Rudeness in retail

Jul 17, 2013 1 min read

To the editor:

I am seeing more rudeness in retail than I used to, and it is coming from both sides.

From the store side, I find it very rude for two employees at a checkout station, either a grocery lane or a department store kiosk, to engage in a private conversation when waiting on a customer. This is especially true when the conversation is about non-business issues. When I was in retail, not that long ago, such behavior would not have been tolerated.

From the customer side, I find it extremely rude for customers to talk on a cell phone while checking out. This practice is demeaning to the store employee, and inevitably causes delays for other customers as the person on the phone fumbles with their payment and goods.

Is it that difficult to be civil?

Robert E. Dudley

Cape Coral