Do you bother people on their cell phones?

[DisnyMama]

It never fails, whenever my DS (18) and I are out shopping we end up in the same aisle (Wal-Mart, supermarket,target, etc.) as another shopper who is on their cell phone/bluetooth and we have either been given dirty looks or we have been told "excuse me, but I'm on the phone" because we are having a normal conversation, at normal speaking tones ourselves. This usually happens when both parties are within 10-15 feet of each other or less. My response to the dirty looks is a and the comment gets something along the line of a chuckle and "you've got to be joking...if you want to talk on the phone in quiet either go out to your car or go home".

Just wondered if anyone else has run into cell phone people like this.

 

[coolbeans]

I'll be darned!! I'd talk louder, tell loud jokes and clap like a cheerleader.. it's a public place!!!

 

[SydSim]

Wow, I've never gotten that from someone. I suppose you could say "Excuse me, I was having a conversation with my daughter!"

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nope, I have never run into that.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I've never had that but my DH honked at someone once. The red light had turned green and the car in front sat there (big pet peeve of his). He honked his horn and she turned around, held out her phone and screamed "I'm on the phone!" (windows were open) He laid on the horn.

 

[cepmom]

no, I've never had that happen to me, but I work in retail and I get customers all the time that are talking on their cell phone while I try to ring their purchases. I am required to ask all kinds of questions (if we fail to ask three specific questions, the customer is entitled to a $5 gift card) Many of the customers will just shake their head at me or wave at me to stop talking to them while they continue to talk away on their phones. So rude! In instances like that, I continue to ask each and every question that I am supposed to ask and sometimes I make a couple up just to annoy them even more

Seriously, if your phone call is that important, get out of the checkout line!

 

[We Want The Redhead]

no, I've never had that happen to me, but I work in retail and I get customers all the time that are talking on their cell phone while I try to ring their purchases. I am required to ask all kinds of questions (if we fail to ask three specific questions, the customer is entitled to a $5 gift card) Many of the customers will just shake their head at me or wave at me to stop talking to them while they continue to talk away on their phones. So rude! In instances like that, I continue to ask each and every question that I am supposed to ask and sometimes I make a couple up just to annoy them even more

Seriously, if your phone call is that important, get out of the checkout line!

I had that happen to me at a grocery store. However, the phone call I took was a doctor's call that I was waiting on all day and had already placed my items on the belt to be rung up.

I shook my head at the cashier, but only because I was trying to hear some lab results that as I stated I had been waiting on all day. I had no idea the doctor would call right then, and while everyone tells me I am a very nice person at that moment I'm sure I appeared very rude.


Does this mean I excuse rudeness? No? But sometimes there are extenuating circumstances.

 

[golfgal]

No, I have never had that happen. I have had people talking on a bluetooth give me a dirty look when I though they were asking me a question because they were walking by me and talking. It looked like they were asking me a question-I am SOOO sorry I didn't see that thing sticking out of your head

 

[Tikitoi]

I wouldn't talk louder when someone is on their cellphone, just to annoy them, but I would not shush for them.

 

[Carl]

Happy to say I've never had that happen. And I think it would be foolish - they are NOT in a phone booth!

 

[MIGrandma]

No, that has never happened to me. I see many, many people talking on their cell phones in stores but it wouldn't ever occur to me to be totally quiet and "respectful" while they are on the phone. If they want to be talking on their phone, fine, but they have no right to tell others to be quiet. That is just ridiculous. If they want quiet while they're on the phone, take it to their car or go home.

 

[cepmom]

I had that happen to me at a grocery store. However, the phone call I took was a doctor's call that I was waiting on all day and had already placed my items on the belt to be rung up.

I shook my head at the cashier, but only because I was trying to hear some lab results that as I stated I had been waiting on all day. I had no idea the doctor would call right then, and while everyone tells me I am a very nice person at that moment I'm sure I appeared very rude.


Does this mean I excuse rudeness? No? But sometimes there are extenuating circumstances.

I agree that there are always extenuating circumstances, and in your case what else could you have done? Your items are all on the belt and it isn't likely you could call the Dr back later. Usually my people are just chatting away with friends or whatever...you can tell by the things you hear them saying.

Once I had a Dr in my line that you could tell was on the phone with a patient by the things she was asking(she must have been on call) Of course I quietly rung her up and sent her on her way. I'm not that rude!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I did the opposite once!

