How hard is it to simply tell the person on the phone that you'll call them right back? It is SO rude when people do this to cashiers- they are living, breathing humans and deserve to be respected at least as much as not having to feel like they are interrupting your phone call. What is so important that it can't wait until you are out of the store to talk about? You could just text while in public and avoid this issue all together..

at least you were AWARE of it and tried to not talk. i hate it when people are actually holding a conversation and doing a majority of the talking & holding up the line. it's so frustrating! i want to tell them to step away and let others go until they're ready to do their transactions.

I don't even understand why this is a problem. Holding up the line is a problem. Or, making it so that the cashier can't do his/her job because you're being so loud and obnoxious or not paying attention to what they need from you is a problem.

But, if you told your friend to hold on while you talked to the cashier, the cashier was able to do their job effectively, and the line proceeded...why is this a big deal? Who was inconvenienced? Why is it "disrespectful" to the cashier? In fact, I'd say a good cashier would be able to do their job without interrupting that social interaction and should pride themselves on that ability. You're the customer; making your purchase convenient, friendly, and fast should be part of their job.

I want to have a pro-cellphone rant forum. It kills me that people think things are horribly rude when they're done with a cellphone but wouldn't think the actions were rude if they were done with a person. Are we supposed to shoo off a friend who is standing in line chatting with us while buying something? Of course not! Are we supposed to skip talking to friends in reasonable tones on buses or in taxis? Of course not! However, talking loudly in a public place, ignoring requests from people, or slamming into people due to inattention are ALWAYS rude, cellphone or no. Why does the cellphone need to introduce some new line of politeness that didn't exist before? We HAVE social rules for public conversations, and the rules for a conversation on a cellphone should be the same as the rules for a conversation with a person. It's not that hard!

As a sales associate in a retail store, I hate it when people talk on their cell phones because I'm afraid to do my job (customer service) and interrupt their phone calls.

Most of hte time they'll have their hands full and I'll want to offer them a dressing room, but it makes it more difficult. I'm always afraid of interrupting their conversations!

It's especially hard ringing up because sometimes we'll need information if we want to do a return or need to ask questions, and it's hard to find that line between disruption and just DOING YOUR JOB.

What about the people who don't really pay attention to the cashier and they aren't even on the phone?

I agree with carak, at least you were completely aware geek and tried to make the best of the situation. I've been there before and simply asked the person on the other line to hold on while I put the phone down and completed my transaction, then picked up the conversation when I walked away. But I try to avoid it whenever possible.

I pick up the phone if I'm in line with the cash register in case it is someone who needs something from the store while I'm there, which is often the case. But I multi-task by paying the cashier or moving the groceries from my cart to the checkout counter, and I make the phone call as brief as possible, even if I have to cut the conversation short. I would never just chat away on my cell phone while others are waiting for me to move along. That's just rude.

Which brings me to a couple of days ago. I was at NY & Co., buying some new autumn gear, and the person in front of me pays her items, and then stays in line making a phone call to her hubby or whoever to let them know she was on her way. She couldn't have made the call AFTER getting off the line?! That really p***ed me off.

The problem, TsuKata, is that a cashier is a human being. I would never ignore a cashier even if I'm with someone, and *regularly* interrupt conversations with the person I'm with until I'm done with the interaction with the cashier. Always have, always will.

mayara, you're making my point. If you wouldn't do it with a person, you don't do it on the cellphone. That doesn't mean the simple act of being on a cellphone call while checking out is a transgression against decency. It sounds like geeksugar kept her side conversation while checking out to a minimum. Thus, I don't see it as a problem.

Geek, you should be stoned for doing that. For shame.

admitting is the first step

Its all good though, at least you were aware and tried to keep quiet and not carry on a conversation while checking out. We have all been there before. Sometimes its difficult to just bust out with HOLD ON while the person on the other end is just chatting along mid sentence.

