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 LuciusAR wrote:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10156070/Sainsburys-worker-fights-back-against-mobile-phone-use-at-checkout.html

This is an interesting story. A girl working in a shop refused to serve a customer unless they hung up their phone. By the look of it the customer complained and the store backed the customer. Understandably so as who can afford to lose a paying customer these days but it does raise an interesting question of manners.

To be honest I can see both sides of this. I can see why it might be considered rude to carry on a conversation with someone else whilst being served in a shop, but on the other hand I'm one of those people who hates engaging in small talk with checkout assistants. I don't want to chit chat I just want to pay and leave and if I'm already engaged in a conversation with someone else, even if it is on the phone, I just don't see the point of ending in just for the sake of 2 minutes of awkward silence whilst the assistant rings through the shopping.

if she lost her job I recemmend the gal follow the customer out the store and go at him like a pissed off Mountain Lion. Hell Hath No Fury Like Woman..er scorned!

d-usa, you seem to be taking other peoples personal opinions as insults and doing the classic internet forum template 'well if one thing is wrong then all things associated must be wrong, burn them all'

Articulate your arguments. For what it's worth, I think if someone was with a friend/partner and didn't at least say 'hi' or similar to the cashier, then it's rude. common decency in the age seems to be gradually eroding.

The Division Of Joy wrote:
d-usa, you seem to be taking other peoples personal opinions as insults and doing the classic internet forum template 'well if one thing is wrong then all things associated must be wrong, burn them all'

Articulate your arguments. For what it's worth, I think if someone was with a friend/partner and didn't at least say 'hi' or similar to the cashier, then it's rude. common decency in the age seems to be gradually eroding.

Well, if ignoring the clerk because you are talking to somebody is rude then it doesn't matter if you are ignoring them for a person standing next to you or a person on the other end of the phone.

I don't think I can make it much clearer than "people are jerks if they are jerks, technology has nothing to do with it".

 Rented Tritium wrote:
I want this to be a rule, but a clerk doesn't get to just make store policy unilaterally.

I'll agree with RT. That's it for the week, though!

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
d-usa, you seem to be taking other peoples personal opinions as insults and doing the classic internet forum template 'well if one thing is wrong then all things associated must be wrong, burn them all'

Articulate your arguments. For what it's worth, I think if someone was with a friend/partner and didn't at least say 'hi' or similar to the cashier, then it's rude. common decency in the age seems to be gradually eroding.

Well, if ignoring the clerk because you are talking to somebody is rude then it doesn't matter if you are ignoring them for a person standing next to you or a person on the other end of the phone.

I don't think I can make it much clearer than "people are jerks if they are jerks, technology has nothing to do with it".

Not so.

People in your presence are more important than people at the end of a wireless connection.

 Kilkrazy wrote:

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
d-usa, you seem to be taking other peoples personal opinions as insults and doing the classic internet forum template 'well if one thing is wrong then all things associated must be wrong, burn them all'

Articulate your arguments. For what it's worth, I think if someone was with a friend/partner and didn't at least say 'hi' or similar to the cashier, then it's rude. common decency in the age seems to be gradually eroding.

Well, if ignoring the clerk because you are talking to somebody is rude then it doesn't matter if you are ignoring them for a person standing next to you or a person on the other end of the phone.

I don't think I can make it much clearer than "people are jerks if they are jerks, technology has nothing to do with it".

Not so.

People in your presence are more important than people at the end of a wireless connection.

So in the hiarchy of "how below me is everybody" it goes:

Me > anybody that stands next to me > clerk > anybody I could be on the phone with

I think the difference is that using a phone is more self involving and anti social than talking with a mate. If you are with someone its completely natural to talk and interact, but anyone with manners would also say hi to the cashier.

A jerk is a jerk no matter what, I agree. But what you are doing is comparing one action with that of another, but doing it with a broad stroke that paints them both very convieniently into your vision.

The Division Of Joy wrote:
I think the difference is that using a phone is more self involving and anti social than talking with a mate. If you are with someone its completely natural to talk and interact, but anyone with manners would also say hi to the cashier.

A jerk is a jerk no matter what, I agree. But what you are doing is comparing one action with that of another, but doing it with a broad stroke that paints them both very convieniently into your vision.

So it's okay to ignore the clerk and act like they are beneath you as long as it is for somebody that is with you. Got it.

 d-usa wrote:

 KingCracker wrote:
Are people so self important these days that they can't end a conversation for the 1 to 2 minutes it takes to give a cashier attention? Who cares if you personally are ok with people using phones, ITS RUDE. I'm with stores and companies that have have no phone policies.