My 2 daughters and I were at the airport waiting for my Mom to arrive. We were killing time in one of those Airport stores that had a huge book section. The girls and I were browsing in the kids section and there was a lady standing there on her cell telling someone all about her wonderful trip to Las Vegas. My youngest was about 7 and she came over with a book she wanted to show me and was excited and not using her "inside voice".

I immediately gave my knee jerk reaction and said "Shhhh. That lady is on the phone." As soon as I said it I realized how stupid the situation was! She was standing in the children's section on the phone and I just told my daughter to be quiet. I restated and told her to use her inside voice and continued to talk to my girls at a normal level. The lady finally moved on.

I still laugh at myself for that one.

 

[NotUrsula]

When it comes to checkout lines, the doctor exception is the only one that is acceptable (or maybe a job offer!) When I get one like that, I tell the clerk that it is a doctor calling, so as to point out that I would not speak on the phone during the transaction otherwise. I find it appalling that people carry on social conversations while transacting business.

Even if the call is important, if it is someone who is not being paid for every second that they are on the phone with me, then I ask if I can call them right back. I also don't have social conversations in public places -- if I'm on the phone in a store it is either because DH is checking in to see when I'll be home, etc., or because I need clarification on something that I am supposed to purchase. Either way, I get my business done and get off ASAP, because it *is* annoying to have to overhear others' phone conversations, and I don't want to add to the problem.

 

[TanyaLovesPooh]

When it comes to checkout lines, the doctor exception is the only one that is acceptable (or maybe a job offer!) When I get one like that, I tell the clerk that it is a doctor calling, so as to point out that I would not speak on the phone during the transaction otherwise. I find it appalling that people carry on social conversations while transacting business.

So do I, it is incredibly rude.



OP...no I have never had that happen. The nerve of some is truly amazing.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Must be a CA thing. I work in Target in VA and ppl walk around all the time having all kinds of conversations on their phones(that's universal). But I have yet to see anybody get mad about me entering their aisle because their on the phone. If they did I'd ignore them because my job means I need to be in that aisle to perform my task. That's how it goes. I have on occasion seen ppl try to get privacy by doing this but they quickly realize its not gonna work. Well DUHHHHHH.

As for myself, I call my Dh when I'm done for the day and I'm generally picking 1 or 2 things while i do this. But I know its going to be a quick call of just a couple of minutes. If I get a call that I think is going to last more than 2-3 minutes then I try to leave the building to take the call.

 

[npmommie]

Ha! I can top some of these.......I have had patients on the phone when I come into the exam room. If they don't end their phone conversation when I come in, I tell them I will be back, and I move onto the next patient, I don't have time for that, they call me for an appointment, and i don't have time to fool around waiting for them to finish their convo about dinner that night!

 

[LuvN~Travel]

I had that happen to me at a grocery store. However, the phone call I took was a doctor's call that I was waiting on all day and had already placed my items on the belt to be rung up.

I shook my head at the cashier, but only because I was trying to hear some lab results that as I stated I had been waiting on all day. I had no idea the doctor would call right then, and while everyone tells me I am a very nice person at that moment I'm sure I appeared very rude.


Does this mean I excuse rudeness? No? But sometimes there are extenuating circumstances.

I think that is something most retail people realize early on, the ones who got the call unexpectedly but were waiting on it (those usually apologize about it, np here) and those that come up just yacking to be yacking on the phone. I have been on both ends of it, the retail person and the customer. I try to stay off the phone when I get to the counter, but have had the waited on forever expected phone call, and did apologize for it. And, as a retail person I cut those type of people some slack, since I do understand.

However if you come to the counter and I'm asking questions and you are just obviously chatting to your friends and family, don't expect me to care when you say 'but i'm on the phone!' lol! I will keep right on asking questions...lol

Kim

 

[SydSim]

. Either way, I get my business done and get off ASAP, because it *is* annoying to have to overhear others' phone conversations, and I don't want to add to the problem.

I see people talking on their phones while in a store the same as people talking to a friend standing right next to them. IF they're not overly loud and obnoxious, I don't have a problem with it.

I don't condone unnecessary conversation in the check-out line though. If I have been on my phone while in the store, I tell the person to hold on while I check out and give the check-out person my full attention, just like I would if I were there with my own child.

I feel the same way about cell phone usage in the car - I can voice activate my bluetooth and have a conversation while driving my 2 hour commute. It's the same as having a conversation with someone sitting next to me in the car. I'll often tell them to hold on if extra attention is required (say I'm looking for a particular street or something). As long as I'm not fiddling with the phone by hand, I don't see it as a problem.

 

[wvjules]

I think you should walk by repeatedly with a screeching toddler.