I work in a busy emergency room, I hate it when the patients thinks its appropriate to answer their cell phones while the doctor is seeing them. First things first, there are signs in every room saying cell phones aren't allowed du to interference with equipment. Second, the doctor is extremely busy, managing multiple patients some of the very ill. So now you come in for your ankle sprain, and have an absolute lack of respect for our time by talking on your phone. Also quite frankly if your talking on your cell phone about the date you had last week, 90% chance your not sick enough to be in an emergency room!

i dont talk on my cell when cheking out its very disrespectful, i work in retail and i give the custamer what he buys (big items) and i dont know how many times i encounter people that dont care and talk on there phones and i encounter every aspect of there lives from kids missbehaveing to who has std's please just say you'll call back im human and i dont like getting partial information

I was a clerk at a gas station for 8 years. People came in with cell phones all the time. It didn't bother me at all. Less small talk for me to have to make.

I was a cashier for 7 years at a grocery store, It never bothered me when people were talking on their cell phones, better for me I did not have to talk to them.

Not to be terribly insensitive to the 2 out of 2000 retail clerks who actually tried in the last year but as a customer, you might as well be on your cell while on line or at the register....it's not like they are generally making any attempt to connect with you. Most of the time I consider myself fortunate when I do not have to reach into the register drawer to make my own change while the clerk is busy chatting it up with her/his coworkers/vendors/personal friends.

I work at a McDonald's and I hate it when people walk in on there cell and get in line chatting away even when there at the counter it takes them twice as long to order because they are talking to whoever is on the other end. Clarifying an order is even worse. I've actually had someone complain that I interrupted their call trying to clarify an order.

I can't speak for everyone, but as a former cashier, I never really minded people talking on cell phones through my line unless they were holding things up because they were too distracted, especially if it was in the middle of a rush.

Don't get me wrong, it's just good manners to give someone's full attention when you're working with someone, even if that someone is a peon at a store who you will never see again. But not all customers or cashiers need to be that close and personal during a transaction. As long as you're not holding things up and are fairly respectful of your surroundings (as in not absently talking about your sex life at a Toys-R-Us or not even looking at the cashier who needed you to hit the accept button on the credit card pad, oh say... 20 minutes ago, and has even resorted to yelling and waiving their hands in the air), then you should be fine.

Please don't talk on your cell phone while you are checking out with a cashier. It is very rude and disrespectful. If you cannot tear yourself away, then use the self check lanes. I have started working in retail again after many years of other jobs and I have found that it's become so common for people to stay on their phones and ignore the cashier. They act like we are doing something wrong when telling them what their bill is and helping them to stay up with the debt/credit machine. I really think people need to put up the cell phone and call someone back when they are done. I hear people say how rude and self absorbed the young people are in these times, but I find it's just as many older people who do this same thing. I will agree with TsuKata that we let things go if it's not a cell phone, and we shouldn't for either. Standing in line talking to a friend and ignoring a cashier is just as bad. Talk to them, but when it's time to finish and pay your bill, give that attention to the cashier. Maybe we all need a class in manners.

THANK YOU, TsuKata!!!! I've been hearing people complain about people talking on cell phones for years now and never understood what the big deal was (I chalk it up to the fact that people don't know how to think objectively anymore). I could have written your exact comment. I agree 100%. There is NO difference between talking to your friend on a cell phone and talking to your friend if they're with you. Talking LOUDLY in either case is rude. Ignoring the cashier or people around you in either case is rude. Speaking about overly personal or obscene details in either case is rude. If someone is next to me at a restaurant, talking on their cell phone but talking in a normal, conversational tone, I don't give a rip (and I'm a stickler for etiquette). Let's stop acting like children and realize why we have mores (and if you don't know that word, that just proves my point). It's a "baby with the bathwater" society because we apparently can't think logically.

I agree 100% with (TsuKata), post #3.

For some reason that totally escapes me, there exists this double-standard--do action x or action y with a person in public, not a problem. Do the same thing with a cellular phone, and they would probably advocate hanging you in public for it. It's totally wrong.

So, in other words, it's rude of me to talk on a cellular phone on a bus, subway, or in a quiet restaurant--but if I talk (at the same volume, mind you) to another person who's with me, that is supposedly a totally different thing. Totally ridiculous supposition.

