Cell phone manners....

[jewelerman]

Hello everyone,
Im curious about what the forum members think about what is rude and what is not when using a cell phone in public.As most here know i am in retail and Im getting tired of customers who expect me to help them while they have another conversation on their phone.Also when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction,waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect.When a customer enters the store I wait to greet them until they get off the phone.Ive had people point at things with their free hand and also snap their fingers at me for attention....I ignore them until they are off their phone.I had both situations happen on Saturday.Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them.A third driver useing a cell tried to make a left hand turn and almost hit the corner of my car.Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

 

[mayachel]

Eeek! How dare they snap their fingers at you. I''m so sorry that our society has come to this. While I am one for shopping while talking, I always either hang up, or put the phone down when at the register or in need of speaking with someone. In small boutiques I don''t think it is appropriate to be chatting on the phone period. When I do, it''s to call and get an opinion over something I''m looking at, short and sweet.

Big stores ie: Macy''s, Home Depot...I don''t see any harm. Except where it interferes with human interaction. Many shops in my town have a "no cell phone" rule...that I think is abrasive, but not if people are walking in and snapping and pointing at the SA!

 

[Shoopy]

My take:

"when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction"

Not rude

"waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect"

Rude

"Ive had people point at things with their free hand"

Not rude

"snap their fingers at me for attention"

Always rude regardless of talking on a cell or not

"Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them"

More inconsiderate and dangerous rather than rude.

Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

I think this too a lot of times. I don’t understand the need to air your dirty laundry for all to hear. A former friend of mine had the really bad habit of doing that and as soon as she would discover that other people were paying attention to her, she’d get louder and more animated

 

[princesss]

I have to admit to being guilty of being on my phone when I pay for something. Usually it''s just ordering a sandwich or picking up something where I don''t need the SA''s assitance, but my theory is the person in front of me trumps the person on the phone, so I''ll generally tell the person I''m speaking with to hold on for a second while I take care of whatever I need to do.

As for talking about personal stuff in public, I think most people (at least those around my age) are so used to the cellphones that they don''t think anything of it. It''s just another method of chatting with your friends, so you cover whatever you would cover in person. I don''t think it''s wise to talk about finances in public in general, but I''d say at least for the younger crowd it''s not as much about attention as it is thoughtlessness.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:53:36 AM
Author: mayachel
Eeek! How dare they snap their fingers at you. I''m so sorry that our society has come to this. While I am one for shopping while talking, I always either hang up, or put the phone down when at the register or in need of speaking with someone. In small boutiques I don''t think it is appropriate to be chatting on the phone period. When I do, it''s to call and get an opinion over something I''m looking at, short and sweet.

Big stores ie: Macy''s, Home Depot...I don''t see any harm. Except where it interferes with human interaction. Many shops in my town have a ''no cell phone'' rule...that I think is abrasive, but not if people are walking in and snapping and pointing at the SA!

I hate it when people in front of me in line at stores talk on the phone. I can understand if there''s a reason for the call, but I absolutely can''t stand it when they just chit chat on the phone.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

In the state where I live, it's against the law to talk on the phone while driving, however, the driver has to be pulled over for another reason to be fined for chatting on the phone. Due to that, drivers are constantly driving around with their phones glued to their heads.

I feel a person should step out of a check out line if they're talking on their phone AND keep their conversation out of earshot. I hate hearing conversations where people are talking loudly about mundane or very personal things.

If my phone rings when I'm in a store or public place, I turn the ringer off unless it's my kids' school. They've only called about 2 or 3 times this entire year.

ETA - the liquer store by me will not check out customers who are talking on their phones!

 

[Ara Ann]

I HATE the use of cell phones in public! Maybe I am ''old school'' - or just plain ''old'' - but IMO, cell phones are for urgent (almost) emergency purposes. I''ll call my DH if he''s at the store and I remember something we need, etc., but to just chat on and on with someone, in a store, restaurant, etc. is RUDE. LOL, even if I call my mom on her cell, if I find out she''s out somewhere, like at a restaurant, I will tell her I''ll call her back...I don''t want her half of our conversation shared with a lot of strangers! Makes me

I also hate it when EVERY other person in a mall is on the cell phone...I mean, what happened to a friendly smile as you pass a stranger? Now most people''s faces are half covered by a cell phone or they are plugged into their i-pod...no wonder our society isn''t as friendly anymore...people are afraid of making eye contact with anyone they don''t know. Sad.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:54:33 AM
Author: fiery


Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

I think this too a lot of times. I don’t understand the need to air your dirty laundry for all to hear. A former friend of mine had the really bad habit of doing that and as soon as she would discover that other people were paying attention to her, she’d get louder and more animated

I think people feel like if they''re never going to see these people again, it doesn''t really matter if they know.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/1/2009 12:04:34 PM
Author: Ara Ann
I also hate it when EVERY other person in a mall is on the cell phone...I mean, what happened to a friendly smile as you pass a stranger? Now most people''s faces are half covered by a cell phone or they are plugged into their i-pod...no wonder our society isn''t as friendly anymore...people are afraid of making eye contact with anyone they don''t know. Sad.

