Talking on the phone is by far the most annoying thing to do when checking out. The lack of consideration for others is on display as those on the phone are so absorbed with themselves that they are unable to put it away for just a few minutes. But we have to give those on the phone the benefit of the doubt, right? Maybe it’s a life or death situation? Maybe the conversation was so important that they can’t tell the person on the other line to stay on hold or if they can call them back. It’s one of those things that we’ll never understand and therefore we shouldn’t get mad.
People love celebrity gossip.
I can hear her talking on the phone before she approaches the checkstand.
Me: Hi, how are you?
Ignores me…
Phone Banger: Girl, did you see this? Katie’s fed up with Tom!
Me: Did you find everything OK?
Ignores me…
Phone Banger: 5 years they’ve been together! It seemed like yesterday! I don’t know why she’s leaving him, what has she done lately? Tom Cruise is so handsome! Remember Top Gun!? He was such a heartthrob. I always wanted to be his co-pilot Maverick, just so I can be right by him.
Beep, beep, beep…
Phone Banger: HAHAHA! I know, tell me about it, right! Tom was a bit crazy on the Oprah show when he was jumping up and down on her couch and telling everyone how much he loves Katie with that crazy laugh of his.
I nod with approval.
Me: OK, that’ll be $86.11.
While still on the phone, she pays with a credit card and then looks at the courtesy clerk loading the bags into the cart…
Phone Banger: Oh hell no! Hang on, girl!
She starts pulling the bags out of the cart.
Phone Banger: I wanted paper!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Don’t people feel AWKWARD when they do that?
Man, 2 of my biggest pet peaves are
1. The whole cell phone thing.
2. Waiting until the middle or end of an order to specify paper bags.
So the combination is absolutely horrible.
By the way, Paul, I’ll be checking side by side with you in January.
Oh man Philly Chris coming back? That’s gonna be a tough 1-2 combo. I’ll look forward to seeing you again brotha!
I’m guessing they don’t Erika. They’re so infused in themselves that they don’t acknowledge anyone else.
It’s even better when the customer is using a hands free device and you don’t realize it right away… I thought this one elderly lady was bat sh*t insane when she came through my line until she turned her head and I saw a bright pink blue tooth in her ear.
Isn’t it funny how people seem to feel they can be rude just because they have something attached to their ear? I’ve experience it 2x here where someone on the phone could not take a break from their very “important” conversation to tell me thank you for opening the door for them.
Wow Paul! When I’m feeling down, you always have a way to make me laugh! Good job, keep it up!
There is nothing I hate more when they wait till the middle or end of the order to ask for paper. WE CAN NOT WAIT to bag your order for too long because there will be other customers behind you and you will start making them pissed off !