Shop Staff Using Mobile Phones.

Gillarms

I refuse to acknowledge anyone if they're talking on their phone. As a customer, I'll wait until the phone is put down before making my payment or requesting any goods and as a hospital receptionist, I'll just look at the patient/visitor despairingly until they fully acknowledge me. I absolutely hate folk using their mobile phones while dealing with another person, if I'm not important enough to deserve 100% of their attention, they are not important enough to get any of mine. Bah, humbug. I'm getting grumpier and less tolerant every day (and I'm loving it ).

I totally agree. If I'm not important enough to have their full attention, they don't deserve to have me as a customer.

When I ran a branch library I trained my assistants in how to deal with readers. We didnt have mobile phones back then. Just big black bakelite ones. However phones did ring and ring and ring until someone answered.

I instructed my staff to always excuse themselves from leaving a library patron to answer the phone, and not simply leave them standing there.

I also had a rule that people who phoned up had to "take their turn" in the queue. This was back in the 1970s when not everyone owned a phone. It was unfair that someone should get priority attention over people who were physically present just by ringing up.

So I would say something like "Hello, XYZ library. Im afraid Im dealing with someone just now so I must ask you to please wait a few minutes until someone is free." and then put the phone down and return to the person I was dealing with.

Maybe hold on to the money until they attend to you and not just put it in their hands.

I refuse to acknowledge anyone if they're talking on their phone. As a customer, I'll wait until the phone is put down before making my payment or requesting any goods and as a hospital receptionist, I'll just look at the patient/visitor despairingly until they fully acknowledge me. I absolutely hate folk using their mobile phones while dealing with another person, if I'm not important enough to deserve 100% of their attention, they are not important enough to get any of mine. Bah, humbug. I'm getting grumpier and less tolerant every day (and I'm loving it ).

MrsKen33

We once went into a very upmarket outlet shop. The young male assistant had extremely long hair. He wandered around the shop combing it with his fingers, for at least ten minutes. Then he proceeded to plait it. I was mesmerised. Not once did he acknowledge our presence until we went to the till. Then he was playing with his plait as he gave us our parcel and receipt.

Euw! I'd have asked him to go and wash his hands before serving me!

Employers were much stricter with their employees in my youth. We didn't have mobiles, but if staff were idling whilst customers were waiting, they would soon have been pulled up for it. This was one of my issues when I changed my hairdresser. Often staff were on their phones having loud conversations when not actually attending to clients.

It's equally annoying and rude when either customers or staff do it.

I do expect the assistant's undivided attention when I am paying or have a query. I had to interrupt an assistant's call to/from her mother to query a price that came up on the till. She was not best pleased. But if she had been paying attention she might have seen that she had scanned an item twice and I wouldn't have had to interrupt her. If I hadn't noticed she would have overcharged me by nearly £5. I worked on the shop floor in both Boots and M&S years ago and we weren't allowed to take phones or money on the shop floor.

Customers are also guilty of doing the same, when I worked in a supermarket, they would be chatting on their mobiles, not dealing with their shopping and holding the line up!

I work in a well known bakery and we aren’t allowed to have phones on the shop floor. It’s also drummed into us about stopping whatever we’re doing (no matter how important we think it is) to serve our customers in a polite and friendly manner. Unfortunately many customers will come to the counter chatting on their phone and expect you to wait while they finish their conversation, often while a queue of people are waiting. I now say “I’ll just serve the person behind you while you finish your call” and it’s amazing how quickly they get off their phone.

LOL Alice

Meant obstreperous, sorry!

bikergran, I used to use a similar phrase with particularly obsterperous people I encountered. I used to say "Did you ever get your money back?", and when they asked "For what?", said "From the Charm School you went to!".

Always remember a line that a friend had.

Friend "Was it closed the day you went"?

Assistant " Was what closed"?

Friend "The Charm school" lol lol

He isn't here any more but it still brings a smile.

Our local factory shop has a male manager, who makes a pleasant remark to every single customer. He’s always happy, very respectful (madam/sir) and friendly. He makes my day whenever I go in. I saw him once deal with a very rude man, - he just said I’m sorry you feel that way sir. I said how patient and polite he was. He answered ‘the customers always right’ and we should all try to find goodness in everyone..
Such a beautiful soul. ❤️

When I go to a shop, I want to buy things not to have the assistant’s undivided attention. And as for taking photos - how weird and creepy! I’d ban anyone doing that in my shop (not that I have one)

Dreadful customer service or lack of in these examples. I wouldn't be able to hold my tongue I'm afraid. They all need the benefit of the staff training that is being offered in Dr's surgeries ( another thread today )

True about the rules, but funny how quickly you get attention you were lacking, if you get your phone out and make like you’re taking a photo.

Grannybags

Mollygo

Do you know, they get really annoyed if you whisk your phone out and take a pic!

Apparently that's illegal. We did it once and got chased by security and forced to delete the photo!

It isn’t illegal unless you intend to use the photo for malicious reasons. It is probably contrary to the store’s policy. A lot of the High Street retailers and supermarkets have this policy and it’s been around since the early 90s.

welbeck

i believe in germany and austria shop assistants have to have completed a course in technical college to be employed.
but i guess sole traders/family businesses can do what they like. but standards are generally higher.
i noticed in ireland young assts/saturday staff are much more alert and attentive.
maybe we've all got used to poor service in uk.

Yes, as a frequent visitor to Germany and Amsterdam, have noticed the use of a mobile phone, whilst serving, is non existent. The main shops/ restaurants/cafe anyway.
Perhaps our shop workers should have to do the same, some of the youngsters have been let down by their managers, and not trained at all.

Mollygo

Do you know, they get really annoyed if you whisk your phone out and take a pic!

Apparently that's illegal. We did it once and got chased by security and forced to delete the photo!

I have noticed that alot recently,ignoring me whilst having a conversation with the person next to them,also shouting over to another assistant,that was never done in the past.
It has never happened in M n S.
How life has changed.

Do you know, they get really annoyed if you whisk your phone out and take a pic!

I agree, it's very rude. They're guilty of doing this at our local corner shop, so I've stopped going in there unless I absolutely have to. Mind you, I also find it very rude when a customer refuses to stop talking on their mobile when they are being served.

We once went into a very upmarket outlet shop. The young male assistant had extremely long hair. He wandered around the shop combing it with his fingers, for at least ten minutes. Then he proceeded to plait it. I was mesmerised. Not once did he acknowledge our presence until we went to the till. Then he was playing with his plait as he gave us our parcel and receipt.

I was being served in a supermarket last week by a male assistant who I know has worked there for many years. I am pointing out he is male simply to clarify the story!
His supervisor has not been at the store very long, and she rushed up to his till and started asking him something to do with break rotas. He asked her to wait a moment, but she insisted she wanted his answer NOW!
He stood up and turned to her and said , very calmly... 'I am serving a customer. You will wait until I am finished please'
I was very impressed... and after paying, couldn't resist asking after his family....etc
She was fuming....
Leading by example seems to be a dying art too.