I feel sorry for cashiers these days. Not just because their work flow soars during the holiday rush, but because they’re on the receiving end of non-stop rude encounters. One by one, customers are now yakking away on cell phones during check-out.
You’ve seen it happen. The person in front of you is laying her items on the counter when her cell phone rings. She digs through her purse, answers it, gives the cashier the “wait” salute with her index finger, and then proceeds to blab away with an invisible friend about something trivial. Everyone behind her is delayed when the cashier, who has a question, can’t complete the transaction. Or, if the cashier can finish the transaction, the cell phone blabber merely grabs the receipt and strides away. No thank you to the real, live person who just helped her. The blabber seems totally oblivious to anyone else’s feelings or needs.
This behavior is inconsiderate, disrespectful and selfish. It treats cashiers like second class citizens, which they’re not, and forces all of us to listen to silly conversations. I’ve been polling cashiers recently to see how often this happens to them. Sadly, they say it’s relentless.
The bottom line is that cell phone calls in public are not merely a two-person activity. We drag others in when we blab away in grocery aisles, restaurants, airplanes, book stores and movie theaters. The boundaries of privacy have been blown as people yak away anywhere and everywhere. I think all this cell phone blabbing is bothersome and inappropriate. How about you? What bugs you most?
There’s a simple guideline that I’ve taught my children that may apply here: just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. In this case, just because it rings, doesn’t mean you should answer. (Unless it’s an emergency, of course.) If your “private” conversation will interrupt or be inconsiderate to others who are present, please resist the urge to chat away just because it’s good for you. Some restraint is in order – that’s why there’s voice mail.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my phone is ringing.
Tags: Cell phone, Communication Skills, rude
People on cell phones in retaurants and doctor’s offices are the worst, in my estimation. I’m in an upscale restaurant, paying a hefty price for a nice meal with my husband and all I hear at the next booth or table is blathering. the same at the doctor’s office. Eventhough they all post signs against using cell phone, someone always thinks they are more important than you. Hate it. But, lets also not forget church. What yahoo leaves his or her cell on in church. Worst than the family who doesn’t sit in the crying room with a 6 week old baby.
Right on the money! Another cell phone related annoyance; texting. How many times have you sat in a business meeting, restaurant, or other gathering where an attendee has their head down, fingers flying, without regard to their surroundings? And with today’s communication technologies a person can check mail, news, weather, stocks and a whole host of other information. It can be difficult to slow the multi-tasker down. I think Americans are already moving too fast and neglecting the truely meaningful things in life.
It works both ways. I have been in line to pay for a purchase and have had the clerk talk on cell phone the entire time that she is checking out my purchases. I am sure there are many mistakes made on the final total. I now just leave everything on the counter and walk away, whether I needed the items or not.
The second worst thing is when the employee leaves you to answer the phone and address questions from a customer who is not even there leaving me with money in hand to wait for the conversation to end to finish my purchase. I now leave the counter when this happens.
So sad, yet so true. And not about to get any better. I know of one parent who has told her preteen daughter that it is OK to leave her cell phone on during movies, etc., and if a call comes in, why, go ahead and answer it. That boggles the mind–as if a moviegoer wants to hear a kid’s conversation rather than what’s happening on the big screen. But what really gets me are the folks who drive and chatter or text away. Are these people crazy or do they just have a plain disregard for others??
Connie,
Thanks for sharing! I love your blog!
Merry Christmas,
Jim
Great blog, Connie!
Let me add airplanes to the list of places I am tired of hearing people’s phone conversations. I spent over an hour on the ground waiting to take off while listening to inane phone conversations all around me. I don’t mind the calls to tell people you’ll be late or to quietly conduct business. But the worst offender was some concert promoter who couldn’t resist making very loud calls and repeatedly dropping the names of singers he was hoping to get signed to deals. I think people who do this are either ignorant, rude or purposely want people to overhear their phone conversations and view them as “important.” Sign me as tired of being the third party on cell phone calls.
I have to add that sometimes the cashier/clerk can be very rude to the customer holding conversations with other employees nearby during an entire transaction.
I have also had a cashier who just pushed the items down the conveyor after ringing them expecting me to bag them but I just stood there and waited for her to bag (she had already started ringing another customer).
I think some grocery stores should be observing the actions of their cashiers/employees and how rude and detached the whole process has become.
I do agree though that the use of a cell phone in public is just plain rude!!!
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