Is this the easest way to lose customers, or am I just having a really bad week!

D

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The shop should receive an award. I would not dream of answering a call if I am engaged with a customer at the time of the call. I have button on my phone that answers the call and sends a text informing them that I will ring them back as soon as I am able. It costs nothing to be polite.
The OP didn't answer the phone in the shop, he was already on it. It cost the owner the OP's lunch money now and forever, and all the people the OP has subsequently told too.

The direction of this thread is exasperating. I need a sandwich.......
 
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roythehandyman

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Dec 19, 2008
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The guy though who started the thread, was the customer. If you can afford to turn away business because of that, that must be a great position to be in.

Thats being pedantic, either way around, buying or selling, I find it rude to hold a conversation on the phone whilst engaging someone else who is not a party to the call.

How would you feel if your dentist suddenly started to talk on his mobile whilst drilling into your tooth :D
 
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David Griffiths

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  • Jun 21, 2008
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    I bet you a ham and cheese on rye you're wrong!

    Of course it's possible that all of his or her acquaintances share the same values.

    I wonder if he/she was going to eat his sandwich while still on the phone? :eek: That's something else that drives me crazy, but in the world of high powered whizz kids with mobiles glued to their ear it might be acceptable, normal even,
     
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    Sandwich maker waiting to make the customer a sandwich, sees customer on phone, serves other paying customers whilst phoney customer finishes phone call and is less busy.

    It's just manners, that's all.

    Anyway, bottom line is the OP had to endure a Tesco "sandwich" (beef and horseradish maybe) so there you have it.

    Emphasis on the horse.

    Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
     
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    serendipitybusiness

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    Jun 27, 2008
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    I understand why the sandwich shop has the policy, trying to serve someone who then holds up their hand as they are having a phone call and as a result holds up the line must be incredibly frustrating.

    However, I think there should be a bit of common sense used here, this isn't someone getting a Sunday lunch this is a sandwich shop frequented by people busy getting sandwiches at lunchtime. Not everyone has the luxury of taking a break for an hour to be out of communication, most will be running to the shop nowadays, rushing to get a sandwich and multi tasking (as many companies are under staffed these days).

    The shop keepers didn't use common sense, some customers may be useless at multitasking some may be good, they didn't allow the op the opportunity to find out, just quite rudely refused to serve him/her without even pointing out the sign to him/her until they had been overlooked twice and asked why. It is just as rude as the servers being on their phone whilst serving.

    Many can be on the phone but cut off the call to tell the server their order quick, easy, simple.

    I personally think if they have enough business to be arrogant enough to treat their customers like that, then that is their choice but it is certainly not a policy I would employ and if I did, I would fully expect to loose potential repeat business from it and rightly so.
     
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    Tej

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    Oct 26, 2008
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    If you cant handle diversity, and make allowances, dont be in business. Crikey a bloody sandwich shop that says, we dont serve people on mobiles, the guys I work for would be crucified - they serve, because people are paying. They couldnt give too hoots if your were on the phone or cleaning a toilet

    Principles are good when one is NOT hungry. Guess the "bloody sandwich shop".. are satiated... so they adhere to their principles.

    You on the other hand might do anything for paying customers.... handling diversity :)
     
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    Tej

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    Whats with the bad manners??

    The shop clearly has a notice

    "He then pointed to a sign behind the counter which said "Our staff do not talk on their mobile phones while serving you. We would respectably request that you do the same while being served by them".

    The OP did not respect that... so did not get served!!

    I went into a shop a while ago.. and there was a notice behind the till

    " In God we trust, all others pay cash"

    Thats what they stuck to... no credit cards, no cheques, etc... just cash.

    their shop.. their rules... simples

    You either give them your custom or you don't... your choice

    How difficult is that?
     
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    Whats with the bad manners??

    The shop clearly has a notice

    "He then pointed to a sign behind the counter which said "Our staff do not talk on their mobile phones while serving you. We would respectably request that you do the same while being served by them".

    The OP did not respect that... so did not get served!!

    I went into a shop a while ago.. and there was a notice behind the till

    " In God we trust, all others pay cash"

    Thats what they stuck to... no credit cards, no cheques, etc... just cash.

    their shop.. their rules... simples

    You either give them your custom or you don't... your choice

    How difficult is that?

    I think the point is that having that policy and then having the described process to enforce it makes bad business sense.

    Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
     
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    ThomasPatrick

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    Jul 20, 2012
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    Whats with the bad manners??

    The shop clearly has a notice

    "He then pointed to a sign behind the counter which said "Our staff do not talk on their mobile phones while serving you. We would respectably request that you do the same while being served by them".

    The "he" in this instance is another customer.

    Any member of staff that completely blanks a customer without explanation, is very rude, especially when the rules they are enforcing are different from the business norms in today's society.

    They should have politely explained the situation, and their stance on mobile phones.
     
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    Tej

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    Oct 26, 2008
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    Any member of staff that completely blanks a customer without explanation, is very rude, especially when the rules they are enforcing are different from the business norms in today's society.

    They should have politely explained the situation, and their stance on mobile phones.

    The notice was polite enough!!

    What is the norm in todays society?

    It works for them.. there is a queue of customers waiting to be served...and they don't need to give every tom, dick and harry a polite explanation.. or point to the notice :)

    You might have a different policy... your rules!

    Would you go to see your dentist, doctor, bank manager with your phone glued to your ear having a conversation?... despite notices predominantly displayed " Turn your mobile off"
     
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    ThomasPatrick

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    Jul 20, 2012
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    The notice was polite enough!!

    What is the norm in todays society?

    It works for them.. there is a queue of customers waiting to be served...and they don't need to give every tom, dick and harry a polite explanation.. or point to the notice :)

    You might have a different policy... your rules!

    Would you go to see your dentist, doctor, bank manager with your phone glued to your ear having a conversation?... despite notices predominantly displayed " Turn your mobile off"

    The norm in today's society is to be served in retail shops regardless of what you have on your ear. Whether that's rude or not is besides the point.

    & your comparison to a dentist, doctor, bank manager, isn't even worth responding to.
     
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    The norm in today's society is to be served in retail shops regardless of what you have on your ear. Whether that's rude or not is besides the point.

    & your comparison to a dentist, doctor, bank manager, isn't even worth responding to.

    I was about to say something similar.

    Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
     
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    As for me, I doubt the OP behaved as well as he could, but that the way the shop handled it only raised the stakes on both sides. And has drawn in 104 posts! This usually happens when people get on their high horses. The shop is responsible for the atmosphere it creates/ allows in its own premises, and can set its rules.

    When my mother was asked to endorse or (more usually) criticise someone's behavior she diplomatically responded it was enough to work out her own life without sorting other people's out!
     
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    mpen

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    Jan 11, 2008
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    I own and run a very busy sandwich shop and whilst I don't have a policy of not serving people while they talk on mobiles I do think its an ignorant thing to do and from what I see its the other customers that get annoyed having to listen and wait longer whilst my staff try to get a gap in the conversation to ask the customers questions......manners cost nothing, seems to be a dieing thing in this country..
     
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    Ned Kelly

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    Sep 21, 2012
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    The notice was polite enough!!

    What is the norm in todays society?

    It works for them.. there is a queue of customers waiting to be served...and they don't need to give every tom, dick and harry a polite explanation.. or point to the notice :)

    You might have a different policy... your rules!

    Would you go to see your dentist, doctor, bank manager with your phone glued to your ear having a conversation?... despite notices predominantly displayed " Turn your mobile off"

    Ha ha ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
     
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