Customer On Mobile Refused Service

UnwrappingCandy

Sainsbury’s customer shocked after checkout assistant refuses to serve her because she was on her mobile

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2353581/Sainsburys-customer-shocked-checkout-assistant-refuses-serve-mobile.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Yes, it's the DailyMail, but it's still an interesting story. `

A checkout assistant refused to serve a woman saying ''I will not check your shopping out until you get off your mobile phone.'

The woman got off her mobile, and said 'Apologies, I didn’t realise it was Sainsbury’s policy that you are unable to use your phone at the checkout.'

Sainsbury's does not have such a policy, but this could be an interesting discussion. Should you be forced off of your mobile at checkout? I know I tend to talk on the phone whilst shopping, but I end the conversation before getting to the queue. It's my opinion that it is rude not to. It's a human being in front of me, not a robot. He or she may actually want some kind of human interaction.

Do you think that checkout assistants should refuse to serve a customer who is on their mobile at the time? Currently 87% of respondents on the DailyMail website would answer 'yes'. I tend to agree, though with some exceptions. Thoughts?

TyTy76

Yes.
It's terribly rude to be on the phone while trying conduct business.

_noob_

what if you're like me and are more important that everyone else though?

LishieFruit89

It should be a policy.
I hated it when I was a cashier.
It's so rude.
Since they ignored me, I wouldn't talk to them except to get payment

UnwrappingCandy

what if you're like me and are more important that everyone else though?

I said there should be some exceptions. lol

InForBacon

My phone is surgically attached to my ear. Guess I can't shop there. *shrugs*

UnwrappingCandy

It should be a policy.
I hated it when I was a cashier.
It's so rude.
Since they ignored me, I wouldn't talk to them except to get payment

I think I would have done the opposite. I wouldn't have stopped talking until they ended their chat, and then I'd have gone silent.

diodelcibo

The women should've got off the phone, if it was something terribly important the cashier would've understood.

IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym

its so rude. I will hang up on someone if they didn't hear me politely say "I'll call you right back..." and just keep talking.

Hexahedra

It's rude, and it prolongs the process. When you talk on the phone you only have one hand free, so it takes longer to fish and pull your wallet, then cash or credit card. Gawd help you if you need to pay with check.

The call can wait. If it can't, then it's important enough for you to leave the queue.

moosegt35

When I worked at a hotel and people did this I would just start loudly asking them a lot of questions, telling them where their room was, suggesting resaturants and giving directions to them, etc until they couldn't not get off the phone.

Alex_is_Hawks

yes.

I think it's not only rude, but the interaction is a business interaction for them. It's their job, they have to do it right. And making an error on their behalf because you were on the phone not paying attention, would more than likely still get them blamed if you complained to the management.

"do you want your meat in the same bag as your milk, or separate?"

{nattering on phone and just shakes her head yes}

she puts meat in with the milk in the same bag and you complain of possible contamination.

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

so yeah...maybe a silly example, but still...yes you should be off the phone.

WendyTerry420

It should be a policy.
I hated it when I was a cashier.
It's so rude.
Since they ignored me, I wouldn't talk to them except to get payment

QFT! Rude people suck!

jenifr818

Eh, I'm mixed on this. At the end of the day, it's the cashier's job to check her stuff out and get her on her way. She's not the phone police, and it's not her job to determine who she checks out. If you're in the line, she needs to check you out, collect her paycheck, rinse and repeat.

On the other hand, I've been a cashier, and I see how it's rude to totally disregard the person that's helping you at the store.

I also think cell phones are way overused. Then again, I'm a dinosaur with an old-school simple Trac-fone ... no web access, just basic talk and text. It stays off most of the time.

RGv2

It should be a policy.
I hated it when I was a cashier.
It's so rude.
Since they ignored me, I wouldn't talk to them except to get payment

When I cashiered a bit in college it didn't bother me....whatever.

I was kind of there to get payment, that was my job...along with customer service. The customer isn't there to convenience me, I'm there for them.

SlimJanette

I will not talk on the phone when I am checking out. I think it is very rude and my time is no more precious then theirs.

chunkydunk714

Yes.
It's terribly rude to be on the phone while trying conduct business.