Are people sof important these days that they can't send their friends and family away from the register for the 1 to 2 minutes it takes to give a cashier attention? Who cares if you are personally are ok with people talking to friends, ITS RUDE. I'm with stores and companies that have no companion policies.

There's quite a difference between just talking to friends/family while going through the register line, and "talking" in line... We've all been there I'm sure, those donkey caves who are having a COPS level argument with their significant other whilst in line, creating a scene for everyone. When I'm going through a line with my family, I definitely make sure to tail off any conversation once we're actually ringing up, greet the cashier, be polite and amenable, and just try to make their day slightly better (especially if someone was incredibly rude to them right before me). If I have to interrupt my dealings with the register person, it's usually to keep my kids in line.

It does seem that there is a certain art to being polite in public that has degraded or declined significantly in recent years.

@Ahtman, I agree, certain activities or attire do not mean a given situation will happen. I believe that the guy who posted about his disdain for suit wearing folk stems from the area he works, and a majority of people who enter his establishment wearing them being poor customers.

For what its worth, what about the other way round?

When you're waiting to be served and the cashier etc keeps answering the phone?

I've had to do that before when I worked on c/s before - store policy was 'phone first - the guy waiting is already in the shop'.

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
I think the difference is that using a phone is more self involving and anti social than talking with a mate. If you are with someone its completely natural to talk and interact, but anyone with manners would also say hi to the cashier.

A jerk is a jerk no matter what, I agree. But what you are doing is comparing one action with that of another, but doing it with a broad stroke that paints them both very convieniently into your vision.

So it's okay to ignore the clerk and act like they are beneath you as long as it is for somebody that is with you. Got it.

And it's obviously ok to just quote and reply to the posts that fit in with your argument, ignoring others that completly shoot your point out of the water Got it.

PredaKhaine wrote:
store policy was 'phone first - the guy waiting is already in the shop'.

Ewwwww, that's awful.

PredaKhaine wrote:
For what its worth, what about the other way round?

When you're waiting to be served and the cashier etc keeps answering the phone?

I've had to do that before - store policy was 'phone first - the guy waiting is already in the shop'.

Most places where I live that have that sort of set up are Mom and Pop joints, where Mom or Pop is the only employee working. If they value their business, they will honestly apologize before and after they answer the phone. In one instance, they answered the phone, realized it was a notoriously painful customer, and literally told them to call back in like 5-10 minutes as they were with a customer.

Again, I think that in all situations, there are polite ways to handle any given situation, and you'll get along better in life if you attempt to follow those ways more often than not.

PredaKhaine wrote:

I've had to do that before when I worked on c/s before - store policy was 'phone first - the guy waiting is already in the shop'.

I have been in stores where the clerk answered the phone and started a conversation as I was at the counter, and stopped ringing me up to handle that customer. Depending on my needs for the goods in my hand and the inconvenience of going elsewhere, I have put the stuff on the counter and waved good bye as I walked out.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

PredaKhaine wrote:
For what its worth, what about the other way round?

When you're waiting to be served and the cashier etc keeps answering the phone?

I've had to do that before - store policy was 'phone first - the guy waiting is already in the shop'.

Most places where I live that have that sort of set up are Mom and Pop joints, where Mom or Pop is the only employee working. If they value their business, they will honestly apologize before and after they answer the phone. In one instance, they answered the phone, realized it was a notoriously painful customer, and literally told them to call back in like 5-10 minutes as they were with a customer.

Again, I think that in all situations, there are polite ways to handle any given situation, and you'll get along better in life if you attempt to follow those ways more often than not.

This was while I was working in a major DIY store chain with 15-20 staff. Thats now gone bust...

I got sick of having to apologise to people with an apology that effectively means the following - oh I'm sorry, this man on the phone effectively just pushed in front of you, so I have to speak to him first now.

The Division Of Joy wrote:

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
I think the difference is that using a phone is more self involving and anti social than talking with a mate. If you are with someone its completely natural to talk and interact, but anyone with manners would also say hi to the cashier.

A jerk is a jerk no matter what, I agree. But what you are doing is comparing one action with that of another, but doing it with a broad stroke that paints them both very convieniently into your vision.

So it's okay to ignore the clerk and act like they are beneath you as long as it is for somebody that is with you. Got it.

And it's obviously ok to just quote and reply to the posts that fit in with your argument, ignoring others that completly shoot your point out of the water Got it.

