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| Yes | 38% | 1186 votes | Total: 3087 votes | |
| No | 62% | 1901 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesI've been working in food service for over two years now. While the majority of my customers are nice and easy to deal with, I have had my share of not so nice ones. One of my biggest pet peeves is the customer who just cannot seem to stop his or her cell phone conversation for one minute to order.
I have tried what I could to ignore the cell phone talking customer. A couple times I have not waited on them until they are off the phone. Some of them have gotten the hint and gotten off; other people snap at me in a rude tone of voice. I don't understand why I cannot tell them to end their conversation before being served. Most importantly, why is it that we have to wait on them even when they act so disrespectful?
Not only is it rude of the customer to stand there on his or her phone, employees often don't want to be involved in the personal conversations. Initially I always felt rude when I asked a chatterbox if I could take their order. I still feel that way, but maybe if they would stop for a second, I wouldn't think that I was interrupting. When they can't let go for a second, they also hold up anyone who is in line behind them who is not on the phone and waiting patiently to order.
Maybe instead of getting defensive when they are not helped, this group of offensive customers should take a hint when they are being ignored. They should also notice the way they would be treated if they weren't talking by observing how other customers are treated.
I know I will personally be nicer and more respectful to a customer not on a cell phone than I will be to one who is. This doesn't mean I am mean to them. It just means that I will only nod or point to them to signal it is their turn in line. Then I do not say "Thank you" or "Have a nice day" even when they say it first. I simply move on to the next customer or go back to whatever side job I was doing.
If you are the cell phone talking customer, which way would you prefer to be treated?
The issue of cell phone use in restaurants is one time where I believe the customer is not always right. We food service employees need to respect customers, but customers should always respect us. Until they understand that, I think is fine time for all types of restaurants to make and enforce rules banning cell phone use.
Learn more about this author, Alison Myers.
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No
This is absolutely preposterous.
I don't know if people are expecting Library silence when they go out to eat, but you have to assume there will be at least minimal background chatter and noise. You know: people having conversations, chairs being scraped across the floor, doors opening and closing, people being greeted at the door, clinking, clanking, and clanging coming from the kitchen. The servers asking you what you would like to eat and drink, and whether or not you need a refill. If they're good servers, they may even ask you whether or not you're enjoying your meal.
Is that okay, or are they also disrupting your need for silence? I
Restaurants are not Libraries. People should not have to speak in their "one-inch" voices. To be honest, if I walked into a restaurant and people were all speaking in hushed, conservative tones, I'd be a little freaked out and I'd want exit the premises as quickly as possible. A vibrant restaurant which is full of life, is something much more appealing. It's nice to see people laughing, smiling and unwinding after a hard day's work. And yes, this includes seeing someone laughing and smiling while on a cell phone. A little bit of noise is not a bad thing, folks. Heck, if people are lively enough, your conversation can't even be eavesdropped on! Isn't that great? People are having such a good time, it's stopping them from being nosey.
Another problem with banning cell phones: What if the phone call is of utmost importance? This could be a call-back from the job you had just been interviewed for. The phone call could be from someone's parents or children, filling them in on some sort of crisis. This could be great news from across the country, like one of your family members having a child. This phone call could be a life or death emergency. The phone call could be the most important moment of, or could lead to, the most important moment in a person's life. A simple phone call could be life-altering.
You really want to ban that?
At the end of the day, if you do have problems with a ring tone followed by a conversation, just ignore it. The option to ignore is one of the many beautiful things in life. Really, it's that simple: If a phone call at a restaurant is enough to drive you from an establishment, you're either most likely an elitist, or you probably have some sort of deep-rooted problem which must be evaluated immediately. There are much more serious issues in this world than someone taking a phone call in a place where multiple conversations are already being had.
The people who complain about these types of things, are the same people who treat their servers like low-life peasants.
Get over yourselves.
Learn more about this author, Blake Butler.
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