If You Are An Aber Who Deals With The Public.....

[gness]

....how do you feel about or deal with mobile phones as you're serving a customer?

My glasses broke and as I sat at one of the little optician tables waiting for them to be fixed the phone of the very elderly customer at the table to my right rang with an alarming and long tone......
He answered which may be fair enough as he was waiting for his assistant to return....

As he was speaking loudly the phone of the nearly as old lady to my left rang with exactly the same annoying tone....and despite being in the middle of a consultation and glasses fitting with the optician she fumbled around for it......answered and had a fairly lengthy conversation with a relative.

I'm laid back about most things.....but I think I'd be a bit miffed if I was having to wait for customers/clients to chat on a mobile phone.....x

[Cloverjo]

I work with the public, and I just talk over them if they're chatting on the phone. Sometimes I might say I don't want to interrupt your call so come back when you're finished.

[Mamyalynne]

I have dealt with the public at work but not since mobile phones were common, I would be tempted after a minute to politely interrupt and say 'I can tell you have an urgent matter to deal with, would you like to rearrange an appointment for another time?'

[dunnitall]

I love the notice on the desks saying. As your call is important to you, we will not disturb you by seeing you whilst on the telephone. Next customer please..... Magic!

[Barmaid]

I once had a long meeting with a client who was answering his phone every 5 minutes. My stare was getting steelier and steelier. It was very disruptive and made for a very disjointed meeting.

Now I ask people if they would mind turning them off. Far more productive that way.

[Stephen_G]

I do deal with the Public, and it does irritate me, to a degree.

I work for a large DIY chain, and I'm situated at the Paint Desk, so I could be doing anything from doling out advice to mixing paint. If it's not too busy then I'll give the Customer a "Go on, you're alright." in the hope they'll tell whoever they're talking to that they'll call them back. It's far more irritating if I have a queue of people, because I feel I can't serve someone else if I've spoken to the person with the mobile first.

[Captain2]

It has happened when I've been on the tills at work. I avoid all eye contact and increase the speed I put items through; quite fun watching them trying to pack the mountain of food with one hand in a restricted area.

[gness]

Frustrates others then......I was amazed at the optician who waited so patiently even when there were other customers in the waiting area.....

I like the idea of the sign on the desk and Captain firing goods through the checkout at top speed.... :-)

[Islay]

I find it shocking that anyone would be rude enough to talk on their phone whilst being served.
Manners maketh the (wo)man

[corylus]

It's just crass rudeness Gness, if this had been inflicted on me when I was working in a clinical situation I would have been livid and told them to switch off the phone, or else!!

[sunny-dave]

I have had people answer phones and start conversations whilst I was delivering mandatory training courses - despite a warning at the top of the course that (unless they had advised me in advance of being 'on call' for a potential emergency) I would fail anyone who actually answered a call (as opposed to quickly silencing an errant mobile).

They thought I wouldn't bother and/or wouldn't remember their names - they were wrong (and their managers were furious as they then had to re-take the course).

It's astonishingly rude in shops - especially if other people are waiting to be served.

[gness]

I think it's incredibly rude.......I guess it's hard to stop a customer if you need their business.....and we know how quickly folk can take umbrage....

I like the idea of well placed notices asking for phones to be switched off.......
"For the comfort of all our clients".....would do in places such as the opticians.....

But there is still the urge to grab the phone and stick it in a bucket of water.....because it is bad manners......x

[Islay]

I have been in a supermarket and the woman in front was on her phone the whole time and didn't acknowledge the woman serving her at anytime not even saying thank you.
Before anyone says ' that's youngsters for you' this woman was in her 60/70s, which tbh I found ruder!

[queenofmean]

I work with the public. 99% of the time customers will carry on the conversation and talk to me AND the person on the phone or mouth how much and thank you but the 1% do answer and say call you back and dump the phone again.

[murraymints]

very rude.. if mine rings in a shop I simply ignore it

[DTCwordfan]

Is Roy Keane an ABer....?

[-SharonA-]

When I was working, my local sandwich cafe refused to serve customers who were on the phone when it came to their turn.

[Spicerack]

I'd have thought a solicitor would be delighted. ;o)

[jourdain2]

One of my local butchers in Driffield has put a notice up in his shop. It reads (approximately) 'If you ignore me whilst you are on your phone, please excuse me whilst I deal with the customer who is speaking to me'. Quite right!

[-SharonA-]

Hey Gness, sorry to hijack your thread, but I saw your question re my aunt on another thread and she is ok. I am going to see her in April again for 3 months.

[Jahulaye]

Wow, so if a customer is talking to a sick relative in hospital, a friend that they never talk to from abroad or maybe the benefits office, a bank or something where they’ve been on hold for ages then no sympathy?