Shop assistant refuses to serve customer on her phone

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**Dark Apostle 666**

My stance would be fair enough, refuse service, but only if that was store policy - from what I read, the cashier claimed it was "policy", and when the customer said they didn't know of that rule, responded: "You learn something new every day".

Now, for me, saying something like that is at least as rude as being on your phone.

While it may or may not be rude to be on the phone, unless it was store policy, she had no reason to refuse service - after all, some people think chewing gum while talking is rude, is that a reason to refuse service?

I think the reaction of the cashier was disproportionate to the actions of the customer. That's my opinion, anyhow.

**dogma**

Grimtuff wrote:

You can really tell who has not worked in retail. This really bears repeating. Sainsburys still operates with mystery shoppers; so the cashier would have to go through the whole spiel. How would you feel if you're asking these questions you are required to do by your company and not getting any response as the div on the other side is chatting to their mate about some banality that can frankly wait 5 minutes. It is just rude. Simple as.

Like a canvasser, which is a job much worse than service; though the pay is better as well.

Though you do lack the recourse of adding bodily fluids to the guest's purchase.

**Ouze**

I think the correct store policy, as set by management (not on the fly by staff), would be that if you get to the front of the line and you don't get off your phone, you go to the back of the line.

This is merely one of the dictates I will issue when I become emperor. Another is if you text during a movie, the police can drag you out of the theater by your hair and then hit you in the mouth with their nightsticks until they feel you have learned your lesson.

**dogma**

Kilkrazy wrote:

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

I can imagine many scenarios in which that isn't the case.

**Sigvatr**

Kilkrazy wrote:

Not so.

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

I completely disagree. If I chat with someone I know and suddenly, an important client calls, he immediately gets my attention.

**SoloFalcon1138**

One can always excuse themselves from a call when dealing with something in person. Unless one is a neurosurgeon, talking someone through a delicate procedure, no phone call is unpausable.

**Frazzled**

mega_bassist wrote:
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.

Just accidently charge them twice for the same thing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Another is if you text during a movie, the police can drag you out of the theater by your hair and then hit you in the mouth with their nightsticks until they feel you have learned your lesson.

So you've been to the Alamo Drafthouse then...

**kronk**

Ouze wrote:
Another is if you text during a movie, the police can drag you out of the theater by your hair and then hit you in the mouth with their nightsticks until they feel you have learned your lesson.

Interesting. What is your stance on requiring a written examination prior to breeding?

**SoloFalcon1138**

and just like we are taught in the service industry to consider, do we know what kind of day the cashier was having? how many self-important pricks were on their phones, delaying the line before the one she finally stood up to? Our culture has become so pretentious that a common courtesy as excusing one's self from a conversation so that a transaction may be completed is considered a hassle and a cause for complaint. In addition, customers have assumed the dominant role in a retail environment, believing they yave a God-given right to act as asinine and oblivious as.possible.

**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
and just like we are taught in the service industry to consider, do we know what kind of day the cashier was having? how many self-important pricks were on their phones, delaying the line before the one she finally stood up to?

It's not her job to "stand up to" the customers. If she wants to try and change the policy regarding attentiveness at the register, then you complain to the people that own the offending business. You don't hold up a customer because you want to tell each other you're having a good day (No matter what kind of day you're really having).

**SoloFalcon1138**

everyone has a breaking point. much like the quotation from Mallrats, "the customer is always an [MOD EDIT - Please don't try to avoid the expletive filter. Alpharius]."

I assume, from the vigorous defense of cell phone usage, that simple politeness is now an inconvenience.

**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
everyone has a breaking point. much like the quotation from Mallrats, "the customer is always an a&$hole."

I assume, from the vigorous defense of cell phone usage, that simple politeness is now an inconvenience.

No, having someone not ring up my items and let me get on with my day because of a made up rule is an inconvenience.

**SoloFalcon1138**

then, "Gentleman", get off your phone, be minimally polite, and move along.

**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
then, "Gentleman", get off your phone, be minimally polite, and move along.

All I'm saying is jerks are going to be jerks. You can't legislate away murder, you can't everyone to be nice to people they don't feel the need to be nice to.

Also, I don't use my cell phone at the register.

**dogma**

SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
One can always excuse themselves from a call when dealing with something in person. Unless one is a neurosurgeon, talking someone through a delicate procedure, no phone call is unpausable.

What if one is a husband buying food for his pregnant wife, who is now calling him, while simultaneously considering the reprimand he previously received from his boss?

In nearly every case a service worker is less important than whatever else is happening in the life of the person you are serving. As a service worker, you serve.

**Alfndrate**

Gentleman_Jellyfish wrote:
SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
then, "Gentleman", get off your phone, be minimally polite, and move along.

