It’s totally rude, but the one time I did it was when a family member was in the hospital. I said, “I’m sorry to be so rude, but this is about a family member in the hospital.” The cashier was very sweet about it which I appreciated very much.
I think I’ve only done it once or twice in my life, and I am pretty sure I apologized to the cashier for it and made sure not to take up extra time.
If I were Ruler of the World, all cashiers would be issued Super-Soaker water guns, and encouraged to use them appropriately. Such as on people using cell phones during the transaction.
I don’t think it would be particularly rude, but (a) I don’t usually carry around a cell phone and (b) I’m concentrating on checking the prices of the scanned items like randompattern and nevadaexile.
I often use my e-book reader in other circumstances where I’m standing around waiting, however.
Not normally. One time, I did pretend to be on a call when I was checking out at Walgreens. I knew they’d try to pitch me their stupid rewards program, and I was tired of it.
I voted for “extremely rude/don’t do it” only because there was no option for “I’d rather set up a station in NYC offering to clean junkies’ needles with my tongue.”
Went with “Well, I…” Basically, it’s rude, so I almost never do it, but when I do, I apologize to the check-out person.
I voted other. I wouldn’t take a phone call because I might need to interact with the cashier. But I have no problem looking at my phone or sending a text. This is not a social call. I am there to shop. You are there to ring me up quickly. I will not be rude (I will greet you and say thank you) but there is no need for any prolonged social interaction. And no, I don’t want to sign up for your credit card.
Rude. A few years ago I was being checked out and my phone began ringing. The cashier asked if I was going to answer it and I said no, I’ll check later after I’m done here. I think I left her speechless.
Yea I’ve done it; stupid thing for me to do too.
I would hope that 100% of the time that someone is providing me a service I engage them in a conversation. I never interrupt real life conversations for my phone and wouldn’t start one on my phone before interacting with someone else.
Wow. I may have started the most one sided poll in SDMB history. Thanks for agreeing with me.
The other day I had a woman who had a shopping cart fill of various items, was talking on her cell phone the whole time (and in Hebrew, I might add) and smelled like she hadn’t bathe in about a month. I’m talking reek city.
She moved very slowly, pausing to talk every third item or so, taking about three times the regular time to put her damn items on the counter. Then I had to ask her twice for payment, and she talk to talk about three minutes on the phone before giving me her debit card.
I wanted to strangle her.
I try not to.
But I did just recently receive a call while waiting in a checkout line, and it continued up until I got to the register and the cashier began ringing me up. I told my caller that I had to go and would call back shortly. The cashier thanked me.
Its only rude if you slow the line. Get over it.
Yeah, because cashiers are just automatons and don’t deserve simple human courtesy. :rolleyes:
Rude. Rude to the cashier, rude to the people behind you in line (because you may think you are the paragon of efficiency while multi-tasking, but I’ve yet to be behind the person who isn’t slower because of their conversation).
If you can talk on the phone and pay for stuff at the same time, without holding up the line, whatever I don’t give a fuck. But if you just stand there gabbing while the cashier is saying “next” and you are oblivious, then fuck you you’re an asshole.
One can only hope for the day.
Voted rude… I once happened to answer a call I’d been expecting while in line and when it was my turn, I quickly wrapped things up…and said something like ‘sorry about that’ to the cashier. It totally made her day as most people just keep doing what they’re doing and getting change seems to be more of a bother to them.
No, it would be just as rude if they kept talking to the person next to them when it was time to give their order (particularly if there is a line up behind them).