I doubt the veracity of such threats. I think there are actually no consequences if I continue to talk on my phone, especially in this economy. If my local Starbucks were to refuse to serve all the folks that are talking on the phone as they stand in line, they’d probably lose 30% of their sales. And they’d probably lose them for good, as most people would likely not return to an establishment that ejected them for a relatively minor offense. It just seems to me that it punishes the store more than the patron, who can simply go across the street to the other Starbucks and be served.

That’s not to say that the rude customers who cannot deign to cease a phone call long enough to show another human being some respect do not deserve to be called out in some way. I recall in my youth being told that if I peed in the pool, a red circle would form around me, alerting one and all to my transgression. What we need is a retail equivalent. Some sort of public embarrassment that does not result in the establishment losing money, but is a deterrent to rude behavior.

Of course, this would make the PAN obsolete in the retail world, so this probably isn’t the place to discuss it.

I remember working fast food as a teen. We were required to ask customers if they wanted fries or something else from the menu. This resulted in a lot of snide responses from customers “Did I ask for fries??” I couldn’t care less, but it was our job.

Although… I have to admit that I wasn’t much different when I was a teen and working fast food. It wasn’t all the time. I could be very pleasant and professional. But there were plenty of occasions where I was just shit.

Of course no one can stop you from using your phone, but don’t get all whiny when people sneer at your utter lack of manners and your inflated sense of entitlement. I find it amusing when people who are actively disrespectful to others become all self-righteous when this lack of self-awareness is looked down upon.

Generally speaking I don’t have a problem with cellphones in public as long as the person is paying attention to what they’re doing/going.

It’s extremely annoying when you’re shopping and an oblivious SVU mom type almost runs you down with her shopping cart because she was too busy talking about nothing important on her cell.

“and I will gladly break your $20 for a $3.87 total”

yep that’s what I would expect from you. you would do anything but customer’s asks you to do, however reasonable.
may be your parents did not hug you enough when you were a kid or may be you tried to bite them when they tried to hug you and finally they gave up. yeah, that ‘s more likely scenario.

That being said I would agree with you about one thing though. those teenagers are stupid. they expected nice service from you(one look at your bleached long pony tail with 4 different color bands and browning rabbit teeth and I would know not to expect to get my order right even if I would have written that for you and no cell phone in sight of course) and on the top of that they considered you tip worthy!!!! Where are the rude teenagers when you need them?

I actrually will take mine out (I rarely use mine at ALL BTW) and pretend to be on the phone with someone when I see these kind of “California Asshole” type signs.

When confronted I ask two questions
1) Did you pay for my phone?
2) Do you pay my bill?

Oh no? Well then don’t go telling me what to do with my personal property, mind your business and KNOW YOUR PLACE.

I understand cell phones are “annoying” to some, but its just as annoying when I have some min wage counter jockey telling me what to do.

Besides, I see NO REASON why it could hinder or impede the ordering process, unless you are a whiny baby.

I say an annoying conversation is an annoying conversation whether it’s one person on a phone or two people talking to each other. Anyone having loud, irritating conversations in the checkout line should STFU whether or not they happen to be using a cell phone.

- DON’T point at the food you want. Display case glass is mirrored and I have no idea what the fuck you’re pointing at. There are signs. Read them.

- DON’T shove your money in my face before I’ve even told you your total, and certainly DON’T lean across the counter to do so. I DON’T need your face a foot from mine (and you really need to brush your teeth).

- DON’T ask me what I recommend. I find this really, really annoying for some reason. Pick your own damn food!

- DON’T ask me to break your change. It’s against store policy, and I’m not going to bend the rules for you no matter how loud you yell at me (fancy that!). Need a $5 for those stupid kiddie carts your screaming child is demanding? Maybe it’s time to stop spoiling them and bring your own damn carrier into the mall, you lazy assfuck.

- DON’T hand me crumpled money. This annoys me more than anything! Take the time to unfold your money, and ESPECIALLY don’t hand me a handful of crumpled money and then go, “Sorry,” with an ashamed grin. Take the time and fucking do it yourself or go buy a fucking wallet!

If there’s a line (or any of the time, but when there’s a line especially):

- DON’T wait until you get to the register to pull out your cash. The prices are there on a big board in front of you. You know how to add (although that might be assuming too much). Get out what you think you’re going to need before you get to me so I don’t have to wait for you to dig through your pockets to find all your loose bills.

- DON’T make exact change; I have change, and I will gladly break your $20 for a $3.87 total just so that you don’t stand there digging through your purse/pockets/friend’s pockets just so you can give me exact change.

- DON’T get to the front of line and THEN realize you don’t know what you want. Neither I, nor the people in line behind you, appreciate it when you spend five minutes choosing, changing your mind, getting to the register and realizing you don’t have enough money, and then walking off without a word. (Yep, it’s happened before.)

And finally, DON’T be a group of teenagers. There is nothing I hate more than a group of loud, obnoxious teenagers who think they’re entitled to anything they want. (Nope, I’m not going to make you something special just because you asked in a loud voice, and you think three pennies is a good tip.)

Being polite will get you a long way, and I’m not afraid enough of losing my job that I won’t tell you if you’re being rude. Feel free to complain to my boss; he’s there enough to know that I work damn hard at what I do for not enough money, and he’ll back me up in a heart beat.

Whew! All right, time for me to go to work.

i think you need to take a deep breath. inept call center employees only exist when a company has decided that great customer service isn’t really that important. take out your frustration on management and let them know it’s a bad system. the people you’re calling can’t change the problem.