Yep, people don''t even look up to watch their kids when at parks or play areas because they''re too busy chatting. Once a mom at a play area was texting while her son was hitting my son. She glanced up, told her son to quit playing with "that brat," and went back to texting. I was so fumming over that, I confronted her and told her that her son was the problem and she barely responded and then went back to her phone.

 

[Ara Ann]

Date: 6/1/2009 12:09:39 PM
Author: MC

Date: 6/1/2009 12:04:34 PM

Author: Ara Ann

I also hate it when EVERY other person in a mall is on the cell phone...I mean, what happened to a friendly smile as you pass a stranger? Now most people''s faces are half covered by a cell phone or they are plugged into their i-pod...no wonder our society isn''t as friendly anymore...people are afraid of making eye contact with anyone they don''t know. Sad.

Yep, people don''t even look up to watch their kids when at parks or play areas because they''re too busy chatting. Once a mom at a play area was texting while her son was hitting my son. She glanced up, told her son to quit playing with ''that brat,'' and went back to texting. I was so fumming over that, I confronted her and told her that her son was the problem and she barely responded and then went back to her phone.

Very sad. When will people get a clue? What if her kid ran into the street, or was abducted? She''d STILL blame someone else... Technology can be GREAT, but as with anything, too much of a good thing is not always good.

 

[purrfectpear]

I think when you''ve been recently unemployed, it''s good to overlook rudeness in customers

Regardless of whether they are showing poor manners, or being rude, you are there to serve them

 

[Circe]

My husband has a simple rule for gauging any situation: can the question be answered with the recitation of the simple fact that people are stupid? If so, done!

Most people are stupid (just, you know, statistically speaking). The people who blast their personal info. to all and sundry while shopping are stupid and ill-mannered. The ones who focus on juggling their phones to the exclusion of their driving are basically Darwinism in action. My take on careless driving is that it''s its own punishment: one can only avoid using one''s turn signal for so long before karma (and, again, statistical probability) kicks in ....

 

[Loves Vintage]

Jewelerman - The behavior you described in just horrible! What is wrong with people? The finger-snapping, pointing and ignoring you during check-out are rather disrespectful! I would have a hard time dealing with it.

I have a hard enough time just dealing with people while I am shopping. It annoys me to no end when I am grocery shopping and people are having everyday conversations at higher than normal speaking volumes!!! I usually have to dart several aisles over just to get away from them -- it is so annoying!

As to the sharing of personal details with fellow shoppers, I just don't get it. I was standing in a line last night at the pharmacy, and a woman came barreling in. She was clearly agitated, talking (very, very loudly) about some issue with her ex and their son that "just got locked up." Uggh. It was just ridiculous!! Fortunately, I was checking out, so I was able to dash away from that conversation!

Some local shops (mostly coffee shops) have little signs indicating that people will not be served if they are on their cell phones! Good for them!

It is also illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving in my state, but people are always talking on their phones while driving.

 

[tigian]

finger snapping to get someone''s attention is always inappropriate in my book. I was once at a bookstore where it was fairly quiet and a lady was on the phone describing what she and her psychiatrist had discussed. She was going on and on about her horrible relationship with her daughter and her recent divorce. After about 10 mins, a man went up to her and asked if she knew everybody could hear all that was being said. She looked totally shocked and left. I think many people are truly oblivious.

 

[brightlight]

I absolutely can''t stand when people talk on their cell phones while they''re using the restroom. I can''t count how many times I''ve been in a public restroom, and I''ve heard women walk in talking on the phone and just continue talking in the stall.

 

[jet2ks]

I will never figure out why people can't just say, "I'm just finishing up at the store, I'll call you right back."

When managing retail stores, my policy was: "We don't answer the phone while helping you, please extend the same courtesy" I had a few times of having to step in when a staff member was being chewed out, because the customer felt like they were being ignored. I was almost always able to defuse the situation with an explanation that in order to give the best service, we wanted to make sure that we were be able to understand the customer's needs and so we would gladly wait until they were done with their phone calls. I also made sure that as soon as the person hung up, someone was right there to assist.

When nothing else worked, I would just ask the customer something about how if they could focus on both conversations at the same time, why did they wait until hanging up to voice their complaint about service. The expressions were priceless! No matter the answer, you could turn it back around--politely, of course.

