Cell phone manners....

[swingirl]

Of course, answering a call is understandable. Excusing yourself to continue the conversation off to the side is polite. Making everyone listen to your one-sided conversation is rude. Continuing a conversation while trying to interact with someone else is horribly rude. Funny thing is I never hear anyone converse about important matters: "Give little Tommy 2 teaspoons of cough syrup" or "My car has a flat. Come pick me up". It''s always gossip, work-related jibber-jabber and girl-talk. Like I said, the important stuff!

 

[marcy]

I think snapping fingers and pointing is rude. If I get a call when I am in a store I always apologize to the person helping me. It''s usually a problem at work which I have to address right then. If it''s someone else I usually tell them I will call them back.

 

[MishB]

It''s against the law here in Australia to talk on a mobile phone or text message while driving, I don''t necessarily agree with this, but they do enforce it, I know many people who have been fined.

I will talk on the phone while in a shop, being served etc, but the server always has priority, I will break off the phone conversation to answer questions and always say thank you, etc. I don''t feel bad about this, I''ve been served by too many sales assistants on the phone themselves, or conducting a conversation with a co-worker and not even acknowledging me outside of taking my money without a thank you or a have-a-nice-day.

I think phone conversations on public transport should be kept to a minimum, but I was once on the train during peak hour with my husband who had to have a lengthy business conversation and I felt like moving to another seat and pretending I didn''t know him.

 

[Kaleigh]

Jewelerman,
I am shaking my head at what you have had to put up with. The cell phone senarios you have told are extremley rude!!! I think we have grown a generation of self serving instant gratification RUDE people. I can't stand it. All I can do is make sure my kids don't lend themselves to this. They have good manners. If they ever pulled this kind of crap, they would be so TOAST. Yes they want to text while out, but I give them the death glare. So they have to put their phones away. Period end of story, or else I take them away. I threatened DH during DS's graduation with the crackberry. I said if you pull it out, I will grab it and throw it as far as I can. I was kidding of course.. Thank god, he complied, he didn't reach for it once. Smart man....

I am not mean, but manners mean the world to me.....

 

[Kelli]

I wouldn''t mind someone talking on their phone while in a store, but snapping your fingers at someone is VERY rude.

 

[jewelerman]

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?

Thanks everyone for answering my question!There seems to be exact opinions about cell phones use and manners.May I add a few points after reading the discission...
1-I dont ignore the customer completely...only until they are off the phone.Many times I am the only sales associate on the floor and helping several people at once with questions,returns and purchases....so there may not be time for charades and figuring out who the customer is talking to.The cell phone user has no right to hold up a line of customers while they talk on their phone.
2-I never answer the phone when I am working with a client(or 3,4 or 5 ect..._)Its poor customer service to help a phone in customer while assisting in-store customers.
3-Maybe the reason im very observant about traffic and cell phone use is that I was rear ended 6 monthes ago by a man who ran a red light because he was texting.$2000 damage done to my car when I was sandwiched bewteen them and a dilivery van.
4-I agree that retail is retail...but...people on both sides deserve respect...just because the customer has the gold dosnt mean they make the rules,money dosnt give people the license to be rude or oblivious to the world around them...I do over look rudeness in customers on a daily basis because it is my job to serve them...Ive never challeged their rudeness whether it be cell phones,complaining about the prices,hours or stock,or demanding additional discounts because they live next door to the company founder.Ive been with this company a short time and already won awards for service.
5-I hate it when I walk into a store to shop and am not greeted because the sales associate is on their cell phone talking.

 

[Amandine]

Date: 6/1/2009 4:03:33 PM
Author: elledizzy5
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.

Ditto! I work in retail, and commend the customers who receive a call, turn to me and say "excuse me, I need to take this", and then head outside the store to finish that conversation. It frees me up to help other customers, and I am happy to pick right back up with you when you are finished. My mall has a lot of business shoppers, and I am happy to say this is a recurring situation. I do not like when someone comes in, absolutely involved in themselves and their cell phone, totally ignores you and your greeting...and then is irate when you won''t jump over hurdles for them at the exact moment they complete their phone conversation. Yes, I am there to help you, but some common courtesy is expected on your part, too. I have this problem with music players, too (like an ipod). People have the music so loud they don''t hear you and are angry with you when you are not there right away to help them. I also feel that its awful that *I* feel guilty about interrupting them and their phone conversation at the register...when the whole reason they are in the store is this purchase.

Retail can certainly be frustrating. I think everyone should have to work a week in retail, as a waiter, and a maid in a hotel. Perhaps we all would appreciate more what these people do for us.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 6/1/2009 3:39:21 PM
Author: 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.

Haha this is great!

