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An older man comes in last night and wants to use the phone to make a local call. Okay, a quick local call isn't going to hurt anything. So, I let him use the phone.
Most people will wander away from the counter a little bit since we have a cordless receiver. That way, they're not in the way as we do our work.
I had a few customers pumping gas, so I stayed close to the register. Plus, I don't like being too far from the registers when someone is in the store. This guy kept hovering right at my register, which was no big deal to me so long as no one wanted to check out.
Then, I had that vibe that he was staring at me. I'd been watching the customers at the pumps, so I hadn't paid much attention to him until the vibe registered on my radar. I looked back at him, and he kept giving me this annoyed expression and mumbling into the phone. I just thought to myself If you expect me to find somewhere else to stand, think again. I work here, you don't, you can go elsewhere.
I just pretended not to notice thinking he'd be on his way soon enough. A customer came in, made a quick round to pick up some snacks and beer, then walked up to the counter. The guy looked right at her, but continued to stand right at the counter. She and I kept looking at each other for a second then at him.
Finally, I asked him to step aside. He moved and muttered something into the phone about being asked to move. I looked at my watch and realized he'd been on the phone for about 5 minutes at this point. I was busy with the customer, so I really didn't care about the time issue at the moment. At least I don't have to worry about it ringing at a bad time this way. So, I silently monitored the time.
The customers at the gas pumps came in and paid for their purchases. Each time, I had to ask the guy using the phone to move. Well, I only asked one more time, then I started telling him to move. I was getting irritated that he kept blocking the counter, even when he stood facing the customers who wanted to pay, until I'd finally tell him to move.
By this time, another 5 minutes had passed. The guy had tied up our phone for 10 minutes. I had no more customers that I could see for the moment, so it's probably time to tell him to wind up his call after roughly 10 minutes.
Another customer walks in, and approaches the counter for cigarettes. I take care of her request. Meanwhile, the guy on the phone ends his call while I'm taking care of this customer. He asks me what the number is for the store. I have it programmed into my cell phone, so I don't know it off the top of my head. Plus, I'm eager to get rid of him anyway because he's getting on my nerves. There is a payphone outside that he can use, but I don't know it's number either.
I look at my watch and tell him that he has tied up our phone for the last 10 minutes, so I need to keep it clear for a while now in case someone needs to call the store. The company has policies about excessive phone usage, and it come back on me if the phone line is tied up for an extended period.
He gets annoyed, so I tell him there is a payphone outside if he wants someone to call him back. He can tell them its number and have them call him on it. I really need to keep the phone line clear for a while after 10 minutes of being busy in case someone tries to call the store. He asks again what the store number is, so I again insist that I need to keep the phone line clear. We only let customers use it to make short local calls (3 minutes should be sufficient to say it) as a courtesy, it's not a chat line.
Most people will wander away from the counter a little bit since we have a cordless receiver. That way, they're not in the way as we do our work.
I had a few customers pumping gas, so I stayed close to the register. Plus, I don't like being too far from the registers when someone is in the store. This guy kept hovering right at my register, which was no big deal to me so long as no one wanted to check out.
Then, I had that vibe that he was staring at me. I'd been watching the customers at the pumps, so I hadn't paid much attention to him until the vibe registered on my radar. I looked back at him, and he kept giving me this annoyed expression and mumbling into the phone. I just thought to myself If you expect me to find somewhere else to stand, think again. I work here, you don't, you can go elsewhere.
I just pretended not to notice thinking he'd be on his way soon enough. A customer came in, made a quick round to pick up some snacks and beer, then walked up to the counter. The guy looked right at her, but continued to stand right at the counter. She and I kept looking at each other for a second then at him.
Finally, I asked him to step aside. He moved and muttered something into the phone about being asked to move. I looked at my watch and realized he'd been on the phone for about 5 minutes at this point. I was busy with the customer, so I really didn't care about the time issue at the moment. At least I don't have to worry about it ringing at a bad time this way. So, I silently monitored the time.
The customers at the gas pumps came in and paid for their purchases. Each time, I had to ask the guy using the phone to move. Well, I only asked one more time, then I started telling him to move. I was getting irritated that he kept blocking the counter, even when he stood facing the customers who wanted to pay, until I'd finally tell him to move.
By this time, another 5 minutes had passed. The guy had tied up our phone for 10 minutes. I had no more customers that I could see for the moment, so it's probably time to tell him to wind up his call after roughly 10 minutes.
Another customer walks in, and approaches the counter for cigarettes. I take care of her request. Meanwhile, the guy on the phone ends his call while I'm taking care of this customer. He asks me what the number is for the store. I have it programmed into my cell phone, so I don't know it off the top of my head. Plus, I'm eager to get rid of him anyway because he's getting on my nerves. There is a payphone outside that he can use, but I don't know it's number either.
I look at my watch and tell him that he has tied up our phone for the last 10 minutes, so I need to keep it clear for a while now in case someone needs to call the store. The company has policies about excessive phone usage, and it come back on me if the phone line is tied up for an extended period.
He gets annoyed, so I tell him there is a payphone outside if he wants someone to call him back. He can tell them its number and have them call him on it. I really need to keep the phone line clear for a while after 10 minutes of being busy in case someone tries to call the store. He asks again what the store number is, so I again insist that I need to keep the phone line clear. We only let customers use it to make short local calls (3 minutes should be sufficient to say it) as a courtesy, it's not a chat line.
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