Is it acceptable to be on your mobile while at a check out in a supermarket.
- Thread starter Things change I've changed
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Jun 2012
- Posts
- 5,425
Yes, but the core argument is whether talking on the phone whilst interacting with another individual is rude or not. Not whether it is good practice as an employee.
@ arknor
Well of all people I thought you would welcome them talking to someone else on their phone, seeing as you dislike till monkeys talking to you at all?
Only because of where the power is in the interaction. Not because it's any less rude.
The customer is in the power role, so they (if they are an arrogant ****) may not see a problem with talking on the phone whilst being served, and the checkout person will usually have to suck it up because they are under the constraints of the working requirement (i.e. they have no power). the customer is taking advantage of the skewed power dynamic in a way they wouldn't if they were of an equal standing.
And, as you may expect from someone with such arrogance, the rude customer is very put-out by being called up on their rudeness by the checkout serf. See OP.
I welcome
- Till monkey > "hello"
- Consumer "hello"
- Till monkey scanning items.
- Consumer packing items.
- Till monkey passing consumer a receipt.
- Consumer saying "cheers" and walking off
As long as the consumer can pack a bag one handed without losing efficiency and holding up the queue then who cares? I doubt the manager does
In an ideal world they would also thank you for your custom and not have a face like a baboons slapped arse when they need to open a new till instead of stacking a shelf
I have not worked retail, but if a cool looking gent like myself came up and was checking out on the phone, my service to him would to make it as quick and pain free as possible. I'd acknowledge him, get my job done quick as possible then smile.
That would be my understanding of the job, to give great customer service and do it quickly and efficiently. Not be rude to a customer just because they don't want to talk to me.
People are way too sensitive these days.
That would be my understanding of the job, to give great customer service and do it quickly and efficiently. Not be rude to a customer just because they don't want to talk to me.
People are way too sensitive these days.
What was once deemed common sense is now deemed an epiphany with the youth of today
Associate
- Joined
- 26 Nov 2011
- Posts
- 1,121
- Location
- West London
I don't make a habit of it as I do think it's a tad rude. However if I receive a call that I need to take then I'll apologise and take it!
It can be rude, but it entirely depends on the purpose of the phone-call in my view.
Having a chit-chat with a buddy then yes, a call from a doctor or an urgent work/family call then no. The person on the phone at the time may not have instigated the call either.
Casually using it in that situation I agree, but flying off the handles like the women in the OP did is just as bad - responding to impoliteness (which may not may not be for a justifiable reason) with major rudeness is actually worse.
Actually I go great lengths to attempt meaningful conversation with whomever is serving me. Generally ask how their day has been and how long they have left. If they are not particularly reciprocal of this conversation then fair enough, I tried. If however I get exceptional service and genuinely good customer service, I will attempt to find a manager and mention their great service.
Entitled much?
I have worked in retail and I can see where the till person at Aldi was coming from. Good on them. Such behaviour is just rude. End of.
Nominally I was a back-office technical staff, but I'd happily help out on the tills or customer service if required. At the end of the day I was still getting paid my much higher techie wages.
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Mar 2014
- Posts
- 2,361
It's just a better world for everyone if we are all polite to each other though isn't it.
How old are you?
I admire the fact your spirit hasn't broken yet.
Why do you want to waste your breath holding a meaningless conversation?What do you get out of it exactly? I am curious as my mind works in a very different way.
I see it as I will achieve nothing saying anything other than Hi and Thanks.
Soldato
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2012
- Posts
- 3,308
- Location
- 2
It is, but people's definitions of politesse differ quite markedly.
She seems like she needs to get laid!
I swear some people in retail forget they are people.
And for reference I worked at CPW where people coming upto the counter on their phone and finishing a conversation before they would talk to you was commonplace.
Just be polite, acknowledge them and await for them to finish.
I have done this at Boots/Morrisons and a few other places and the staff on the til have been nothing but polite.
I swear some people in retail forget they are people.
And for reference I worked at CPW where people coming upto the counter on their phone and finishing a conversation before they would talk to you was commonplace.
Just be polite, acknowledge them and await for them to finish.
I have done this at Boots/Morrisons and a few other places and the staff on the til have been nothing but polite.
While I don't see issue with being on the phone will being served, the cashier shouldn't have to wait for you to finish.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 8 Feb 2004
- Posts
- 4,539
I often see these situations as an opportunity to practice my social skills. Some people are really natural with such things, others have to work at it a little more and as I fall more in to the later camp always try to put in that extra bit of effort when I can. Next time you sit down at the barbers (for example) see if you can get a decent conversation going and make the person cutting your hair warm to you, as opposed to just sitting there like a lemon and saying nothing. Being comfortable with strangers and having the ability to strike up conversations (and ultimately make them like you) can be a really useful skill and is transferable to lots of situations such as job interviews etc.
Always keep conversation at barbers light and quick. You'll end up with a **** cut if you are not careful. Done that a few times.
Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2005
- Posts
- 12,488
- Location
- Bath
Very rude.
If I received an incoming call whilst at a checkout I'd check the name on the screen and then either ignore it or if it's important I'd answer with a "Sorry can't speak right now, I'll call you in 5mins".
If I received an incoming call whilst at a checkout I'd check the name on the screen and then either ignore it or if it's important I'd answer with a "Sorry can't speak right now, I'll call you in 5mins".