Comments on: The Walmart Cashier and Cell Phone (Dis)Courtesy http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/ “It is impossible for a software organization to be saved in ignorance.” Sun, 01 Aug 2010 08:54:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Chucky http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1689 Chucky Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:08:42 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1689 I'm a meat manager in Nebraska and I refuses customers that come up to the service case on their cell phones. I used to keep waiting for them to finish their conversation, but now a days not a chance. A few of them holler at me and i tell them I'll help them when they're ready. That's how we roll. p.s. We like to drink and piss rude customers off. It's not good business but that's how it should be and that's how we do it I’m a meat manager in Nebraska and I refuses customers that come up to the service case on their cell phones. I used to keep waiting for them to finish their conversation, but now a days not a chance. A few of them holler at me and i tell them I’ll help them when they’re ready. That’s how we roll.

p.s.

We like to drink and piss rude customers off. It’s not good business but that’s how it should be and that’s how we do it

]]> By: ms.k http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1333 ms.k Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:57:09 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1333 I've worked in the pharmacy for years, though we do not have a policy stating this, we as all employees refuse to give any service to any one customer who has their cell phones up to their ear. Some people have a problem with this refusal on our side, but we do kindly explain that we've had customers coming back asking something that we've already informed them about. There has been mistakes due to this. They say "yes" to everything and come back furious about some mistake that could've been avoided "if" they weren't on their cell phones. And the little problems are, holding up the line, or having to repeat yourself ten times. I’ve worked in the pharmacy for years, though we do not have a policy stating this, we as all employees refuse to give any service to any one customer who has their cell phones up to their ear. Some people have a problem with this refusal on our side, but we do kindly explain that we’ve had customers coming back asking something that we’ve already informed them about. There has been mistakes due to this. They say “yes” to everything and come back furious about some mistake that could’ve been avoided “if” they weren’t on their cell phones.
And the little problems are, holding up the line, or having to repeat yourself ten times.

]]> By: Sir Eric von Hall http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1253 Sir Eric von Hall Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:41:37 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1253 I love it when people order fast food while on a cell phone and are either annoyed, or simply ignore the cashier's attempts to clarify the order. Granted, most of the questions are your standard "want fries with that?" also stated as "you want the sandwich or the combo?" (on a side note, is a burger really considered a sandwich? what about a hot dog? is that REALLY a sandwich?) Anyways, the whole "how dare you bother me while I am on my phone" mentality is pretty amazing, especially considering who initiated the fast food transaction. Perhaps even more annoying is standing behind someone in a line at Subway who is ordering a sandwich for the person on the other end of the cell phone. Inevitably, the remote person needs to have every possible topping repeated to them numerous times before settling on "the works." I love it when people order fast food while on a cell phone and are either annoyed, or simply ignore the cashier’s attempts to clarify the order. Granted, most of the questions are your standard “want fries with that?” also stated as “you want the sandwich or the combo?” (on a side note, is a burger really considered a sandwich? what about a hot dog? is that REALLY a sandwich?) Anyways, the whole “how dare you bother me while I am on my phone” mentality is pretty amazing, especially considering who initiated the fast food transaction.

Perhaps even more annoying is standing behind someone in a line at Subway who is ordering a sandwich for the person on the other end of the cell phone. Inevitably, the remote person needs to have every possible topping repeated to them numerous times before settling on “the works.”

]]> By: Ji Su Park http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1232 Ji Su Park Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:30:28 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1232 You couldn't have worded it any better. I was a Customer Service Associate at Circuit City this past year (yep, we are going out of business) and I couldn't stand cell phone entranced customers. They got so caught up in their conversations that I have to remind them to pay/swipe their cards (CSAs ran customer service and the registers). Of course, they don't hear me the first time, so I have to say it again.. maybe two more times. And then there were the Bluetooth people who sound like they're taking the time to show some courtesy by starting a conversation, but they're really not. Customer: Heyy! How are you? Me: I'm good, thanks! How about you? Customer: Yeah, I'm just doing some shopping at Circuit City. Then I need to go to Best Buy and see if they have the same thing for a better price, then return it if I do find one. Are you coming over to see the game? Party!!!!! Me: Oh. *scans box* The whole thing is just obnoxious. You couldn’t have worded it any better. I was a Customer Service Associate at Circuit City this past year (yep, we are going out of business) and I couldn’t stand cell phone entranced customers. They got so caught up in their conversations that I have to remind them to pay/swipe their cards (CSAs ran customer service and the registers). Of course, they don’t hear me the first time, so I have to say it again.. maybe two more times.

And then there were the Bluetooth people who sound like they’re taking the time to show some courtesy by starting a conversation, but they’re really not.

Customer: Heyy! How are you?
Me: I’m good, thanks! How about you?
Customer: Yeah, I’m just doing some shopping at Circuit City. Then I need to go to Best Buy and see if they have the same thing for a better price, then return it if I do find one. Are you coming over to see the game? Party!!!!!
Me: Oh. *scans box*

The whole thing is just obnoxious.

