You may also be interested in:

Is it rude to ignore a living mortal in favor of a cellphone?

I work on a checkout counter at a large home goods store where customers talk on their cellphones while checking out.

They’ll ask me a question, but don’t hear the answer because they’re listening to the cellphone at the same time. I feel as though they put me on hold and ignore me, when they should be paying attention to the transaction.

I’ll say they have to swipe their card again, but they’re too busy talking to pay attention to what I’m saying. In the meantime, they are slowing down the line making me feel less productive.

How does a guy get respect?

–Patrick, Providence

The customer may always be right in most instances, but when it comes to making someone else’s job more difficult because he’s being inconsiderate, it is time to take action.

Tell your superior you want a No Cellphone sign at your register and tell him why customers on cellphones are slowing down the lines. If he says no, ask him to consider a compromise and allow you to post one for two weeks to see if the line works smoother.

With the holiday shoppers upon you, you better put that sign up soon.

~Didi