Shopper angered at cashier's mobile phone ban

[Hum]

 A SUPERMARKET has apologised to a customer who was left speechless after being banned from using her mobile phone at a Crayford checkout.

Jo Clarke says the checkout assistant at Sainsbury?s refused to serve her until she hung up her phone.

The 26-year-old property manager was doing her midweek shop in the Stadium Way store at 5.40pm on June 24 when the bust-up happened.

She told News Shopper: "I was standing at the foot of the till waiting to bag my shopping up, yet the lady on the checkout was just staring at me, when I stopped my conversation and said: ?Is everything ok??

"?She said: ?I will not check your shopping out until you get off your mobile phone?.

"?I ended my call swiftly, and said to the lady on the checkout: ?Apologies, I didn?t realise that it was Sainsbury?s policy that you are unable to use your phone at the checkout?, and she said ?Well you learn something new every day?."

On her way out of the store, Miss Clarke, of Alfriston Close, Crayford, double-checked with the customer services desk which confirmed this is not the company's policy.

 She said: "I was dumbfounded at the time so just hung up. I don?t know what she was playing at. I couldn?t believe how rude she was.

"When did she have the right to give me a lecture on checkout etiquette?

"I won?t be shopping there again - I?ll go to Waitrose in Dartford instead."

Miss Clarke has submitted an official complaint to Sainsbury?s but has not had a response yet.

A Sainsbury?s spokesman said: "We have apologised to Ms Clarke and offered her some vouchers. It isn?t our policy to not serve customers who are using a mobile phone.?

source

[Roger H. Veteran]

Guess this is part of the news stuff heard the other day in the UK/Europe? I wouldn't go as far as not serve someone that's being rude to me, just hurry them out and give as little services as possible without being rude. I try to at least get people to hold on or i'll call back if I was on the phone before getting to the cashier.

[Hum]

She apparently does not think she is being rude, using her phone in public, without thought of other people.

 

We need wide-spread use of cell phone blockers. :s  Safety zones for our sanity.

[McKay]

She apparently does not think she is being rude, using her phone in public, without thought of other people.

 

We need wide-spread use of cell phone blockers. :s  Safety zones for our sanity.

 

I don't think she was being rude. Using the phone. It didn't impede her ability to pack her bags. The cashier was very rude, holding people up because she refused to scan until the other person got off their phone.

[LightEco]

People don't realize just how rude this is until you actually have to deal with it in retail. I've dealt with enough people talking on phones ignoring you during checkout to say I fully support a ban on cell phones during. People need to realize that the person behind the counter is actually a person and should get your attention during the transaction. Especially when you are trying to ask that person a question or clarify a price or something and they just ignore you and act like you are being rude to their cell phone conversation.

[MasterTargus]

Guess this is part of the news stuff heard the other day in the UK/Europe? I wouldn't go as far as not serve someone that's being rude to me, just hurry them out and give as little services as possible without being rude. I try to at least get people to hold on or i'll call back if I was on the phone before getting to the cashier.

I have no use for people that want to do business and talk on the phone at the same time but, evan less for people that hold up others just to prove a point. If that cashier worked for me he or she would be moping floors for the next six months for wasting everyones time.

[Noir Angel]

I've worked in retail and I don't give a crap if people use their phones or not. I did it for the money not because I felt some inane need to socialise with my customers. People on phones were almost always finished more quickly and that's good for everyone. We live in a fast paced world and people are going to use their phones in public, that's the whole point of the term MOBILE phone. Get over yourselves already.

[McKay]

People don't realize just how rude this is until you actually have to deal with it in retail. I've dealt with enough people talking on phones ignoring you during checkout to say I fully support a ban on cell phones during. People need to realize that the person behind the counter is actually a person and should get your attention during the transaction. Especially when you are trying to ask that person a question or clarify a price or something and they just ignore you and act like you are being rude to their cell phone conversation.

 

I used to work in retail as a cashier. Served many people who were on their phones. I just let them pack one handed or with their phone in their shoulder, and simply pointed at the total bill instead of saying it. People have more important things than idle chit-chat with a cashier. Even if it's idle chit-chat with a friend.

[Rohdekill]

WTF does the cashier need to discuss with the customer anyways?  All they do is slide cr@p across a scanner and place it in a bag.  Anyone can talk on a phone and count cash or present a credit card.  And, that's all done at the very end.  Nothing need be said up until payment is due, if anything need be said at all.

[+Thayios Subscriber²]

Perhaps the rest of the line doesn't want to hear the conversation? As much as I enjoy hearing just how dreadful something is there's a time and a place...

Sometimes I wish that cellphones were never invented and that we were still stuck on pagers. 

[McKay]

Perhaps the rest of the line doesn't want to hear the conversation? As much as I enjoy hearing just how dreadful something is there's a time and a place...

Sometimes I wish that cellphones were never invented and that we were still stuck on pagers. 

 

Should that cover people talking in general? You can hear their conversations too. Should any public area have strict silence enforced?

[Anibal P]

WTF does the cashier need to discuss with the customer anyways?  All they do is slide cr@p across a scanner and place it in a bag.  Anyone can talk on a phone and count cash or present a credit card.  And, that's all done at the very end.  Nothing need be said up until payment is due, if anything need be said at all.

 

It's called common courtesy and you are proof it seems to have died lately, trust me your conversation on the phone is not that important or you wouldn't be at the store in the first place

[+Thayios Subscriber²]

Should that cover people talking in general? You can hear their conversations too. Should any public area have strict silence enforced?

 

Common Sense & Respect - something the world seems to lack a little more day by day. I don't want to know about shaquikakas baby daddy in the line at the grocery store either. 

