"I'm multitasking..."

[Kogarashi]

I've had a few. I will usually interrupt them for my standard greeting (though I'll leave off the question of, "Did you find everything you needed?") so if they notice the survey on the PINpad they can't score me bad for not greeting them. I'll also interrupt them to tell them the total and give them their change, but otherwise if they're going to ignore me, I'm going to ignore them and ring their purchases up as quickly and quietly as possible.

Why do most of them feel the need to say to the person on the other end, "Hey, guess where I am right now? Wal-Mart/the checkout!" Like the other person cares?

I have a hands-free headset for my phone (cheapo bought at Wal-Mart, not a Bluetooth or anything fancy really, but I wish the earpiece was adjustable). I only use it in the car, since in NY (home state) and CT (current residence), you can get pulled over and ticketed for holding the phone to your ear. When I'm in the store, I actually hold the phone so other people don't think I'm talking to them or, worse, myself.

[Discourtesy Clerk]

Yeah, now with those Bluetooths (Blueteeth?), I'll be in a store and people will approach the counter and I see the sales person start to talk to them and you THINK they are answering the sales person - but they are on their phone - if their head is turned away from you and you don't see the little earpiece permanently afixed to their ear - the sales person will stand there trying to talk to them thinking they're answering.

I have yet to breakdown and get an earpiece for my Bluetooth phone, I just can't bring myself to that yet.

I swear to god, I will NEVER get one of those. Every time I see someone yacking away on one, my first thought is, "Are they talking to themselves?" Those things are so prone to creating embarrassing misunderstandings. Nooooo way.

[Seanette]

I have a hands-free headset for my phone (cheapo bought at Wal-Mart, not a Bluetooth or anything fancy really, but I wish the earpiece was adjustable). I only use it in the car, since in NY (home state) and CT (current residence), you can get pulled over and ticketed for holding the phone to your ear. When I'm in the store, I actually hold the phone so other people don't think I'm talking to them or, worse, myself.

Those earpiece deals that are nearly invisible to bystanders can be VERY disconcerting when someone's using them, especially in weirdo-prone situations such as using public transit. I usually have to look at the person at least twice to figure out if they're on the phone or talking to an invisible friend.

[Jester]

Y’all are right when you say those cordless earpieces (aka Bluetooth devices, etc.) are rather odd in public situations, but they are absolutely awesome when you are trying to do something that requires both hands…like, say, working on the computer and talking on the phone (often related) or driving and talking….like, say, driving through some bad weather in Tennessee and hearing about a tornado nearby and calling a friend elsewhere in the country to have them check on their computer where that damned tornado is, how bad the weather is, and whether you should pull over and wait it out or keep on going, the entire time needing both hands on the wheel to control your vehicle. (Not, of course, that I would know about that from firsthand experience…..)

In any case, those devices DO have their uses and applications, but as with anything, etiquette comes from people who have some sense of it in the first place, and those who don’t probably never will.

[Kogarashi]

- snip mention of computer and tornado warnings -

In any case, those devices DO have their uses and applications, but as with anything, etiquette comes from people who have some sense of it in the first place, and those who don’t probably never will.

Very true, Jester.

I've also used my headset once when trying to contact the local Post Office for information on a package Hubby and I were expecting, as it hadn't arrived yet but should have. Despite calling several times at several different points during the day, I could not get anyone at the PO to actually pick up the phone. It just kept ringing. The second day I was attempting this, I finally thought, "Screw it. I'm going to make that phone ring off the hook if I have to, until it bugs someone enough to pick it up." So, since I wanted to be able to do other stuff (namely work on the computer), and thus didn't want to occupy one hand with the cell phone the whole time, I plugged in my headset, dialed the number, and let it ring and ring and ring in my ear while I worked.

It took them about 45 minutes to answer the phone, and the guy on the other end did sound a bit annoyed (yeah, a bit SC of me, but the PO was being very SE in my opinion). Luckily I hardly ever use up the monthly minutes in my cell plan. They straightened up the package problem in about five minutes.

[pbmods]

Customers only barely exist to me if they are on their cell phones. If they come up to the counter, I acknowledge them with a nod and a smile. If they try to get my attention beyond that, I tell them, "I'll wait till you're done." And then I get on with my work.

One customer had the gall to say, "No that's ok. What information do you need?" So... neither this transaction nor your conversation is important to you? What a sad, hollow shell of a life you live.

The only exception is when a customer needs to be rung up. Then, due to store manager mandate, I have to help him. But I don't enjoy it one bit.

[staticradio]

...and I feel fine!

today, I got the totally oblivious customer that talked all the way through the order on her cell phone...and pretty much did what I do with them...and pretty much any other customer...have them pay attention to what they are doing.

always fun to point to the credit card kiosk, and they are baffled (like you haven't been out of the house since 1971?)...

and, I still love my pay as you go plan for my cell phone (for only emergencies and short calls anyway...use a landline, email or internet chat for other modes of communication).

[LemonZest]

Why I love our Store Policy

The only exception is when a customer needs to be rung up. Then, due to store manager mandate, I have to help him. But I don't enjoy it one bit.

We don't. We can if we want to, but we're also allowed to simply walk away from them and not acknowledge them at all. There are 'no cellphone use please' signs on the front doors, the pharmacy counter, the post office counter and the gift shop counters and in strategic locations throughout the store. Neither the post office, the pharmacy folks or most of the gift shop employees will wait on customers yakking on their phone and should it ring and they answer in the middle of their transaction, and I have their credit card or cash payment in hand, transaction stops right there....I wouldn't want to interrupt their call, now would I? Either they put it on hold/end the call or I keep holding their credit card....and holding......and holding. I'll suspend their transaction and wait on the next person even, holding their card in plain view the whole time.

Our owner/pharmacist hates cell yellers and cell yakkers. The only exception he makes to the cell use = no service rule is if someone has to call a housebound relative they are picking up meds or DME items for and needs to call to confirm it is what they want....but they still have to terminate the call to go through the till.

I love this policy!

LZ

[ArenaBoy]

I have a fun way of dealing with cellphone idiots. When I started out, I would just talk quietly back when I thought the world was nice. Right now, if the person is ignoring me and holding my line if I'm cashier I will talk very loudly so as to embarass the cellphone idiot.

As for Bluetooth, I have a Bluetooth phone but I don't have any plans of getting one. I have ran into too many awkward situations when it comes to those things when I am out. Plus, I always think that those things make us look like cyborgs.

[Jester]

Resistance is futile.

[AFpheonix]

middle aged women on cells are the most fun for me, because then I'll definitely use their birthday to verify who they are.
They give me stinky poop eye look, because then whoever was on the other end heard and gasp! Found out they really haven't been 29 all these years!

Some pharmacists will let them rot at the consultation window until they hang up the phone, and we had one who would point-blank tell them to hang up due to HIPAA. She was kind of bitchy to us too, otherwise I might have liked her better....oh well.