think its incredibly rude. Like the person in front of you, serving you, doesn't even exist.

GobblersKnob · 03/07/2013 09:35

I don't have a mobile because I hate them, but worked as a cashier for a long time and quite a while ago, and would say this is common place and happened all the time even then. Though where I worked we catered mainly for 18-25's so they may well have had an impact.

I think for many young people today, the phone takes precedence over everything. I am currently at uni and so many people drop everything for the phone, it is impossible to have a conversation, many refuse to turn them off while we are being taught, which makes me exceedingly stabby, it is like an addiction though.

schoolgovernor · 03/07/2013 09:36

Shabby, I don't think it's ever fine. What right do you have to expect others to wait while you take your call? Just pack up your shopping and ring the caller back.

hackmum · 03/07/2013 09:39

I agree, it's hugely bad manners. And I don't get why everybody is so obsessed by their bloody mobile phones that they have to take calls wherever they are - when they're having a meal out, driving a car or standing in a checkout. How many things are so important that they can't wait? Maybe it's my age, but I just don't get it.

StayAwayFromTheEdge · 03/07/2013 09:39

It happens all the time, patients will answer their blood phones while you are explaining about their medication - II walk away and wait for them to finish.

MabliD · 03/07/2013 09:41

Happens at least 3 times a day. Rude, obnoxious, and generally done by women in their 30s-40s for some reason. I live in a student town, but in general the students are considerably more polite.

One day I hope to have the nerve or the lottery win to do what that cashier did. It's a bit of a fantasy of mine. Blush

TheMoonOnAStick · 03/07/2013 09:41

I also think it's very rude. I notice Sainsbury's are apologising about this though. The customer is always right etc.

The problem with that though is that it just underlines the idea that anyone attending to you in any situation isn't worthy of much considerationHmm.

I'm going to sound like my grandma probably but a little consideration and manners for other people goes an awfully long way. We're losing that and my goodness it doesn't half show with the attitude of many people nowadays.

People bang on about respect and rights but it's a two way thing.

GwenCooper81 · 03/07/2013 09:48

A small shop near me has a sign up asking customers to hang up their phones he they want serving Grin

LIke a previous poster another independent shop near us has lost my custom because the rude arse assistant constantly talks on his mobile when serving you, while multi tasking and watchin sky sports in the background.
it's so incredibly rude to carry on chatting to your mate on the phone, I've worked in shops and I'm out of my way to ask as many complicated questions as possible Grin Grin
Hang up, ring back, simples!

Startail · 03/07/2013 09:53

I might have done when the DDs were younger as the art of sending coherent texts was beyond them.

If DD2 has two minutes between lessons to explain PE dept. arrangement-changing-itis I might have to.

But, I'm working hard on When, Where, I want picking up, I will get the bus texts and they are getting better.

DD1 is dyslexic and some of her texts are 'interesting'

thebody · 03/07/2013 09:57

I think it depends on the call actually.

I may go against the grain here but I don't actually want a relationship with the till operator at ASDA when I pay. I just want to pack and go and if I get a call then I take it. I can perfectly well multi task and say thanks and smile at operator while in my phone anyway.

I have worked on a till btw.

thebody · 03/07/2013 09:59

And I think the cashier was rude actually. Some calls need to be taken.

dubstarr73 · 03/07/2013 10:02

Its not about having a relationship with the till operator,i thought it was common courtesy.My mistake.

Beeyump · 03/07/2013 10:03

I agree with thebody actually. I don't think being on a phone while being served is necessarily the height of rudeness, unless you are completely ignoring the cashier, or having a particularly obnoxious discussion...

NellysKnickers · 03/07/2013 10:03

Some calls do need to be taken, agreed but you can still apologise. What gets me is checkout assistants talking amongst themselves whilst serving. Now that's rude.

samandi · 03/07/2013 10:07

It happens very frequently. At least it did when I used to work in a shop, about ten years ago. Probably even worse these days.

If it's a routine transaction, fine. I do think it's incredibly rude but I never refused to serve anyone. But sometimes you need to ask the customer questions - whether to clarify things, or you're required to try and sell customers other items/let them know about promotions etc. - and that can be pretty difficult when they have a phone glued to their ear. When they're talking in loud voices that's also rude - not just to the cashier but also to any other customers in the shop.

thebody · 03/07/2013 10:10

Gosh some entitled.. No don't mind the cashiers gossiping why would I? I always assumed they don't mind me talking to my dh or chatting in the phone either. Why would they?

I am there to shop and they are there as its their job.

Assume neither of us would be there as a social event so what's the problem?

If we were in a pub the 2 of us and I was texting and chatting and ignoring her then that's rude.

I can take a call, smile, pay, say thanks and go.

DeWe · 03/07/2013 10:11

I have answered my mobile while being served. However I only give my mobile number out to very few people and know if it rings it is almost certainly urgent. I would apologise to the person serving.

I didn't answer my mobile when it rang at the exact moment I was taking communion. The whole church was laughing at me Blush

samandi · 03/07/2013 10:11

*I worked on checkouts and its my biggest bugbear.They are not concentrating and get arsey with you when they make a mistake.

Cause they cant hear you asking them questions.
I had this someone on the phone i asked did they want cashback,they said no so i put their card through.
She gave out and said she wanted cashback but i had a lovely man behind who told her if she wasnt on her fucking phone she would have heard me asking her.*

Good for him :-) And an excellent example of the situations that can arise when people refuse to detach themselves from their phones for two seconds.

thebody · 03/07/2013 10:12

Samandi, I find it incredibly rude to be bombarded by an assistant trying to sell me warrantees or a bloody reward card when all I want to do is pay and go.