Mobile phone etiquette

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jpoc

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#154545 31-Oct-2014 10:26

I was in an upmarket wine shop this morning. I was expecting to spend around $120 on four bottles ranging from below $20 to above $60. I had done some research and had a number of pages saved on my phone.

I was in the shop looking at what wine was on display and comparing that to the wines that I had seen on the shop's website and some other info that was on my phone.

Not only was the sellrat not content to allow me to make my own choice in my own time, he got close up and then craned his head over so that he could read what I was looking at on my phone.

Is there even one person in the whole country who would go on to buy a bottle of wine after that sort of intrusive behaviour?

Inphinity

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#1165611 31-Oct-2014 10:33

If a salesrat is trying to see what's on my phone when I am not showing them what's on my phone they can sod off and I'll go elsewhere. That said, I will generally put my phone away if I have chosen to speak with the sales staff and am not intending on showing them something with it.

ckc

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#1165665 31-Oct-2014 11:12

I wouldn't care. I'd probably show them it. It's not pictures of my genitals, what do I care.

I don't work in a wine store and I'm not an expert on wine, so when I punt a few hundred bucks on wine, I tend to want other opinions too and maybe know what else they have in stock. You can also replace "wine" with all the other things I don't know about, and which I could easily get information about from the internet. But having information is not knowledge.

Also, it's quite derogatory to refer to sales assistants as "sellrats". I don't even know you, but even not knowing you I can tell you that you're not superior to someone who works in a store.

Of course, the really polite thing to do is put your damn phone away when you're talking to another human being and politely end the discussion by telling him you'll have a look on your own and get back to them, thank you.

trig42

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#1165670 31-Oct-2014 11:19

Agreed.

Maybe the 'Sellrat' as you so nicely put it was trying to help?
Pretty sure they do not get paid on commission at wine shops, so if someone was at your side, they genuinely wanted to help I'd wager - and they probably know more about wine than you do.
Explain to them that you have been doing some research on your phone, they may be able to augment your research, or suggest other sites to get opinions from (because that is all wine tasting is - someone's opinion). If you are not comfortable with someone looking at your screen while they are talking to you, put your bloody phone away. That would be the correct etiquette.

wasabi2k

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#1165671 31-Oct-2014 11:21

If it is a problem, either leave or tell them to stop the behaviour you find unacceptable.

If you don't want their help, tell them.

If the don't get the message, go elsewhere.

Maybe they will learn for next time and you will help them become better at their job by giving them feedback and a chance to improve.

Handsomedan

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#1165734 31-Oct-2014 11:57

I'd just refrain from going into stores with the mentality that all sales assistants are "sellrats".

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jpoc

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#1165762 31-Oct-2014 12:12

ckc: ... Of course, the really polite thing to do is put your damn phone away when you're talking to another human being and politely end the discussion by telling him you'll have a look on your own and get back to them, thank you.

I was not talking to the guy. I had already indicated that I was looking by myself and did not want his help. I expected him to go away and let me continue. That was the point at which he started to try and look at my phone. Had he left me alone, I would have continued to browse the wine and would have made a purchase.

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jpoc

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#1165769 31-Oct-2014 12:16

Handsomedan: I'd just refrain from going into stores with the mentality that all sales assistants are "sellrats".

He was not a sellrat when I entered the store.

He was not a sellrat when he asked if I wanted help.

He became a sellrat when he would not leave me alone to make my choice and instead tried to see what I was looking at on my phone.