 

[VRBeauty]

"cellphone manners" often seems to be an oxymoron.

But.. ditto PP re the importance of reflecting one''s employer''s standards on this, which may differ from one''s own...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

...

 

[swingirl]

I think talking on the phone anytime in public is rude. People always talk too loud and have conversations of a personal matter that shouldn''t be in earshot of everyone around them. We used to have phone booths so everyone around the speaker didn''t have to be distracted by their blah blah blah. For some reason people now think everyone wants to hear their very important conversation. I believe it makes them feel special. When I come across someone on a cell phone talking loud enough for me to hear I want to start talking loud so they can listen to me cuz I am important, too.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 6/1/2009 12:16:54 PM
Author: purrfectpear
I think when you've been recently unemployed, it's good to overlook rudeness in customers

Regardless of whether they are showing poor manners, or being rude, you are there to serve them

Okay, I just re-read the Jewelerman's post. . . How long were you unemployed? At first I didn't agree with PP, but upon quick reflection, I agree with her. Nobody likes to be treated like crap, but that comes with the territory of working in retail and in today's tough job market, it's better to give the customer what he/she demands rather than be fired by a boss seeing you ignoring customers. It's okay to be annoyed with them, but to ignore is an entirely different deal.

 

[Linda W]

Talking on cell phones in restaurants.

 

[brightlight]

Date: 6/1/2009 3:50:44 PM
Author: swingirl
I think talking on the phone anytime in public is rude. People always talk too loud and have conversations of a personal matter that shouldn''t be in earshot of everyone around them. We used to have phone booths so everyone around the speaker didn''t have to be distracted by their blah blah blah. For some reason people now think everyone wants to hear their very important conversation. I believe it makes them feel special. When I come across someone on a cell phone talking loud enough for me to hear I want to start talking loud so they can listen to me cuz I am important, too.

LOL! You totally should! You should pull out your phone and pretend to talk to someone REALLY LOUD about something really stupid like whether Betty Crocker or Sara Lee is better.

 

[Elmorton]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:54:33 AM
Author: fiery
My take:


''when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction''

Not rude

''waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect''

Rude

''Ive had people point at things with their free hand''

Not rude

''snap their fingers at me for attention''

Always rude regardless of talking on a cell or not

''Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them''

More inconsiderate and dangerous rather than rude.

Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

I think this too a lot of times. I don’t understand the need to air your dirty laundry for all to hear. A former friend of mine had the really bad habit of doing that and as soon as she would discover that other people were paying attention to her, she’d get louder and more animated

I totally agree with this. I don''t think it''s rude to be on your phone in public, but it IS rude to ignore others around you or expect everyone to cater to you because you''re on the phone.

 

[Lauren8211]

I don''t think its always rude to be on your phone in public, but it can be annoying or inappropriate.

Sorry, I don''t think people should get assistance in a store when they''re on a phone. It wastes time, and it''s hard to help those people. I''m all about providing excellent customer service, but I am not there to decipher your rude hand signals. The least you can do is get off the phone and communicate with me, or not put your hand up for me to "wait* while you finish your conversation. If you''re on the phone, but put the customer service person first, I don''t mind, especially if you''re just paying for something quickly.

I don''t work in CS now, but I did for roughly 8 years... so this stuff annoys me. Customer service people are not "servants" and should not be treated as such. They''re people, and they deserve respect. Would you carry on a conversation with another human being and expect them to respond to your snapping and pointing? I wouldn''t.

 

[sunnyd]

I used to be a cashier. One time this lady came up (on her phone, of course

) and as I was checking her out, I tried to ask a question. She put her hand up. So rude. I''m waiting...waiting for her to finish, just standing there. She asks, what''s the problem? Helloooo lady, boink boink on the head!!! Then she starts complaining about ME to whoever she was talking to!

My mind reading device must have been turned off that day.

Some people have half a brain, I swear.

And I agree with elle, CS people are not servants. If I''m being paid to help you, doesn''t give you the right to be rude to me.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 6/1/2009 12:24:50 PM
Author: Circe
My husband has a simple rule for gauging any situation: can the question be answered with the recitation of the simple fact that people are stupid? If so, done!


Most people are stupid (just, you know, statistically speaking). The people who blast their personal info. to all and sundry while shopping are stupid and ill-mannered. The ones who focus on juggling their phones to the exclusion of their driving are basically Darwinism in action. My take on careless driving is that it''s its own punishment: one can only avoid using one''s turn signal for so long before karma (and, again, statistical probability) kicks in ....

