Alf Bentley Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 As a complete sidetrack, what made you choose that name? Ever thought that maybe, just maybe, it might be my actual name? I must confess that I hadn't considered that. That was a bit unkind of Mr. and/or Mrs. Breath to give you a Christian name like that (though I suppose that I should say "forename" in case you're a Muslim or something ). Must have led to a little playground teasing.... or is "Moose" a nickname gained through your exploits? Were you known for rutting in the winter snow out at Bradgate Park or something?
Rincewind Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 It's so tempting but I'm all out of wit today. I'm trying to reform honest.
MooseBreath Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 It's so tempting but I'm all out of wit today. Strange, you're usually ever so witty.
Jace Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Wouldn't have been this problem if it had been men instead of women
MikeyT Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Having worked in the past as a customer service advisor, I have had many customers on phones while I've been trying to serve them and I think it's really rude and annoying. Manners cost nothing. It's nice to be acknowledged by someone and not ignored like you're something they are stepping in, which is how it personally made me feel.
Trav Le Bleu Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Staff who are paid to serve you chatting and ignoring you is not comparable to the CUSTOMER chatting to someone or on the phone. I hope you can see that? Nothing to do with manners, it was the cashiers job to serve the customer, everything else is irrelevant unless they were being violent or abusive. Staff should be seen and not heard right? Anyway, this was a topic on Jeremy Vine's radio show today (don't normally listen in, but caught the end of it) and someone who worked on tills says that what she does if someone is in the queue on their mobile she looks at the next customer along and asks if she can help them. When the customer on the phone inevitably complains she replies, "I'm sorry, I thought you were busy." Genius! The nail was hit on the head when the guest on the show said that it shows, "a lack of humanity." As Mikey T says above and I mentioned earlier, it is dehumanising, but I guess some people on here don't care about that.
MooseBreath Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 The checkout experience was dehumanised when the supermarkets took over the local shops. Way back yonder one might have felt a vague sense of connection to that there cashier, alas thine would struggle for a replication of such feelings in the modern day. The supermarket experience is one of cold, brutal, autonomous efficiency. It's a conveyor belt, getting people in and through the system quickly and maximising the money they spend. You no longer get old Joan - farmer Henry's widow you see - manning the tills (allegedly - she always was a bit, you know). It's always somebody you've never seen before and will never see again. I don't really see any need to force a human connection in the same way as I don't really care if the checkout girl refuses to smile and fake politeness like they are supposed to, because we're both engaged in a fairly miserable experience and to pretend otherwise is just a waste of energy.
21st Century Fox Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 When I worked for John Lewis whilst I was at Uni, we got given business cards with appropriate greetings and valedictions that we should use. That blew my mind, they may as well have just recorded it themselves and told us to press a button to play it at the necessary times.
BoneDog Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Next time I'm on my phone in the supermarket I'm going to feel like a right leper after reading some of these comments! Some people I know only get two 5 minutes breaks at work, so if they ring me when I'm in the queue I'm not ignoring them. I'll just have to deal with the harsh stares from any hypocrite checkout staff. Might get a hands-free set though so both hands are available for bagging up.
Zingari Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 The checkout experience was dehumanised when the supermarkets took over the local shops. Way back yonder one might have felt a vague sense of connection to that there cashier, alas thine would struggle for a replication of such feelings in the modern day. The supermarket experience is one of cold, brutal, autonomous efficiency. It's a conveyor belt, getting people in and through the system quickly and maximising the money they spend. You no longer get old Joan - farmer Henry's widow you see - manning the tills (allegedly - she always was a bit, you know). It's always somebody you've never seen before and will never see again. I don't really see any need to force a human connection in the same way as I don't really care if the checkout girl refuses to smile and fake politeness like they are supposed to, because we're both engaged in a fairly miserable experience and to pretend otherwise is just a waste of energy. Ah yes the good old days when we were served by Mr Arkwright and young Granville
stix Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Might get a hands-free set though so both hands are available for bagging up. Steady on big lad, we don't really need to know how big your weaponry is.