All I'm saying is jerks are going to be jerks. You can't legislate away murder, you can't everyone to be nice to people they don't feel the need to be nice to.

Also, I don't use my cell phone at the register.

You can totally legislate and enforce people being nice to each other...
Great Example:
Pick up that Can Citizen

Edit: Seriously though, why don't you use your cell phone at registers?

**insaniak**

dogma wrote:
In nearly every case a service worker is less important than whatever else is happening in the life of the person you are serving. As a service worker, you serve.

Which is exactly the sort of attitude that lets people justify being rude to people in service positions.

Working in customer service doesn't make you a servant. You're still entitled to common courtesy.

**Gentleman_Jellyfish**

Alfndrate wrote:
Gentleman_Jellyfish wrote:
SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
then, "Gentleman", get off your phone, be minimally polite, and move along.

All I'm saying is jerks are going to be jerks. You can't legislate away murder, you can't everyone to be nice to people they don't feel the need to be nice to.

Also, I don't use my cell phone at the register.
Edit: Seriously though, why don't you use your cell phone at registers?

Usually I try to end my call while I'm in line or before approaching the registers to be more polite. I might appear to be arguing otherwise, but my argument basically boils down to "don't be a dick, but if you do decide to be a dick I can't really stop you".

**Frazzled**

insaniak wrote:
dogma wrote:
In nearly every case a service worker is less important than whatever else is happening in the life of the person you are serving. As a service worker, you serve.

Which is exactly the sort of attitude that lets people justify being rude to people in service positions.

Working in customer service doesn't make you a servant. You're still entitled to common courtesy.

WORD TO THAT.

She Who Must Be Obeyed's theory was that everyone should have to work in food service when younger. I'd add retail as an effective alternative as well.

**timetowaste85**

d-usa wrote:
caledoneus wrote:
SoloFalcon1138 wrote:
d-usa wrote:
I can swipe my card while on the phone, it's really not that hard...

Similarly, it's not hard to put your phone call down and not be a rude jerk to the bottom-feeder bagging your stuff. Is civility that difficult for some people?

+1

Just b/c something "isn't that hard" or "is easy" for you, doesn't mean that it doesn't make you a rude human being. Unless the phone call is life or death, then put the phone down long enough to treat the person at the register with some level of respect.... and if it is life or death, put the stuff down and come back after you fix the problem... lol.

Please answer me this question honestly then:

How much interaction do any of you have with the cashier?

When I am not on the phone it is:

1) Good [whatever], how are you.
2) Thank you, have a good day.

When I am on the phone it is:

1) Good [whatever], how are you.
2) Thank you, have a good day.

Are people having life changing conversations with the person checking them out?
If you are talking to your buddy/wife/gf/bf/whoever while they are checking you out are you also a rude jerk?

Surprisingly enough I have the mental capacity to do more than one thing at a time and I can be pleasant and polite to the "bottom feeder" while doing something on my phone. Because with or without a phone, checking out at a super market is really not anything that results in a long conversation with the person helping you. If I am doing anything that requires a longer interaction with the clerk that is helping me then I am not on my phone.

Seems like people are just butthurt because they like being butthurt.

I do actually have conversations with the check out clerks who ring me out. Being a cashier is a gakky job-retail in general sucks. You get tons of whiney customers, disrespect, and usually near zombie-like interactions. I try to be pleasant, ask how they're doing, joke around a bit if they seem in a friendly mood, anything I can do to hopefully give them a minute or two of enjoyment. Can't do that when on the phone with somebody else.

**Ensis Ferrae**

Alfndrate wrote:

Edit: Seriously though, why don't you use your cell phone at registers?

I don't because I dont want *THEM* getting my credit/debit card information through the air waves, man. The government is out there, just waiting for you to slip up, do something wrong, and they'll be on you, and make you disappear, man. All black bag style and stuff, man. you cant trust *THEM* with that kind of stuff. In fact, I don't have cell phone because the signals that *THEY* are gettin from my head man, they KNOW things about me........

yeah, I don't do it because I generally think it's rude to do so, your job as a cashier is to ring up my stuff, and give me your 'undivided attention', etc. the least I can do is return the courtesy.

**Alfndrate**

Ensis Ferrae wrote:
Alfndrate wrote:

Edit: Seriously though, why don't you use your cell phone at registers?

yeah, I don't do it because I generally think it's rude to do so, your job as a cashier is to ring up my stuff, and give me your
'undivided attention', etc. the least I can do is return the courtesy.

That was what I was reaching for... the cashier was rude with the way she treated the customer, but the customer could have at least given her the time of day as one might expect of a person interacting with another person. I may not like the dumb high school kid working at Burger King, but at least I'm giving him the attention he's giving me and maybe more (like when he feths up my order

).

I always try to thank cashiers/baggers/fast-food employees because they have a gak job and someone being nice to them won't hurt either of us...