I would tend to agree, except that sadly, the driving impacts other, innocent and/or smart

drivers almost as much as it impacts those who are talking on their phone. I''ve had many near-misses where I couldn''t imagine how the person didn''t notice me and my car in the space they were trying to occupy, until I realized they had a phone up to their face and were gabbing away. And its now illegal in California, but that doesn''t really seem to stop a lot of people...

 

[AmberGretchen]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:47:58 AM
Author:jewelerman
Hello everyone,

Im curious about what the forum members think about what is rude and what is not when using a cell phone in public.As most here know i am in retail and Im getting tired of customers who expect me to help them while they have another conversation on their phone.Also when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction,waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect.When a customer enters the store I wait to greet them until they get off the phone.Ive had people point at things with their free hand and also snap their fingers at me for attention....I ignore them until they are off their phone.I had both situations happen on Saturday.Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them.A third driver useing a cell tried to make a left hand turn and almost hit the corner of my car.Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

I generally agree that most of this behavior is rude, or at the least, inconsiderate.

I will, however, answer my phone if it rings - everyone who knows me knows not to call me unless its very important, so I generally assume (and about 90% of the time I''m right) that if my cell phone is ringing at a time when I''m not expecting a call, there''s a very good reason, so unless it would be blatantly rude (and to me that doesn''t include when I''m in a shop but not interacting with someone), I do tend to answer it...

 

[asscherisme]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:47:58 AM
Author:jewelerman
Hello everyone,
Im curious about what the forum members think about what is rude and what is not when using a cell phone in public.As most here know i am in retail and Im getting tired of customers who expect me to help them while they have another conversation on their phone.Also when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction,waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect.When a customer enters the store I wait to greet them until they get off the phone.Ive had people point at things with their free hand and also snap their fingers at me for attention....I ignore them until they are off their phone.I had both situations happen on Saturday.Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them.A third driver useing a cell tried to make a left hand turn and almost hit the corner of my car.Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

That sounds awful. Such rude rude behavior. I hate it when people in public zone out on their cell phones and are rude to others. And it drives me crazy when I see a cashier or salesperson just trying to do their job and the customer is on the cell phone being rude or ignoring them. Good for you for not giving service until they hang up!

The other day I was at a Starbucks drive thru and when they woman inside handed me my drink, I said "Thanks". She gave me a huge smile and told me I was the first person to say thanks all morning. I thought about how sad it that common curtesey seems to have gone out the window.

I''m really concerned about my children''s generation in terms of forgetting how to be nice to other people or losing social skills. I''ve certainly seen it among people my age.

 

[lyra]

I always answer my cell because only my immediate family members have the number. But even then, 99.9% of the time it''s just a text. I''m uncomfortable talking much on my cell in public. Just very short calls and I try to find an uncrowded place. I hate cells most in restaurant settings. We''re trying to relax, and are spending money to do that, so I don''t want to hear a bunch of loud phone calls from around me. Bah humbug!

 

[meresal]

Date: 6/1/2009 11:47:58 AM
Author:jewelerman
Hello everyone,
Im curious about what the forum members think about what is rude and what is not when using a cell phone in public.As most here know i am in retail and Im getting tired of customers who expect me to help them while they have another conversation on their phone.Also when they are in being rung up and answer their phone while in the middle of the transaction,waving me off when I ask a question about form of payment ect.When a customer enters the store I wait to greet them until they get off the phone.Ive had people point at things with their free hand and also snap their fingers at me for attention....I ignore them until they are off their phone.I had both situations happen on Saturday.Also the other day enroute to work(a 10 mile drive)I had two seprate drivers useing cell phones pulled out in front of me into traffic and I had to BREAk fast and hard to avoid hitting them.A third driver useing a cell tried to make a left hand turn and almost hit the corner of my car.Also...Why do people discuss private matters(money,business,intimate relationship)on their phones in a public place...I think they want the attention...What do you think?

I agree about conversations. I''m guilty of taking some while waiting for my receipt, but usually just to say, "Let me call you right back."

I have to share a story. I take a commuter bus from downtown to my home area, and depending on where you get on the bus downtown, there can be many people that you work with, but don''t actaully realize they are assocaited with your company. People that know people kind of thing. Anyway, this probably mid 20 something girl, obviously working as a temp in one of the major buildings, was talking VERY loudly, the loudest I have ever heard in over a year of using this bus, about how she started detoxing the previous night for her mandatory drug test thru the company that Thursday!! She then proceeded to talk about how she had already taken one of those over-the-counter tests from Walgreen''s that test''s "3 at once" and passed it just fine, so she might take the drug test a day ealry, since some "good stuff" was coming the day she was scheduled to take it. Ya, thanks for sharing.