If you're a cashier and someone is on the cell phone....?

I use to be a cashier at a grocery store and this problem is all to common. Honestly there is nothing you can do to get them off their phone and to pay attention, the person is just simply rude. I NEVER go to a check out line on my cell, even if that means i need to walk around the store another million times to end the phone conversation before i check out or just explain ill call them right back.

The best thing to do is simply ignore them.. THE GOLDEN RULE "treat others how you'd like to be treated" Me personally id ignore the person, no eye contact nothing and sometimes id even smile or say hello to the next person in line who isn't being rude.. that sometimes gets the point across when ur talking to someone else when ringing up their order. As annoying as it is nothing can be done.. I try to be just as annoying back, the golden rule!!

You are right, but try not to let it bother you so much. People are kinda rude but sometimes the call is something they need to deal with. In that case the ones who mouth 'thank you' ARE acknowledging your existence even if it's only cursory. After all, the customer is always right - even when they're wrong, right?!

I agree that it's rude but so are a million breaches of phone etiquette and I think this is quite low on the scale.

I imagine you're in the USA because service there is usually fantastic. Here in the UK I've been served by CASHIERS who are on the phone! Now THAT's rude!

At my old job I would call for the next person, which would prompt the person on the phone to protest and say "But I am next!" Then I would tell them "yeah but you're on the phone and I need to communicate with you in order to take care of you." Yes some of them would get mad but ALL of them got off their phones.

At my current job I just talk to them - I was going to ignore them but my manager told me to talk to them even if their on the phone. She says it cuts down on theft. You know I think you should just start talking to them like their not on the phone. No one is THAT important. Whenever I'm on the phone in a store and am ready to check out I either tell the person to hold on or that I will call them back when I'm done getting rung out.

You are doing exactly the right thing in dealing with these rude yappers. If you said anything likely they would get p*ssed off because you are interrupting their conversation.

I don't think so. In fact, that rude person would probably believe you are being rude by interrupting their conversation with salutations, and gratitude's for helping them.

You are doing the right thing.

They don't want their "very important" call interrupted.

Save your niceness for those that actually speak to you.

Although you phrase it in a very harsh cold and rather arrogant manner, your attitude is OK because it is their decision to be on the phone. They cannot complain but you could at least give them a smile rather than being an old grouch about it

You're handling it just fine.