For people who deal with the public, cell phones are the bane of our existence. Just when you think you've seen the height of rudeness with those things, someone goes one better ---- even with all the talk about cell phone etiquette, I'm standing in line to pay for a clothing purchase the other day and watched while everyone in line AND the sales clerk stood and waited while the woman at the counter took a cell phone call.
That's why I cherish the small victories so much. It's a little strategy game I like to play.
A woman brings a couple of prescriptions in yesterday and wants no interaction with us other than "How long will it TAKE??" She sits down and starts yapping loudly on her cell phone, recounting every detail of her day so far as well as details of the doctor's appointment that we would rather not hear. In other words, unimportant blabbing. This is NOT a vital conversation, and SHE initiated it.
So her prescriptions are ready and I call her name. She looks right at me, and gives me the one-finger "hold on a minute I-can't-come-up-there-cause-I'm-on-the-phone" salute.
No. This is a non-starter, of course. I put her stuff down and walk away to continue my very busy pile of work. Just then a little old lady comes in to pick up some prescriptions, and to my total delight, settles in to ask about a thousand questions and recount a litany of problems that she had last month with some hip surgery. I was delighted because Miss Cell Phone has now finished her call and is shifting her weight impatiently and looking sour-pussed behind my little old lady, who I take LOTS of extra time with, move just a little slower with, ask if she's got ANY more questions, and chat a little about the weather and what she's doing on the weekend.
You lost your place in line, Miss Cell Phone, and I'm gonna take my SWEET time gettin' back to ya !!
That'll teach you ----- oh, who am I kidding, of course it won't.....
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Unfortunately we have a drive-thru and sometimes if I interrupt their call with a 'How may I help you', they give me a dirty look as they roll their windows back up and finish their call. By the time they finish, I've dissapeared. I don't have time to stand there and wait on you hand and foot! They then proceed to hit the most-hated-call-button and bark out 'Jones' or 'Williams' ....Just that.. nothing more. and they say it like it is such an inconvenience for you to request such information.
My pharmacy has a big sign up front that people on cell phones will not be served until after their call.
I have no problem with that.
We have a large office with lots of 'important businessmen' working there. They are continously on the phone, they look at us as if we are their slaves and complain loudly on their phone about how ba the service is and that no-one is seeing to them. We have a no-cell phone sign, but obviously their call is very important, as I have been told on many occasions.
I've always wanted to get one of those cell-phone jammers they make in Hong Kong and install it under my counter. Someone comes up to the counter yacking away, I reach underneath and flip a switch. Oops - call dropped. "Sorry, ma'am, we can't get a decent signal back here, I think it's the cinderblocks in the wall or something..." Heh heh heh.
Problem is they're illegal in the USA (so ebay.com won't allow ads for them) and if you order from overseas, you never know if customs will confiscate it or not...
Shalom - I've always wanted that too! It's funny I was just talking about that the other day. Supposedly most jammers have entered into the US successfully without raising suspicions from customs. Hmm. I should look into it.
Rude Rude Rude! I think there's some kind of magnetic signal right in front of the register that makes their phones ring just as they are about to ask you a question. I try to ignore those who walk up on their phones but after so long - it's ridiculous.
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