AIBU to think the person answering their phone at Sainsbury checkout was ignorant

[daisychain01]

As soon as I heard the news item about the checkout assistant in Sainsbury telling the customer (while yabbering on their mobile) that they would only start ringing the items through when the person put their phone away, I felt they were absolutely justified and very brave. And also to think that Sainsbury shot themselves in the foot by NOT backing their employee up (they have since cynically changed their stance).

Checkout people do a great job, despite pretty crap conditions (try staying smiling for a whole 6 hour shift and listening to that bloody beep, beep beep OMG) and they don't need people with zero social skills holding things up and not engaging - instead of jawing they could have at least enjoyed a bit of banter or pleasantries, "how's yer belly off for spots?" anything to re humanise a job that technology has effectively stripped of any skill - they don't even need to add up anymore!

I had a real winner the other day... Not only was the woman in front of me in full conversation, but she completed the whole credit card transaction without looking up at the person serving her, no thank you, nothing, then to top it all, rather than walking ahead and round, she pushed BACK up through the queue with her bags, still talking! Maybe that's why the news story made me fume!! . Oh well, rant over. Sorry its too steamy hot for all this ... Happy Sunday y'all

I agree with David Mitchell. Every word. They both behaved badly

If you think it's rude for someone to use their phone while they're shopping, what if two people are shopping together - are they allowed to talk to each other during the transaction, or is that rude too?

When I worked in retail I didn't give a shit about people answering the phone. You can easily make the transaction while they are talking on their phone and normally I just presumed it was a call they needed to take. I would much rather a customer smile and give the thumbs up while they're on the phone than be a grumpy monosyllabic git when they're not on the phone.

As someone who works in retail, as common courtesy I treat everyone the same as I which to be treated. And I extend that to those who think I am shit on their shoe.

As a retail worker, I am there to provide customer service, however I am not there to be belittled, I am not there to be treated as though I am stupid.

I am a human being, if you need to take a phone call, take the phone call but as you would (or at least I would in company) acknowledge the phone call. Is it that hard?

Bridget that is my point, if the person engages, be it with a smile and thumbs-up or an apologetic "sorry just need to quickly take this call" that is all it takes! It's the "git" as you put it, who is rude on and off the phone who is showing scant regard to that kind person, there to help them do their transaction swiftly and send them on their way pleasantly.

I agree DaisyChain, but a rude person is a rude person on or off the phone. If they don't acknowledge you when they're on the phone they probably won't when they're off it either.

Okay, can I just add something? I work in a shop, an independent food shop, a small business where good customer service is vital. And I consider myself a very good shop assistant. Today, I began serving someone, turned round to take something from a shelf for him and heard his phone ring.

The customer, without a word, left the shop and stood outside for 5 minutes taking his call, knowing I was in the middle of serving him. I couldn't deal with other customers in the meantime as it would mess up the till to cancel his goods then serve someone else, so I stood there, quite cross actually, for the 5 minutes it took for him to chat on the phone.

There were lots of other people waiting to be served and I apologised to them and had to call for a colleague to help. My customer returned to the counter, without any apology or explanation, and completed his order. I was a bit gobsmacked to be honest.

I think this was extremely rude. It's not my time that was wasted, I am paid by the hour, but the time of other customers, the poor attitude and general lack of awareness of others which makes me cross

read the exchange a few days ago, I think it went something like this: till worker explains she can't serve customer on mobile as it's company policy. Customer finishes call and says she didn't know it was company policy. Till worker finishes "well you learn something new every day".

I find the till worker breathtakingly rude and patronising TBH. Judging from this the customer was nothing if patient, polite and baffled. Clearly the till worker has and issue and decided to have a power trip at the expense of the customer -lying about the company in the process. All of it pretty awful in normal life, but unforgivable in a customer service role.

If I'm on the phone, or talking to my friend, or thinking about whatever while my shopping's being scanned is none of anyone's business. I can manage some pretty satisfactory interaction with till workers while involved in other simple activities. It's not hard really and I've never found a till worker that minded. And yes, I have worked in a till.

I don't see why I have to stop talking on the phone, while my shopping is being scanned. I try to make eye-contact with the cashier and give then a quick smile while I'm doing it.

If they ask me about cashback, or whatever, I'm capable of saying "No, thank you" in the middle of my phone call.

That is quite different from the situation catwithflowers describes, which is outrageous.

If I am buying something more complicated, which is going to require the shop staff talking me through warranties etc, then I switch the phone off. Don't really think that is necessary for my smokey bacon crisps and scotch eggs, however.

Personally I don't think it would have been wrong of her to use her phone so long as she took the time to acknowledge the checkout assistant - say hello, thank you, that sort of thing. By the same token it's really annoying in a shop when you're being served and the checkout person doesn't acknowledge you once, just carries on a conversation with their colleague. It's just needlessly rude. We're social creatures, no-one likes being ignored.

Emma I agree it takes two.

MissYamabuki read the exchange a few days ago, I think it went something like this: till worker explains she can't serve customer on mobile as it's company policy. Customer finishes call and says she didn't know it was company policy. Till worker finishes "well you learn something new every day".

You're missing one key aspect of the exchange right at the start - Customer who is in queue and about to be served pulls out phone, makes a call to a person (the fact it was her brother is irrelevant) and ignores shop assistant who is physically present.

I don't get this need to be attached to your phone 24/7. I think some like to think that the world will end if they are not contactable at all times, it seems to make them feel terribly important.

It depends. If someone in the queue made a phone call that would be rude. But the problem with mobiles if that when a call comes to you it can be at inconvenient times

It's not a case if being deliberately rude its a case of prioritising and generally with work phone calls the priority is work which i am paid to do not having a conversation with someone else who is doing their job which they are paid to do!

Yes I agree HarrySnotter the world managed to go round when we all just had landlines!