Nobody has shot it out of the water, except multiple people saying that being a jerk is jerkier if you are using technology to be a jerk.

 d-usa wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
d-usa, you seem to be taking other peoples personal opinions as insults and doing the classic internet forum template 'well if one thing is wrong then all things associated must be wrong, burn them all'

Articulate your arguments. For what it's worth, I think if someone was with a friend/partner and didn't at least say 'hi' or similar to the cashier, then it's rude. common decency in the age seems to be gradually eroding.

Well, if ignoring the clerk because you are talking to somebody is rude then it doesn't matter if you are ignoring them for a person standing next to you or a person on the other end of the phone.

I don't think I can make it much clearer than "people are jerks if they are jerks, technology has nothing to do with it".

Not so.

People in your presence are more important than people at the end of a wireless connection.

So in the hiarchy of "how below me is everybody" it goes:

Me > anybody that stands next to me > clerk > anybody I could be on the phone with

No, it goes:

People > gadget

Have we got a smiley for someone sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting 'NER NER I CAN'T HEAR YOU'?

It's very easy, you just answer and say "Thank you for calling X, please hold" and you help the customer. If there is a line, then you call for a coworker. If there is not a line, you prioritize people in the store and complain to your boss that you're understaffed.

 Rented Tritium wrote:
It's very easy, you just answer and say "Thank you for calling X, please hold" and you help the customer. If there is a line, then you call for a coworker. If there is not a line, you prioritize people in the store and complain to your boss that you're understaffed.

Thats how it should work. It doesn't work so well if your boss is telling you to ignore people to answer the phone. I'm glad I don't work there anymore. I walked out.

The Division Of Joy wrote:
Have we got a smiley for someone sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting 'NER NER I CAN'T HEAR YOU'?

I think the common substitute of that smiley that people use atm is the multi quote dissection of someones post line by line.

Bullockist wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
Have we got a smiley for someone sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting 'NER NER I CAN'T HEAR YOU'?

I think the common substitute of that smiley that people use atm is the multi quote dissection of someones post line by line.

Nothing wins an argument on the internet more than destroying context, the multi quote is a dangerous weapon

The Division Of Joy wrote:
Have we got a smiley for someone sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting 'NER NER I CAN'T HEAR YOU'?

Is there one for people pretending that it is impossible to actually be polite and interact with people because of a gadget?

Because so far it seems like it is better to ignore the clerk as long as there is somebody next to you that is ignoring them as well, but being friendly to them and saying "hello" and "thanks" while on the phone makes me an elitist jerk.

 Rented Tritium wrote:
It's very easy, you just answer and say "Thank you for calling X, please hold" and you help the customer. If there is a line, then you call for a coworker. If there is not a line, you prioritize people in the store and complain to your boss that you're understaffed.

Agreed. See RT and I can agree on something.

 d-usa wrote:
makes me an elitist jerk.

You are a techno iconoclast breaking barriers!

The customer, Jo Clarke, was told her shopping would not be processed until she had finished talking on her phone.
...
Ms Clarke said: "I ended my call swiftly and said to the lady on the checkout 'Apologies, I didn't realise that it was Sainsbury's policy that you are unable to use your phone at the checkout', and she said 'Well, you learn something new every day'."

It doesn't sound like the cashier was exactly polite... Sounds like she was being rude to the customer...

I was at a ice cream store n Nachville twhere they had a little sign that explicitly banned cell phone use on the premises.

It was a very calming place.

 d-usa wrote:

The Division Of Joy wrote:
Have we got a smiley for someone sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting 'NER NER I CAN'T HEAR YOU'?

elitist jerk.

No need for that, I was only joking!

 Steve steveson wrote:

The customer, Jo Clarke, was told her shopping would not be processed until she had finished talking on her phone.
...
Ms Clarke said: "I ended my call swiftly and said to the lady on the checkout 'Apologies, I didn't realise that it was Sainsbury's policy that you are unable to use your phone at the checkout', and she said 'Well, you learn something new every day'."

It doesn't sound like the cashier was exactly polite... Sounds like she was being rude to the customer...

That would mean that she was at fault, however that does not relieve the customer of the need for manners.

 Sigvatr wrote:
Two levels.

a) Interpersonal level: rude behavior, should get positive social punishment i.e. starte, telling someone he's rude.

b) professional level: act like you are expected to and serve the customers.

The latter has precedence. Sure, it's poor social behavior to keep talking to someone on the phone, but you are working there and have to stand above said behavior. If you can't, deal with the consequences.

Exactly this. I was a cashier for over two years, and you have to put the customer first, despite the fact they're being quite rude.