Some years ago I lived in Tucson AZ, and a woman was killed while jogging, the person who hit her swerved onto the shoulder due to distractions from--no, not a cellular phone, but while twiddling with the controls on his car stereo. The outrage was very minimal. Imagine how exponentially larger the outrage would've been had he been fiddling with his cellular phone instead.

That's a double standard, and it's 100% wrong.

To make some distinction between someone who kills a jogger while talking on his/her cellular phone vs tweaking their car stereo, or a person talking to another person in the flesh vs on the phone--it is a form of bigotry. That's right, bigotry--it's no different than discrimination based on race, colour, religion, style of clothing--any such thing.

I for one am sick & tired of this singling-out cellular phone users like they smashed The Ten Commandments or something. Not for one minute do I think I need to justify my actions with regards to public cellular phone usage to anyone around me in this regard. Talking is talking, period, and it's absolutely no one's business to try & tell me that they don't like my usage of a cellular phone around them. I don't recall needing their permission, and I could care less.

Who are you to suppose that what I'm doing isn't important? Maybe I'm on the phone with my wife, whom I haven't seen all day. Don't you think talking to her is probably just a little bit more important than talking to someone I don't know? I have no hang-ups about socializing with other people, but if it's a choice between such a stranger vs my wife, it's no contest. I will speak to my wife, whether in person or through the cellular phone--and if you don't like it, who cares and who asked you? Take your bigotry someone else, it's not welcome here.

I agree. I find this completely rude for people to go up to a checkstand, check out and the whole time remain on the phone.
I was at the bank the other day and this woman was so annoying. She has the nerve to keep asking the bank teller to hold on just a second. In the meantime she would be talking, the teller thought she was speaking with her in terms of getting a hundred dollars, than proceeded to tell the bank teller that she was telling the person on the phone.
I make it a common practice to ask me caller if they can hold on just a second, I place my cellphone down, and pay attention to the person who is assisting me. The flip side of the coin, I can not stand it when a cashier does not say anything to me except the total price of something. I think about that and I immediately put my phone down, because I don't want to be rude.
People would be surprised if you ask the caller if they can hold on a second, and let them know you are at the checkout line, people are more than understanding to wait, if they are not, just call them back. Its that Simple!
Now all the people who have cellphones and drive talking, at least get a headset or bluetooth, that is so much less dangerous than only have one hand available to drive.

okay TsuKata, here's my viewpoint. I myself am a cashier. I personally don't mind if someone is finishing up/or starting a phone conversation while I am helping them, that is simply a timing issue. Sometimes it can't be helped.

The main problem comes when someone completely ignores the fact that you are there, helping them with their purchase. WE ARE NOT SLAVES!!!!! Therefore we need to atleast be acknowledged for living. It is called common courtesy. In the store I work, we do everything we can to make your time in the store a nice time. Therefore we try to interact with you and make you feel important as a guest in the store. I find it very rude when a guest completely blows me off because they think their chit chat about hair, boys, and American Idol is more important. People like that make my job suck sometimes.

It's not just the interaction either. What if you're too busy chatting on the phone to notice that you were charged too much/little for something? Does anyone like the idea of raising a stink about it because YOU were too busy talking?

And as for the social arguement that you're goin for, if you have to spend every waking moment on the phone talking to someone to keep your social life healthy, you need to get out more. Cuz, it ain't gonna be saved by chatting on the phone.

So please try to atleast be a little more courteous around us. Or we just might "accidently" make a mistake.

well, ive worked a register at a few jobs ive had. If the guest is not a jerk about the cell phone I dont really care that much, but if they are rude about the whole thing, get annoyed with me if I interrupt them, then well, i will charge things they didnt intend on paying for. like a video store i used to work at sold .25 cent insurance, so if they were obnoxious, yeah i would charge them the extra dollar or two. ive never been caught, and my sales numbers would improve because they are too oblivious chatting to realize whats going on

If you're too dumb to multitask, by all means, stay off the phone while at the cashier, walking, or chewing gum. Otherwise, do as you wish and let the control freaks have coronaries.....a few less of them around would improve things, yes?

what did people do in line before cell phones! LOL!

