Page 15 | Talking on the phone whilst at tills

EgyptianSnow · 2015-08-06T20:59:56+00:00

Is this rude? Lady at a store refused to serve me until I got off the phone I was only buying slippers I wasn't talking loud or even talking at the counter and my phone rang whilst I was in line Was I rude? Is this rude?

Archfarchnad · 08/08/2015 11:26

Elementary, most calls are going to be chit-chat, but some really are very important. A few years back I flew to the UK (we live abroad) in a hurry because my mum had become critically ill. At the railway station I was waiting to pay for a sandwich when a relative called, and I took it because It was bound to be important. And that's how I found out that my mum had died - the relative didn't wAnt me to find out from staff at the hospital. Just as I heard the news it was my turn to be served and the assistant was giving me the evils, and I completely panicked through shock. So my reaction to the news was 'it's my turn at Smiths I'll phone you back'. I've regretted that 'politeness' ever since. I should have carried on with the call, but I really wasn't thinking logically. So if you're a shop assistant and someone is looking a bit distracted on the phone, it might, just might, be something really important, and your judgy shit will be making things worse.

googoodolly · 08/08/2015 11:30

If it's important, then you can say so, or leave the queue to take the call. Most cashiers won't be offended if you say "sorry, I need to take this, it's about my ill mother". It's the fact that people on phones come along and just ignore them completely. There's a difference.

Archfarchnad · 08/08/2015 12:08

Googoo, the point is that if you've just received some shocking news, you don't react in a way society would generally regard ad polite - you're looking at what would have been the rational thing to do, which I would have undoubtedly done under more normal circumstances. I ended up ending the call AND dropping all three of the things I was buying AND getting cash all over the place because I'd had to change currencies. Cue more evils from the assistant, and no, I didn't feel like announcing to a queue of random strangers that I was just upset because my mum had died. But assistants who display impatience when they don't know other people's circumstances are being just as rude as those they're complaining about.

Thatwanoverthere · 08/08/2015 12:09

It is rude, I work in retail and it really pees me off when people do, but the general public is now so rude and entitled that it's in a long list of peeves. It does not annoy me as much as people who take calls when I'm doing their makeup, without the caveat of "this is an important call, I need to take this".

SchwarzwalderKirschtorte · 08/08/2015 13:01

I was having my nails done a few years ago and the manicurist took a call and put it on earphones so she could chat away while doing my nails. So whenever she spoke I replied as if I hadn't noticed her take the call so she terminated her call (which was "yes, we can go to that club on Friday, I'm wearing my blue top what time shall I get the cab?" so obviously a social, not important call) and said to me that I was extremely rude to have done that!

I told her that she needed to find out about manners and paid her for the work she had started (only as far as removing old polish) and left the salon. Closely followed by the manageress who demanded why I had left before my manicure was finished but when I explained what had happened she apologised profusely, went back in and I saw her take the manicurist into the back office. No idea what was said but I never went back there.

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 08/08/2015 13:04

I was having my nails done a few years ago and the manicurist took a call and put it on earphones so she could chat away while doing my nails. So whenever she spoke I replied as if I hadn't noticed her take the call so she terminated her call (which was "yes, we can go to that club on Friday, I'm wearing my blue top what time shall I get the cab?" so obviously a social, not important call) and said to me that I was extremely rude to have done that!

Well, that is pretty weird.

kimhp · 08/08/2015 14:00

I always always apologise when I'm on my phone at tills and I always make eye contact and say thank you and please and when I'm leaving I always apologise again. I used to work on tills and there's nothing worse than set wrong someone who is blaitently ignoring you and engrossed in their conversation. THAT to me is rude x

ThisIsClemFandango · 08/08/2015 14:18

kim just tell the person you are talking to on the phone that you are in a shop and will put them on hold for a few seconds. Or wait until you finish your call.
Simple. And no need to apologise to anyone.

dustarr73 · 08/08/2015 14:19

See the thing is though if someone is on the phone sometimes you dont realise they are talking to you.I have answered questions thinking they where talking to me and the looks i got.