**dogma**

insaniak wrote:

Working in customer service doesn't make you a servant. You're still entitled to common courtesy.

It does make you a servant, and while you are entitled to courtesy it is not the same courtesy accorded to peers.

Mind, this does not mean that a person wearing a suit is superior to a person wearing a McUniform. But it does mean that, as a service provider, you have a specified relationship with either your employer or your customer.

Frazzled wrote:

She Who Must Be Obeyed's theory was that everyone should have to work in food service when younger. I'd add retail as an effective alternative as well.

I would also add canvassing.

If food service is serving, canvassing is begging.

**DeffDred**

I'd have just laughed and dropped my purchases on the floor and walked out.

When I'm in a store, the people working there are slaves whose sole purpose while on the clock is to do everything they can to please me.

I'll talk on the phone all I want. Unless there is a sign that specifically tells me not to, such as "Please do not use cell phones in drive-thru".

There are places where talking on a cell phone is rude, a funeral, a wedding, a movie theater, a hospital ect.

The subway counter... geez. If you can't follow simple directions such as "Herb/cheese bread, ham, turkey, bacon, yellow mustard" then you shouldn't be making subs.

Nothing infuriates me more at a subway when I say that exact phrase (using the word "slash" and everything) and they still ask me "vegetables?"

Did I say any vegetables? Do I look like someone who eats salad? Better yet don't answer that. I don't want you thinking about anything but my sandwich.

Now throw that pile of heartburn in a bag and take my money.

**Alfndrate**

And that attitude is exactly why people in food service spit in the food of the people they make it for...

**DeffDred**

Alfndrate wrote:
And that attitude is exactly why people in food service spit in the food of the people they make it for...

Subway makes their sandwiches right in front of you. So no worries there.

**insaniak**

dogma wrote:
...it is not the same courtesy accorded to peers.

Mind, this does not mean that a person wearing a suit is superior to a person wearing a McUniform. ...

One of these statements does not appear to belong... because you do appear to be saying that customer service people are inferior, by suggesting that they are not your peer.

You don't become a lesser class of person just because you are in a job that requires you to help someone find that thing they want to buy. You just become someone who helps people find that thing they want to buy.

You don't have to share your life story with them... But saying hello and not completely ignoring them is just basic courtesy when you are interacting with anyone regardless of the purpose of that interaction.

**dogma**

insaniak wrote:

One of these statements does not appear to belong... because you do appear to be saying that customer service people are inferior, by suggesting that they are not your peer.

My apologies. They are not my peers because I am not a customer service employee, and they are not political analysts.

They are not equivalent to me any more than I am equivalent to them.

insaniak wrote:

You don't become a lesser class of person just because you are in a job that requires you to help someone find that thing they want to buy.

I agree.

**tuiman**

DeffDred wrote:
I'd have just laughed and dropped my purchases on the floor and walked out.

When I'm in a store, the people working there are slaves whose sole purpose while on the clock is to do everything they can to please me.

I'll talk on the phone all I want. Unless there is a sign that specifically tells me not to, such as "Please do not use cell phones in drive-thru".

There are places where talking on a cell phone is rude, a funeral, a wedding, a movie theater, a hospital ect.

The subway counter... geez. If you can't follow simple directions such as "Herb/cheese bread, ham, turkey, bacon, yellow mustard" then you shouldn't be making subs.

Nothing infuriates me more at a subway when I say that exact phrase (using the word "slash" and everything) and they still ask me "vegetables?"

Did I say any vegetables? Do I look like someone who eats salad? Better yet don't answer that. I don't want you thinking about anything but my sandwich.

Now throw that pile of heartburn in a bag and take my money.

Please tell me that was sarcasm...

**DeffDred**

tuiman wrote:
DeffDred wrote:
I'd have just laughed and dropped my purchases on the floor and walked out.

When I'm in a store, the people working there are slaves whose sole purpose while on the clock is to do everything they can to please me.

I'll talk on the phone all I want. Unless there is a sign that specifically tells me not to, such as "Please do not use cell phones in drive-thru".

There are places where talking on a cell phone is rude, a funeral, a wedding, a movie theater, a hospital ect.

The subway counter... geez. If you can't follow simple directions such as "Herb/cheese bread, ham, turkey, bacon, yellow mustard" then you shouldn't be making subs.

Nothing infuriates me more at a subway when I say that exact phrase (using the word "slash" and everything) and they still ask me "vegetables?"

Did I say any vegetables? Do I look like someone who eats salad? Better yet don't answer that. I don't want you thinking about anything but my sandwich.

Now throw that pile of heartburn in a bag and take my money.

Please tell me that was sarcasm...

Absolutely not. A lot of my friends don't like going to public places with me. I'm loud, ignorant and rude. On the plus side, I can admit it.