Seriously, either ask the person on the phone to wait for 30 seconds till you get through the line or tell them you'll call them right back. Or, at least apologize to the cashier and thank them by name!

i'm a cashier at a sears...not planning on staying there...anywayss...i hate when i have customers that use their cell phone's i dont want to interrupt them but i need to get through with them fast so i can help the next customer that isnt using their cell phone it's rude dont do it i never do i tell the person to hold on it wont kill you or them...soo people try not to do it...it's annoying.

Oh, well. It's the thought that counts, at least you half did what you believe in.

Am I the only one who sees something wrong with that? Almost doesn't make bread rise, the fact is that you're a hypocrite. Saying your sorry doesn't really fix anything. How hard is it to say, "Sorry, call you back," when you're registering? Will you "offend" the person on the phone? Either they'll understand or they'll think about it for a second then forget about it. No harm done.

And why the heck should anyone go out of their way to not "offend" someone else? It's a cash register, you're not going to make someone suicidal by talking on the phone. Their job is to get your money and bag your things, not have a little conversation with you. Should you stop talking on the phone while looking at food in the isles? Is it considered "rude" if there's a stranger in the same isle? In the end you're "offending" someone, and it's pointless to fret about it.

If you don't give a crap, then people don't generally care. It does get annoying when someone is so focused to try and not "offending" you. A lot of people would agree, it's awkward and annoying.

It's nice to be considerate enough to not hold off the other person's job, but it's just irksome to over do it. I seriously doubt having a conversation on the phone will make people loose sleep.

"Offender" seems too less of a word here. Hypocrite is much better, at least it has the right amount of filth. Suits you perfectly.

Oh, no. Did I offend the "Cell Phone Rant Offender"?

it annoys me when ppl come into my restauarnt talkng on the phone while they try to place an order. I hve to keep asking them if they're talking to me (and it holds up my line) OR THE PERSON ON THE PHONE...THEY ALSO FORGET what they ordered bcus they were too busy talking....

I completely agree with everything about the cashiers.. but as a waitress, I think something needs to be said for that, too. A cell phone pressed to someone's ear in a restaurant, before they start eating, makes me immediately cringe. It is extremely difficult to take an order when all you can hear is about "so n so's surgery" and "what the kids are up to." Other tables are relying on your waitress, as well, and please remember that before you hold up the one second finger and continue on your conversation, wasting his/her precious time and precious tips.

I signed up on here just to leave a comment.

I cashiered for about 4 years between Wal-Mart and Home Depot. I can say customers talking on there cell phones NEVER bothered me unless as said before they were so wrapped up in their conversation that they would hope up the line, or were the only customer in line and wouldn't shut up long enough to get out the store. I can see where problems with food ordering could occur, or maybe at places like Macy's where the cashiers are always chatty but for the standard clerk working in retail they just want you to pay and go bu-bye.

I think Tsukata has it dead on, it doesn't matter whether a cell phone is included or not just follow the social rules that most people would agree too.

P.S. I have worked as a Customer Care call center rep for the largest Cell phone company for the past 2 years. About the only place I talk on my cell phone is while waiting to check out at walmart since it takes 30+ minutes everytime. I'm on the phone enough at work to never use my own cell phone.

i don't think that it is rude to be on the cell phone while in line and approaching the cashier...all you have to do is say hold on to your phone conversation, pay, and continue...if this offends anyone or thinks that it is rude to the cashier, then how about you stop talking on your cell phone while you eat dinner at a restaurant, pump gas, walk into work, drive in your car (that could be rude to other's if you are not paying attention), take your kids to the park, spend time with your spouse, spend time with your family, take a walk at the park...i know i'm missing some, but maybe you see my point...why does everyone have sympathy for the cashier? how about sympathy for every one in and out of your life that you effect while talking on your cell phone then? either feel guilty or not. pay attention the next time you decide to end the call for a cashier or continue a call in front of your grandpa!