[Anibal P]

Should that cover people talking in general? You can hear their conversations too. Should any public area have strict silence enforced?

 

People on cell phones love to yell their business in public, and we all know it's not a signal issue, they just think they are that important, and you aren't, same goes for anyone being loud in the store, just happens that they are usually on the phone to begin with 

[Noir Angel]

People who don't have cellphones do it as well, people can have annoyingly loud conversations without them, and yes some people can be annoying but that doesn't make them obliged to shut up for your convenience ;)

 

Don't like it? don't hang out in a public setting.

[vcfan]

I was at a gas station filling up gas,and half way through, the attendant disabled my pump until I got off the phone. I have a better chance at blowing up because of static electricity than talking on my phone. sheesh

[Rohdekill]

It's called common courtesy and you are proof it seems to have died lately, trust me your conversation on the phone is not that important or you wouldn't be at the store in the first place

Common courtesy how?  THERE IS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!!  Talking on the phone is just as rude as talking to your kids, a friend or another customer while in line.  All take the attention away from the cashier.  But again, as I stated, there is no reason to talk to a cashier about anything.

 

If there is a price check needed, go get a price check.  If something is damaged, get me a replacement.  I am also capable of seeing the same big digital display total that the cashier can see, so why read it back to me like it's displaying in roman numerals or something?

 

It's not the customers job to entertain the cashier in an attempt to make their boring job any better.  All we need is a "hello", "here's your change" and "thank you" and let me get on with my day.  Not stand there and RUDELY make me listen to you b.s. with the customer in front of me while turning a 2 minute business transaction into 10.

[Hum]

Perhaps the rest of the line doesn't want to hear the conversation? As much as I enjoy hearing just how dreadful something is there's a time and a place...

Sometimes I wish that cellphones were never invented and that we were still stuck on pagers. 

 

there's a time and a place... exactly !

 

 

It's called common courtesy and you are proof it seems to have died lately, trust me your conversation on the phone is not that important or you wouldn't be at the store in the first place

 

Well said. :)

[vf-]

She apparently does not think she is being rude, using her phone in public, without thought of other people.

 

We need wide-spread use of cell phone blockers. :s  Safety zones for our sanity.

 

I want to be Bruce Wayne and his little EMP toys. :D

 

[MasterTargus]

Perhaps the rest of the line doesn't want to hear the conversation? As much as I enjoy hearing just how dreadful something is there's a time and a place...

Sometimes I wish that cellphones were never invented and that we were still stuck on pagers. 

 

Perhaps the rest of the line doesn't want to hear the conversation? As much as I enjoy hearing just how dreadful something is there's a time and a place...

Sometimes I wish that cellphones were never invented and that we were still stuck on pagers. 

I have been in lines where the cashier is gabbing enlessley with a costumor that has paid and is all bagged up but because they are friends they continue to chat, wasting everyones time so lintening in a one sided conversation for a few minutes is alot better as long as they aren't holding up the line. That is what cell phones are for.

[ATLien_0]

I work retail as well, and I will say its pretty rude when someone is on the phone. We spend a lot of time in training about how to present good customer service and how to have friendly conversations with customers. Something a lot of places have done away with by going to self check out. For us we sell outdoor gear so its always nice chatting with customers about upcoming trips and such. We also keep a customer database so their name is tied to the receipt if they lose it. If they are on the phone we don't have this interaction nor do we have the chance to make sure they have all the right gear and even sometime the customer will hold up the line by fumbling for their credit card. We do a pretty decent job of being attentive to the customer I would hope the customer would do the same. To me its just nice, if a place is going out of their way to try to help you and present good customer service, that you should at least show some courtesy even for the minute or 2.

[ozgeek]

I work as a cashier/checkout operator for Woolworths and I do relate to this. Just yesterday, a customer was on the phone almost the whole time I was scanning her stuff through.

 

There are so much that cashiers need to convey and last thing we need to do is repeat ourselves.

 

"How would you like to bag these meats up?"

"How heavy would you like your bags to be?"

"Do you have any cooler bags?."

"Please leave heavy items in your trolley. I will happy to enter them into the computer."....But they still put them up on the belt.

"Do you have a Everyday Rewards card?"

"Would you like a receipt?".

 

I do not consider it rude but more of a courtesy issue. This also relate to any other businesses and services.

 

I can't order them off their phones, I have to serve them no matter who or what. Guess what if I refuse?

[ozgeek]

Common courtesy how?  THERE IS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT!!  Talking on the phone is just as rude as talking to your kids, a friend or another customer while in line.  All take the attention away from the cashier.  But again, as I stated, there is no reason to talk to a cashier about anything.

 

You have to realise that there is a person, a real human being, behind the counter. His and her job is to scan your stuff though and ask you things with your purchase. You wouldn't be on a phone when ordering at a restaurant, would you?

 

If you don't like it, use the self-serve checkouts.

[leesmithg]

Cell phones should be banned in all supermarkets and shops.

What I find odd is, stupid woman not looking where she is going too busy looking at (probably) pr0n on her cell phone fell over my trolley, then swore and shouted at me?

O.M.B.B.

Then (I only see women doing this). They phone home to ask which soy sauce to buy (example) the one for ?1 or the one with 10p off.

Then she chats 10 minutes about this.

It must had cost her ?2 to phone someone to see if it is worth saving 10p.

[MikeChipshop Member]

Is it to much to expect a little respect.

In this case the woman on her phone and the woman working at the checkout were in the wrong.

The woman shouldn't have been on her phone while dealing with another human being and the cashier should of handled it better "You learn something everyday isn't an adequate response". Instead she should have asked her politely to end her conversation then she would continue.