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 6/2/2009 12:30:00 PM
Author: Amandine

Date: 6/1/2009 4:03:33 PM
Author: elledizzy5
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.

Ditto! I work in retail, and commend the customers who receive a call, turn to me and say ''excuse me, I need to take this'', and then head outside the store to finish that conversation. It frees me up to help other customers, and I am happy to pick right back up with you when you are finished. My mall has a lot of business shoppers, and I am happy to say this is a recurring situation. I do not like when someone comes in, absolutely involved in themselves and their cell phone, totally ignores you and your greeting...and then is irate when you won''t jump over hurdles for them at the exact moment they complete their phone conversation. Yes, I am there to help you, but some common courtesy is expected on your part, too. I have this problem with music players, too (like an ipod). People have the music so loud they don''t hear you and are angry with you when you are not there right away to help them. I also feel that its awful that *I* feel guilty about interrupting them and their phone conversation at the register...when the whole reason they are in the store is this purchase.

Retail can certainly be frustrating. I think everyone should have to work a week in retail, as a waiter, and a maid in a hotel. Perhaps we all would appreciate more what these people do for us.

Wow....I also feel guilty for interupting their conversation!No more of that feeling.And I do agree that everyone should work in a service oriented job once in their life...then they would understand the emotional labor we experiance with the public!

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 6/2/2009 1:01:21 PM
Author: jewelerman
Wow....I also feel guilty for interupting their conversation!No more of that feeling.And I do agree that everyone should work in a service oriented job once in their life...then they would understand the emotional labor we experiance with the public!

I think everyone should work in a fast food restaurant at least once in their life

 

[jewelerman]

Date: 6/2/2009 1:09:00 PM
Author: fiery

Date: 6/2/2009 1:01:21 PM
Author: jewelerman
Wow....I also feel guilty for interupting their conversation!No more of that feeling.And I do agree that everyone should work in a service oriented job once in their life...then they would understand the emotional labor we experiance with the public!

I think everyone should work in a fast food restaurant at least once in their life

Good call...I grew up in the hotel/food trade...started busing tables when I was 12.

 

[Haven]

Oy, jewelerman, this behavior is so very rude, in my opinion.

I think talking on a cell phone while waiting in line, in a restroom stall, in a restaurant, driving a car, or paying at a cash register is very rude. I think it''s also rude to talk on a cell phone while indoors and in a public space if you have to speak louder than you would normally.

Snapping your fingers and pointing is also rude, in my opinion. That is, unless you are a small child and you cannot speak yet.

I think walking around anywhere with a phone glued to your ear is a bit sad, and frankly, dangerous. It''s sad because you''re just moving through life and missing out on the present situation. It''s potentially dangerous because you''re at risk for getting yourself hurt. A young girl from my hometown was hit and killed by a bus during her freshman year at U of I because she walked into the street right in front of it. She was talking to her mother on her cell phone when it happened. Can you imagine? What a sad tragedy.

I don''t have the type of job where I need to be reached when I''m outside of work, so I certainly don''t know what it''s like to be in that position. But I did spend the better part of a year receiving emergency phone calls about my ailing grandmother, and when those calls came in I always removed myself from the restaurant/shopping line/store/etc. to take the calls in a private, appropriate space. When the calls aren''t urgent in nature, I never pick up when I''m out. I let them go to voicemail and return them later.

 

[Bia]

I hate cell phones, so my opinion might be one sided...

I think it''s impolite to stay on the phone when you''re doing the following: at a restaurant, at the movies, in line, in a store, with a sales person, at the check out, at the gym, etc.

If you get a call, answer it, get/deliver the message and hang up, that''s fine. But having long conversations when others are present, is rude IMO. IMO. IMO. IMO.

 

[princesss]

I''m so torn on the "No cell phones in public" thing. While I do think it''s rude to treat people the way jewelerman was treated, have none of you ever gotten an unexpected phone call from a good friend who lives far away? I don''t usually make calls when I''m shopping, but I will definitely pick up if one of my best friends calls me while I''m out. I''ll sit on a bench and talk, or if I have to go get something, I''ll do it. Ultimately (and this is from somebody that has worked retail for years, and is in CS right now), the salesperson is there to make my purchase easier, and I''m a pretty easy customer. I''ll tell the person on the other line that I need them to hold on for a second, ask the salesperson for what I need or get rung up, and then continue my conversation. But I don''t feel that I need to risk not being able to talk to somebody that lives 500/1000/3000 or more miles away just because I''m not at home on my couch. I won''t pick up in a restaurant, but I''m certainly not going to let the phone go to voicemail if I''m by myself in a mall. So maybe it sounds like mundane chit chat to other people, but it''s really important to me. I just don''t think this is a cut and dried issue.