As a cashier at a Walgreens for 3 years, I personally don't have a problem with people talking on the phone while in line for checkout. As long as the talker can stay focused enough to pay and move on quickly, I really don't spend too much time being upset about it. There are definitely worse things you can do.

Hey, that CoralAmber Man's comment sounds appealing 2 me. Way ta go man!! I still can't stop laughin' from the truth in those words! Perfectly put. I couldn't have responded any better than you did.

i'm a barista at starbucks. i'd say almost half of the customers i see on a daily basis are on their cell phones. it used to bother me at first, but now it only bothers me when it keeps me from doing my job. if you're on your cell phone i can't be sure that i have your order correctly, tell you your total, or ask you if you'd like a reciept. it slows down everything and the people behind the cell phone VIPS are usually irritated when they reach the register. it sucks! i was once a guilty offender, but after dealing with it on a daily basis i always make sure the person helping me has my attention.

I work as a cashier at a convenience store, and I would say one out of every 20 customers are on the phone when they are checking out. It's a little shameless, but I've gotten in the habit of picking up my phone and texting the first available person on my contact sheet just something random from day when a customer does this to me. It used to bug me a lot, but there's not a lot I can do about it, pending an assault charge. It's nice to know people get that it's an inconsiderate thing to do!

I am a cashier and my biggest pet peeve is when someone is on their cell phone yapping away when im trying to be of good customer service. but i feel your guilt because i could not get my sister off the phone (she is a yapper) when i was at blockbuster one night! i felt so bad that when i got off the phone by the time he gave me my movies i apologized to him and told him that i know that i hate it and i dont want to be a hypocrite and do it too. he said it was cool and that he is doing good customer service if he is helping his customers be happy and if what makes them happy is being on the phone then he is doing his job. i was taken back by his comment. i however do not agree with him but i think that because i was cute enough he let me slide. :] but i will try my damn hardest to never do that again!!

to all of the people out there who press the "ignore" button on their phone when they are checking out... THANK YOU!! and for all of those ladies who really do get off the phone so they can check out... THANK YOU!!

being a cashier, we are just trying to make sure you found everything okay, get you signed up for coupons or use the coupons you may have brought in.

(i had one lady on the phone, i didnt talk to her because its RUDE to interrupt someone on the phone. when i handed her her receipt she asked if i got her coupon and i told her she didnt give me a coupon. so i had to return everything and then use her coupon and refund the money her coupon saved her. it was such a hassle... all because she was on the phone... sheesh!)

I was on an airplane the other day and when I went to sit down, there was a cup in my seat pocket. I turned to ask the lady sitting next to me if it was her cup and she said in a very rude voice "I am ON the phone!!!!!!". She talked to me like I was one of her children interrupting her conversation. It took everything I had not to respond- who wants to sit next to an angry person after you just confronted them for 2 hours? Besides, the best answer to rudeness is kindness- more rudeness does not make it better. I don't think that talking on the phone in public is polite if it interferes with your ability to respond to others who attempt to communicate with you.

as a cashier at walgreens, could I ask that people at least " pretend" you were raised with some manners. you only have to look at me for about60 seconds so give the phone a break!!

Wow. This is ridiculous. There is so much going on in this world, it's just falling apart and all you care about is a damn cell phone rant. Who cares? I don't. I'm a brutally honest person. I will tell it how it is. I'm sure the cashier didn't even care. 10 years from now you will have no priorities. Open your eyes and look upon your life. It's real trip, believe me. Nobody is perfect. Nobody ever will be. Decades from now when you are on your death bed, I want you to think back upon your life and say, "I did what I could." Even then, that would be a lie. There is more you could've done. Why not try saving the world that we live upon instead of worrying about your cell phone rant. Or, you can just forget what I said. The world will end in 94 years. There are people trying to save it but those few million aren't enough. It's a team effort and your children and you're grandchildren will be at fault for you mistakes. Cell phone rants are not important.

people that think talking on a cell phone while buying something is bad need to 1. mind your own buisness. and, 2. get a life. Who cares!!!! i always see cashiers talking on the phone when i am buying something and i dont care. note to all people who think this is rude: stop worrying about what other people are doing, and start worrying about yourself. :/ :> :

as long as you're not in denial about it you're good. i have been guilty because i've just not wanted to end the call. usually i'll say hold one as i get ready to pay because waiting a few seconds is not bad. but some people if you hang up and try to call back you will never get them!

