You're next in line at the check-out. You reach into your pocket and pull out your phone. You've noticed that you missed a call. The person in front of you just took her receipt and starts to walk away. What do you do?
Because you're one important individual, of course, you return that phone call.
WHAT??
I'm standing behind you in line. The clerk looks at you, and I see her glance at me. I must have a look of disgust on my face, I can tell by her glance.
She asks you a question. You nod, still engrossed in conversation with whomever is on the other end.
She proceeds to ring your items through, every once in a while glancing up to see you deep in conversation.
I'm sure she could have charged you $150 for your four small items, and you wouldn't have noticed as conversations and texting have a tendency to distract people from what's happening in front of them.
I don't care how important you think you are. There is no need to make a return call while going through a check out. Wait until you've at least gone through the till. Are two extra minutes really going to make a difference?
Waiting in line with the blissfully, ignorant you in front of me, sparked a memory of my days as a convenience store clerk. I was in college, so this was the early 90s, when cell phones were huge, and not many people owned one.
This man came in slapping his credit card on the counter to pay for his gas and a pack of cigarettes. He was on his gigantic Motorola flip phone and wouldn't stop the conversation he was having, to tell me what kind of cigarettes he wanted, he just pointed.
I remember a little piece of advice my mom had told me when she was on the phone and I needed something, "Tanya, it's rude to interrupt when people are on the phone."
So, I didn't interrupt the man at the counter. I waited.
Clearly, there is a lack of understanding of what is acceptable cell phone etiquette. Good cell phone etiquette is similar to common courtesy and cell phone users should be thoughtful, courteous and respect the people around them.
