clients on mobile phones

Re: clients on mobile phones

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:29:40 GMT

Mobile Phone Etiquette

After a tiring day, a commuter settled down in her seat and closed
her eyes.

As the train rolled out of the station, the guy sitting next to her
pulled out his mobile and started talking in a loud voice:

"Hi love. It's Eric. I'm on the train".

"Yes, I know it's the six thirty and not the four thirty, but I had
a long meeting".

"No, darling, not with that blonde from the accounts office. It was
with the boss".

"No sweetheart, you're the only one in my life".

"Yes, I'm sure, cross my heart"

Fifteen minutes later, he was still talking loudly.

When the young woman sitting next to him had enough, she leaned over
and said into the phone,

"Eric, hang up the phone and come back to bed."

Eric doesn't use his mobile in public any longer.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:27:56 GMT

I can't believe you all who are normally so compliant in this forum are so reactionary to phone use. It is annoying but sadly a fact of modern life, it annoys me and I will ask them to terminate the call then switch off if if goes on for more than a few seconds but I've never walked out or even threatened to, I must have a well trained clientele. Its my nurses I have the problem with even threat of confiscation and fines doesn't stop them.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Utlendigur — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 14:45:31 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]even on occasion have had a client take a call in the middle of a consultation![/quote]

Only "on occasion" - it's a regular occurrence where I work - and many of them simply hand you the cat, or the dog's lead, as if you are some kind of servant, while they chat away. Luckily it is often possible to use another consult room, so if they don't finish the call PDQ, I tend to simply go next door and see the next client.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Wren — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:54:19 GMT

I can see both sides - my husband worked abroad for a bit and had to virtually walk to the top of the nearest mountain to get a signal. When he rang I didn't want to miss the call and would answer wherever I was. The same for being on call. The client on the end of the phone with the colicking or foaling horse gets answered whether I'm at a supermarket checkout or not.

When I used to do small animal work I hated it though, would leave the room on occasion and come back after 5 or 10 mins. The point is that although I'll answer my phone in a supermarket (and even if I'm on the phone I'll still say thank-you to the person serving me) I wouldn't in a doctor's surgery. There's a definite difference.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Clive Ansell — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:51:17 GMT

I switch mine off if I have a meeting or an appointment. If on call, I will explain and ask if it is ok to leave it on and to answer it if I get an emergency call. Just common courtesy, nothing more.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:50:00 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]

Sainsbury's didn't back her up and apologised to the customer, but I think good for the checkout assistant.

[/quote]

Agreed.

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]clients who are on their phone when you call them in from the waiting room[/quote]

well, that's OK as long as they hastily put the blasted thing away when you summon them. Although I'm baffled as to why people feel this need to constantly communicate, usually only to exchange banal chatter.

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]on occasion have had a client take a call in the middle of a consultation![/quote]

Oh yes. I'll let them off if they confine it to "can't talk now, at the vets, goodbye" but if they proceed to a conversation I just walk out.

People just have no idea how to behave.

Re: clients on mobile phones

Bob Russell — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:42:13 GMT

I will 'allow' the owner to apologise and end the call. Beyond that I keep talking as if no phone call is being made. They are paying for my time but if they chose not to listen so be it!

Re: clients on mobile phones

Clive Ansell — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 13:39:48 GMT

Funnily enough, I had a woman this week who spent 6 minutes of a 10 minute consult on her mobile. She apologised, but I replied "that's fine, but you've used up over half the consult and we only have a 10 minute window before the next client, so you've lost out"