Guesty Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Whilst I've never done it and it would be rude - if someone phoned me up I don't think I'd hang-up - especially if it was important. I'd say hi, smile and acknowledge the cashier mind you. I think the cashier should have served her, but we don't know how the lady with the phone was acting and her demeanor which might have contributed. If the cashier made such a stink about it and made me hang-up I'd probably refuse to move after I'd paid and be like: 'well you were so bothered about talking to me, lets talk then.'
Rincewind Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Saw a notice on a bus reminded me of this. 'Turn it off or turn it down/ use headphones' This refers to music as well. Why is there a need for a notice? Are there that many ignorant people about? Don't wish to generalise but I'm assuming that the worse culprits are not OAP's
Jimothy Posted 4 July 2013 Posted 4 July 2013 Staff who are paid to serve you chatting and ignoring you is not comparable to the CUSTOMER chatting to someone or on the phone. I hope you can see that? Nothing to do with manners, it was the cashiers job to serve the customer, everything else is irrelevant unless they were being violent or abusive. I'm well aware it's different if staff are doing it, if you read my post properly you would realise I'm referring to the fact she called the checkout girl rude, when she was being rude herself. It would be unprofessional for a shopworker to talk to others whilst serving you, and she would find that rude, so why couldn't she treat the checkout girl with the same dignity. You seem to have overlook a huge part of what I said in reference to how sad it is people think it's too much hard work to engage the person they are dealing with for 3 minutes of their life and treat them like a human being. If you were calling the City ticket office you wouldn't treat the staff like shit over the phone when ordering tickets, you wouldn't carry on talking to your wife while placing the order would you? It doesn't matter if the person is being paid to serve you a Big Mac and fries, your weekly shop or a selling you a sodding Bentley, treat people with some bloody respect and dignity, it's the very least the deserve. And if you can't do that it says a lot about you.
Rincewind Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 Sainsbury's are now defending the cashier after public support for her. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sainsburys-faces-etiquette-dilemma-over-phones-at-the-checkout-8690979.html
purpleronnie Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 Sainsbury's are now defending the cashier after public support for her. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sainsburys-faces-etiquette-dilemma-over-phones-at-the-checkout-8690979.html good.
Fox92 Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 I don't like it when I'm trying to get served and the cashier is talking to another employee, never mind on the phone! That just comes across as ignorant as well. I used to work at Sainsbury's. I'm suprised she even got away with it, taking into consideration some of the stuff they told me what not to do.
Rincewind Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 This is from a columnist in the Independent that worked undercover at a supermarket for a period. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/mobiles-are-the-least-of-it-for-checkout-staff-8690919.html May be too long to copy and paste.
purpleronnie Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 I don't like it when I'm trying to get served and the cashier is talking to another employee, never mind on the phone! That just comes across as ignorant as well. I used to work at Sainsbury's. I'm suprised she even got away with it, taking into consideration some of the stuff they told me what not to do. ken is that you?
Fox92 Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 ken is that you? No. I think you've got me mixed up with someone else. Sorry for the confusion.
Jimothy Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 No. I think you've got me mixed up with someone else. Sorry for the confusion. Think he's referring to the fact you seem to be of the opinion the shop worker was on the phone, when it was in fact the customer.
Fox92 Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 Think he's referring to the fact you seem to be of the opinion the shop worker was on the phone, when it was in fact the customer. I know.
Rincewind Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 I caused a hold up at the checkout at Asda in Oadby today. I bought a hand whisk and it wasn't until I got to the checkout that I discovered there was no price on it. I was asked and I said the price I thought it was but the cashier rung a bell and summoned a price checker. I paid for my other stuff and waited outside the checkout area. It was eventually determined that the price I thought it was, was correct and I paid for it sepertely. The cashier was apologetic to the other custmers and me. I said no worries, at least I was not on the phone. She never laughtg at that. If it had beenm a miserable rainy day there may have been a few moans. I did feel a little embarrassed and guilty though.
DANGEROUS TIGER Posted 6 July 2013 Posted 6 July 2013 Staff who are paid to serve you chatting and ignoring you is not comparable to the CUSTOMER chatting to someone or on the phone. I hope you can see that? Nothing to do with manners, it was the cashiers job to serve the customer, everything else is irrelevant unless they were being violent or abusive. Can't agree with you for once Jon. I think bad manners are unacceptable under any circumstances, and an individual has the right to refuse such people.
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