[Ammi]

County Stores in Taunton will not sell anything to anyone making a call

Staff think it is bad manners so have pinned up signs in the shop
'We've had plenty of positive comments, and the majority of customers on their phone apologise and stop the call,' a worker says
One person on the phone stormed out shouting 'stuff you'

A town centre shop is putting good manners above its own profits after telling customers 'If you're on your phone, you won't be served.'

County Stores in Taunton, Somerset, have taken the bold step of banning people from the front of the queue if they are nattering on their mobile.

A notice pinned up in the shop says staff will ignore them and serve the next person instead

The ban was the idea of counter assistants Sharon Kidd and Sarah Holley, who were fed up with having to wait for customers to hang up.

'Quite simply, if someone's on their phone we'll serve the next person,' Sharon said.

'People refusing to hang up when it's their turn to be served is happening increasingly, and as we're selling Lotto tickets the queue can get quite long

'We had some people coming up to us on the phone, not paying attention to what we were asking them and holding up the queue.'

Sharon said the policy had generally been well received, but she has heard the odd grumble and one young customer stormed out shouting 'stuff you'

She said 'We've had plenty of positive comments, and the majority of customers on their phone apologise and stop the call.


'People say it's a good idea because it's rude being on your phone and holding up the queue.'


County Stores owner Hugh Duder backs the rule, saying 'It's disrespectful to be on the phone when you want to get served, and the counter assistants shouldn't have to put up with it.'

[Niamh.]

Good for them. It is incredibly rude. It makes me mad when I see people doing it so I can imagine how annoyed the people working in the shops feel.

[Omah]

Good!

[Vicky.]

Good. Hopefully they also find a way to stop shop workers sitting yapping to others while serving too. Both are as rude as each other IMO.

[Kate!]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Good. Hopefully they also find a way to stop shop workers sitting yapping to others while serving too. Both are as rude as each other IMO.

this.

I've lost count of the number of times I have been "served" in shops with one of the two following scenarios

1 They stand yapping on the phone and outright ignore you till they are done then don't even excuse themselves for their bad manners.

2 They do actually serve you, but make no eye contact, don't speak to you, take your money and shove your change in your hand all while yapping away.

- combusts -

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Good. Hopefully they also find a way to stop shop workers sitting yapping to others while serving too. Both are as rude as each other IMO.

Actually yes, that's also a good point, It happens almost every time I go to this garage actually. I'll put something on the counter to pay for but I also want to ask her for something behind the counter but she's always yapping to the other girl who works there and I have to ask her a few times before she hears me and stops talking, so annoying and equally rude, maybe more rude actually since they're the ones providing the service

[Vanessa]

Originally Posted by *Kate*

this.

I've lost count of the number of times I have been "served" in shops with one of the two following scenarios

1 They stand yapping on the phone and outright ignore you till they are done then don't even excuse themselves for their bad manners.

2 They do actually serve you, but make no eye contact, don't speak to you, take your money and shove your change in your hand all while yapping away.

- combusts -

I know. That's so frustrating. It happens to me all the time.

[Kizzy]

Haha, thats one of my pet hates...When I see people treating customers badly, jobs are scarce and these surly workers piss me right off.
I agree with banning customers on phones too, as said it is really rude.

[Marcus.]

that good to hear

[nicole_burks]

I wish they'd do the same here. It's annoying when customers come through the drive through on their phone, don't get everything they want and then it's the stores fault because they were to busy talking on the phone.

Can't stand it.

[Jake.]

Originally Posted by kizzy

Haha, thats one of my pet hates...When I see people treating customers badly, jobs are scarce and these surly workers piss me right off.
I agree with banning customers on phones too, as said it is really rude.

Believe me, its not fun having customers treating you like dog **** either

[Josy]

Good but what about the other way round too? everytime I go into my local shop the woman is on the phone and never even bothers to hang up while she's serving you, it's extremely ignorant.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by JH95

Believe me, its not fun having customers treating you like dog **** either

Works both ways

[arista]

Good
so long as they Warn Customers

This should go on the Main News
to show other stores a better way

[Roy Mars III]

Originally Posted by JH95

Believe me, its not fun having customers treating you like dog **** either

I deal with so many self entitled idiots on a daily basis