]]> By: Nick Stetich http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1071 Nick Stetich Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:43:32 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1071 This is a great post. I love the image of the self-absorbed cell phone user as a sleepwalker. I've always found it ironic that for many people, someone calling over the phone seems to have a higher priority than someone interacting in person. This first bothered me when I would visit some place of business and I would have to wait while the person at the desk took a phone call from another customer or client. Sure, it's a business call, and that's OK, but I always figured that if somebody took the time to drive over, they ought to have a higher priority than somebody who just picked up a telephone. I suppose this happens because the ringing of the phone is more urgent than somebody waiting in person at the desk--the phone only rings for so long before the caller is gone, while the customer at the desk will probably not walk out of the store. Nonetheless, I've always appreciated it when a clerk (or whoever was responsible for helping me) would pick up the ringing phone and just ask the caller to wait on hold for a moment while they finished their transaction with me. I think the same is true with cell phones--people with whom you are interacting in your personal space deserve some consideration over the people on the phone (or through texting or IM), even if these real and immediate people aren't your family or friends. Even though, in the USA, the "customer is always right," it seems that the customer ought to at least return the courtesy of the cashier by putting their virtual conversant "on hold" at least for a moment. I guess I probably don't have as many high-priority cell phone callers as other people probably do, but I heartily agree with you. I'm constantly worried about becoming "that annoying guy with the (bluetooth headset|cell phone to his head) (on the bus|in the store|walking down the street|hanging out with his friends)." This is a great post. I love the image of the self-absorbed cell phone user as a sleepwalker. I’ve always found it ironic that for many people, someone calling over the phone seems to have a higher priority than someone interacting in person.

This first bothered me when I would visit some place of business and I would have to wait while the person at the desk took a phone call from another customer or client. Sure, it’s a business call, and that’s OK, but I always figured that if somebody took the time to drive over, they ought to have a higher priority than somebody who just picked up a telephone.

I suppose this happens because the ringing of the phone is more urgent than somebody waiting in person at the desk–the phone only rings for so long before the caller is gone, while the customer at the desk will probably not walk out of the store. Nonetheless, I’ve always appreciated it when a clerk (or whoever was responsible for helping me) would pick up the ringing phone and just ask the caller to wait on hold for a moment while they finished their transaction with me.

I think the same is true with cell phones–people with whom you are interacting in your personal space deserve some consideration over the people on the phone (or through texting or IM), even if these real and immediate people aren’t your family or friends. Even though, in the USA, the “customer is always right,” it seems that the customer ought to at least return the courtesy of the cashier by putting their virtual conversant “on hold” at least for a moment.

I guess I probably don’t have as many high-priority cell phone callers as other people probably do, but I heartily agree with you. I’m constantly worried about becoming “that annoying guy with the (bluetooth headset|cell phone to his head) (on the bus|in the store|walking down the street|hanging out with his friends).”

]]> By: Aubrey Sanchez http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1069 Aubrey Sanchez Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:48:16 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1069 Amen. The first thing that came to mind was Wall-e and all the people on the space ship who are so absorbed in their virtual space that they never interact outside of it. Scary, and sadly more and more true for our society. Amen. The first thing that came to mind was Wall-e and all the people on the space ship who are so absorbed in their virtual space that they never interact outside of it. Scary, and sadly more and more true for our society.

]]> By: Jonathan Krein http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1067 Jonathan Krein Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:39:54 +0000 http://www.charlesknutson.net/2008/12/03/the-walmart-cashier-and-cell-phone-discourtesy/#comment-1067 On a related note, people in computer labs on BYU campus seem to have the same issue. They take a call, talk loudly, and generally distract the people around them! Maybe I have less focus than most people, or maybe other people only use the computers for Facebook rather than school work, but when I'm in a flow on schoolwork I always get distracted when someone within 10 feet of me takes a cell phone call. I've started looking up at them. It doesn't seem to matter how long you stair, though, they never acknowledge your presence, or the fact that you're staring at them. And the never try to whisper. I suppose computer labs in the library don't follow the same rules as the rest of the library. The really interesting thing is that even though it bothers me, I caught myself doing it the other day... On a related note, people in computer labs on BYU campus seem to have the same issue. They take a call, talk loudly, and generally distract the people around them! Maybe I have less focus than most people, or maybe other people only use the computers for Facebook rather than school work, but when I’m in a flow on schoolwork I always get distracted when someone within 10 feet of me takes a cell phone call. I’ve started looking up at them. It doesn’t seem to matter how long you stair, though, they never acknowledge your presence, or the fact that you’re staring at them. And the never try to whisper. I suppose computer labs in the library don’t follow the same rules as the rest of the library. The really interesting thing is that even though it bothers me, I caught myself doing it the other day…

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