Agreed.

billsica

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

vtmoon

Proper manners, more and more people seem to be lacking it.

jenifr818

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

Aldis does it. They're a budget grocery store. 25 cent deposit for the grocery cart (obviously get it back when you're done with it), 5 cents for plastic bags, I think 10 cents for paper, sack your own groceries. Food is DIRT cheap though.

Alex_is_Hawks

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

it's part of the recycling initiative....

and it's working....people either bring their own bags or use less....

maab_connor

it's the craziest thing ever, but this is what i do... are you ready to have your mind blown??

"hang on a sec, i'm at the front of the line"

Joreanasaurous

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

LA just passed something like this for within the city I believe.

DalekBrittany

As a cashier, the amount of annoyance at people on the phone depends on their reaction to my questions.

It is part of my job to get at least 80% phone capture, and 50% email capture. If I skip through those steps without asking the customer for them and a manager sees, that's my *kitten*. So if you're on the phone, I'm still gonna ask all the questions I need to ask. Some people will answer me politely. Other times I get a hand wave of dismissal like "go away".

I asked one woman on her phone if she wanted her receipt in the bag. She gave me the go away hand wave so I went to put the receipt in the bag and she snapped her fingers at me and pointed at the receipt and gave me a hand movement like "give that here". I am not a dog. I don't respond to snaps and hand movements, *****. -.-

billsica

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

it's part of the recycling initiative....

and it's working....people either bring their own bags or use less....

This is just craziness. I take all my plastic bags and just toss them in the trash. I'll start mailing them to you, for $0.05USD.

AwesomelyAmber

Guess it makes me a jerk... but if someone said to me "Get off your phone or I won't serve you" I would say "Get me your manager so we can chat about how I'm probably not shopping here again". :blushing:

I don't feel that ME being on the phone is anymore rude than the cashier and the bagger discussing their weekend plans... or the cashier saying "How are you today" and not even looking me in the face because it's just automatic to say it and not give a damn about the response. Not there to make life long friends with the clerk... I'm there to get my stuff, pay for it, and get out.

I usually do say to whomever I am speaking to "Just hold on a minute, I'm checking out" and keep quiet long enough to swipe the card and answer questions if there are any from the clerk. Good enough for me... and seems to work for the clerks in my area too.

ItsCasey

Austin recently implemented a no-plastic ordinance. You have to bring your own bags (and this is everywhere, not just grocery stores) or pay a small fee. At my grocery store, the first bag is free, but additional bags are 25 cents each. At Wal-Mart, I think it's 10 cents per paper bag.

Tropical_Turtle

People who are on the phone while in line and remain on the phone while being checked out is just pure and simple RUDE. If I am on the phone I will ask if I can call them back, I am at the register. The cashier deserves my attention at that point in time.

I went into a store the other day and a sign is posted -"We will refuse service to you if you are on the phone during a transaction/" Technology sadly today has made people rude and inconsiderate of others.

SMH manners have totally gone by the wayside....

NicoleMGetsFit

I am not a dog. I don't respond to snaps and hand movements, *****. -.-

I've been whistled at, clicked at and demanded...
I don't mind customers who are on the phone who still make the effort to have some sort of polite contact with you, but some are just down right rude.
I agree, cashiers are people earning a living- they do not deserve your crap!

Rage_Phish

some people don't care, they just want it all in the same bag if they are paying 5 cents per bag...some people REALLY care....

You have to pay per bag? Seriously, I've never seen this down in Americas.

it's part of the recycling initiative....

and it's working....people either bring their own bags or use less....

This is just craziness. I take all my plastic bags and just toss them in the trash. I'll start mailing them to you, for $0.05USD.

USA! USA! USA! USA!

msuspartan10

I cashier in the evenings and weekends. I think it's incredibly rude to talk on the phone when you are supposed to be paying attention to your order. I get frustrated when customers make it my fault that their things got mixed up with the person behind them because it was squished by the bottle neck on the belt or just plain fell off their giant stack of haphazard groceries because they weren't paying attention. That being said, I would never tell a person to get off their phone. I have certain questions I have to ask. I just ask them anyway, loudly. If it interrupts the customer's conversation, I just shrug.