If you work in a deli and a customer comes up to the counter and they are on the?

Question

phone and are looking at you to help them. Do you wait until they are done talking on the phone? I was taught that you don't bug someone on the phone!

Answer 1

Don't help them until they give you the simple courtesy of hanging up the damn phone and greeting you instead of expecting you to serve them like a robot without them even acknowledging you! I hate @$$holes like that who have no manners.

I used to work retail and people would walk up to the counter while yakking on their phone (obnoxiously loud in the store, of course) and they'd toss their merchandise on the counter in front of me without even so much as looking at me. Pricks! So, I would interrupt their conversation repeatedly until they were forced to put their call on hold and treat me like a human being instead of a cashiering automaton: "Hi", "How are you today?", "Did you find everything alright?", "Do you need a gift receipt today?", "Would you like this gift wrapped?", etc. It worked every time. :P

I rarely use my phone at all, especially in the middle of a store. But on the rare occasion that I am talking to someone on the phone when I approach an employee, I tell the person on the phone, "Hang on a minute, OK?". I then greet the employee, pay, say thank you, and then pick up my phone and say something like, "Sorry about that. Where were we?" It's common courtesy.

Answer 2

I work in the rental car industry and a lot of my customers are on the phone when they come in or receive calls during the rental process. As my position is sales as well as service driven, the last thing I want to do is create any sort of tension between them and myself. To that end, I've developed a couple of basic techniques to politely handle these types of situations depending on the individual circumstances.

If the person is the only customer in the office (or if there are enough other rental agents to help the other customers) I smile politely and wait for them to finish. Sure, it may be rude of them but, since I am paid partially on commission and I receive bonuses and incentives for overall office performance and good customer service, it behooves me to humor them--especially in these cases where there isn't any real impact on anyone else.

If there is someone else in line behind the person and nobody else in the office to help, I will usually start with the same polite smile for the first customer, followed by an acknowledgement of the other customers in line--usually by saying something like: "I'll be with you folks as soon as I can." If the phone call lasts longer than 60 seconds or so, I will sometimes quietly and very politely ask the person on the cell phone something like: "Would you mind if I got the next person started while you finish your call?"

In the vast majority of cases, people will end their calls once they realize they're imposing on other people or will happily oblige your request to let you help someone else if they can't hang up. Of course you know that there will ALWAYS be people who are difficult for whatever reason, but these strategies--adjusted occasionally to suit the specific circumstance--will usually work. In the end, the thing to remember is that your customers will tend to mirror YOUR attitude. If you remain polite, keep smiling and refrain from becoming rude or visibly annoyed, chances are your customers will follow suit. Hopes this helps.

Answer 3

Well you have a job to do and they are holding you up. Just politley say "May I help you?" It's only not polite if they are at work or home, but cell phones are too convenient. I made a suggestion to a business that had that problem. I told them to put up a sign that said "PLEASE CEASE ALL PHONE CALLS WHEN APPROACHING THE COUNTER" or "CELL PHONE USERS, DUE TO OUR BUSY ENVIORNMENT, PLEASE HANG UP ALL CELL PHONES WHILE AT THE COUNTER SO WE CAN ASSIST EVERYONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. THANK YOU. When they put these signs up, they had no more trouble. It alerts people that if they don't do what you ask, you don't have to serve them. They will get the point. It's actually rude for them to hold up you and the line behind them talking on the phone! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Nope. When I'm at work in the pharmacy that I work at, if someone walks up to me and they're on the phone I say very loudly, "Can I help you?" and if they shush me I immediately go to the next person in line and ignore the rude cell phone talker until they get off the phone. They are not the most important person in the world no matter what they think.

Answer 5

Ask, "May I help you?" If there is no response, say "Next". Using a cell phone in situations like that is simply rude. Unless you are a doctor, hang up the damned phone, do your business and get out of the way. Bluetooth is even worse! Normal looking people walking around talking to themselves like the homeless.

Answer 6

Acknowledge them then walk away. I feel it's rude to be on the phone when someone is trying to help you! Wait until you are done with your conversation then come to the counter!

Answer 7

I used to meet on the other side until they acknowledge me (like you said they are looking at you) and then turn my attentions elsewhere while I can still see them out of the corner of my eye. They don't like you not being totally attentive and will get your attention immediately.
The humor of it will make you feel better about the situation.
Yes - I wouldn't interupt someone on the phone.

Answer 8

When it is their turn then ask phone or not....perhaps the phone call is regardingwhat to pick up for another person.

Answer 9

Ignore them until they are off the phone.

Answer 10

If he/she is hungry and wants to eat, he/she should stop yappin' on the phone and place his or her order, instead of being inconsiderate to you and all of the other customers standing in line behind them, who are hungry and want to eat.