OnlyLovers · 08/08/2015 16:00

Very rude to answer the phone when someone else is trying to communicate with you in any way.

The other way round: I was having a consultation from a health professional the other day and her phone kept beeping and then rang a couple of times. Every time it beeped she clucked, tutted, sighed etc, apologised to me and said 'This is why I don't like having my phone by me' , but still didn't turn it off. The second time it rang she did at least answer it and say something along the lines of 'I'll call you later.'

Really fucked me off. Why have your phone on in this situation? And rather than tutting and acting as though the phone is deliberately interrupting you, why not just switch it off after the first beep?

Idiot. I won't be going back to her; not just because of that, but that didn't help. Very unprofessional.

TheCatsMother99 · 08/08/2015 16:08

If I'm mid-phone call when I go to the till I always tell the person on the phone to wait whilst I go through or that I will call them back. To continue a call is rude IMO.

dustarr73 · 08/08/2015 17:37

The thing with Doctors or Consultants at least it could be life or death,especially if they are on call.The same doesnt apply in Tesco.

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 08/08/2015 17:43

I don't think it's rude as long as you still smile, make eye contact and say thank you.

TheSkiingGardener · 08/08/2015 19:21

Not giving the person you are interacting with your full attention is rude, no matter how you dress it up. This thread theme reappears from time to time but it's the first time I've seen it defended!!!

CassieBearRawr · 08/08/2015 20:13

If I'm expecting an urgent call, or I get one which I think it urgent, I will just leave the queue and deal with my call.

I'm sorry about your loss though arch

samsam123 · 08/08/2015 21:55

How rude most of the people on here are. RUDE RUDE RUDE GET OFF THE BLOODY PHONE FOR TWO MINUTES.

CallieG · 09/08/2015 04:14

No it is not rude for you to take a phone call while in line at a store checkout ,"Hi how are you" "Thank You " is the only exchange that is needed with the checkout staff,as long as you are not actually rude in your tone or words,you are not really required to chat to them if you don't want to.

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 09/08/2015 11:44

I worked in retail for many years and never once felt that the customer was obliged to give me their full attention! What if they were with a small child who needed a bit of their attention whilst they were being served, what if they were just distracted by other things they had on their mind? I did expect basic manners, please and thank you etc but I did not feel it necessary to demand their 'full attention'.
a customer speaking on the phone whilst being served was the least of the rudeness I encountered!

CamelHump · 09/08/2015 13:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

QuinionsRainbow · 09/08/2015 13:40

I remember being in a shop that displayed a sign saying,approximately, "your mobile call is important to you, so we will wait until you have finished before serving you!".

Caro1010 · 09/08/2015 13:46

Not rude at all, in my opinion, the cashier was the rude one and I would complain to her manager.

What a waste of time if she decides that she is not going to serve anyone until she has their full and divided attention.

So we are supposed to stand there gazing lovingly into the faces of the cashier waiting/hoping she may have a question for us !

If it's a supermarket, I am usually at one of the checkout loading my trolley or at the other end packing my bags, certainly not standing in front of the cashier as she scans my goods.

In this case, the op was buying a pair of slippers, what conversation was required around that ? what really important information would the cashier be waiting to hear from the purchaser.

The cashier was just a time waster and a trouble maker.

soverylucky · 09/08/2015 13:48

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Loafliner · 09/08/2015 14:24

Just yesterday checking in at the airport - all the check in staff continued to chat while we were being served, worse than that they were complaining about a colleague - so bloody rude and unprofessional! I wonder how they would have felt had we been chatting on our phones.

PiperChapstick · 09/08/2015 16:02

Loaf I find airline staff to be the worst offenders for customer service. I get particularly fucked off when they call DH "sir" (as in "would you like tea or coffee sir") and me "love"
If he's sir in fucking Madame

Reubs15 · 09/08/2015 21:50

I used to work in a supermarket and yes it's rude. Sometimes you can go for an hour without so much as a "hello" from a customer. Makes you feel like they're above you. We're people too!