I am a cashier and I find it very hard to practice customer service when dealing with customers on their cell phones. Its fine by me if you want to go through my line on your cell phone, just don't expect me to be very helpful should you have a question or a concern. Consideration is a two way street.

I have to agree. I know i've been guilty of being on the phone when being serviced in one way or another...but I do try to be courteous and put my phone down, or put the person on hold, or call them back. I work for a cellular provider, and trust me, some of the people who are guilty of this are probably the same people who are rude to me on the phone day in and day out. I have to add, if I may, that if you all ever call in to your providers...please be nice. Be polite. The person is NOT just a voice. They probably drive home at the end of the day in the same type of car, and it hurts that people yell at you for things that are NOT your fault. You all strike me, from your posts, as nice people...

It surprises me, reading these comments, how very angry the pro cell phone people sound. Then again rudeness and anger seem to go hand in hand. There is a time and a place for everything and yes, it is rude to talk on the phone while checking out. It's plain and simple, no ifs ands or buts. You can't rationalize it. Either you are rude or you are not but don't try to rationalize it, if you make the choice to be rude, just accept that you are rude.

I have cashiered and it really, really, really grates on my nerves when people chat away. I appreciate anyone holding their conversation to a minimum - I've been there myself - but the people who just chat and chat without being very open to my presence drives me nuts. I feel like I'm intruding asking simple questions like "Do you want a bag?" or "Do you have a member card?" And really, where I work, we are supposed to do a short little spiel about membership with the store, but I can't do that when people are on the phone (though I don't mind having to skip that so much - I just hope the talkers aren't the secret shoppers).
I've seen signs other places - counter ordering food places, mostly - that read something like "We will take care of you once you are done with your cell phone conversation, for you convenience and ours." That should be mandatory everywhere there's a cash register! When someone's talking obnoxiously into their bluetooth while I'm trying to find a break in their conversation to explain that they need to type in their PIN on the credit card thingie, I imagine writing that on a piece of paper and handing it politely to them.

to ashley1990, we all know that there are more important things to talk about, however, we are all just relaxing and passing some time...so just fyi, u'r here too....hmmmm....don't make it sound like you didn't even read the article and then don't make it sound like you didn't really want to comment and say what you said just to be "different". what have u done today to save the world? oh, yeah, let's get back to cell phones now because that's more interesting!

I am a server and I had a table of 4 ppl the other night (one was on her cell phone) and one of the other 3 said they were ready to order. When I got to the one on her phone she wouldn't even tell the person she was talking to to hold on. She ordered one of our large dinner salads and immediately kept talking so I just stood there looking at her she finally told the person to hold on (with an annoyed look on her face)! Rude! So I asked her what kind of dressing she wanted. I hope she enjoyed her ranch dressing with spit in it. Yum! Don't be rude to ppl that handle your food! Restaurant 101 dumb b*tch!

As a cashier in a gas station, I hate it when people wont get off the phone or at least tell the person to hang on while they conduct business. If the person is in line with them they would likely stop talking and do their business before resumeing their all important conversation. I think we are becoming too caught up in the electronic world. Whatever happened to common curtesy.
I say thank you people who tell the other person to hold on. It makes my job easier when I have to ask for imformation and such.

Geeksugar, dont be too hard on yourself, it sounds like you are not a repeat offender and I have been caught in that type situation myself. Sometimes it is unavoidable. When that guy started shooting at the University of Illinois, I had a costumer in front of me that answered her phone during the transaction because her niece was a student there. I would have done the very same thing on that day!!