Sean says he approves of the this sign that he saw at an Idaho Subway location today, but his wife wasn’t a fan…
My wife thought it was ridiculous, but I kind of like the idea of sending those annoying line-talkers to the back.
Well, you know us, we’re always biased toward the consumer…. but those line-talkers are on their own this time.
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@Craig: Immediately call upon all the gas you have and try to force it out loudly. Or blow a ear-splitting hocker
/gross
For everyone saying “I will put the person on hold to complete transactions” and getting offended – this isn’t really directed at you. If you’re not talking on the phone when ordering, there’s no problem.
Considering how many toppings, breads, meats and dressings they have, some of which even sound alike, and knowing how angry people would get if their sub was wrong (Dear Consumerist, every time I go into xxx Subway, they manage to make my sub wrong! etc), nevermind that you don’t eat the cost of a sub done wrong, they do…I’m surprised both that all stores haven’t done this and that it’s even necessary to begin with.
But can you poop or pee without paying? (see article six above for more)
OK I will be the contrarian here. Come on guys. If I want to order a sandwich while I am on the phone I will do it. People behind the counters often take personal calls, have personal conversations, and multi-task at the detriment of the customer. I once waited at my credit union for a teller to get of the phone and she was OBVIOSULY having a personal call. The customer is PAYING for a service. If I want to be on my phone then I should be allowed to be.
That sign should be amended to allow the sandwich maker to to bludgeon you with a loaf of bread.
If cell phone usage is such a problem, why not just install a signal jammer in the store.
@timd1969: It’s illegal to jam cell phones, at least in the United States.
I think kicking people to the back of the line is sufficient.
@Ein2015: It seems like most people I see on a cellphone are “listening to someone” – since they hardly ever talk. WHY do you want to pay money every month to let somebody call you where ever you are in the world, to rant? Hang up the dumb phone! I don’t answer my phone at home 1/2 the time if it’s not convenient for me. They can leave a message and I can call back if I want.
@doctor_cos: I think telling the person on the other end of the phone to “hang on” would still be a violation of the policy.
By the way, I only use my cell for business. Yes, I am often unable to tell my boss that it went to voicemail because I was out to lunch. Yes, I sometimes barely have time to get a sandwich. Yes, I think teeny boppers yapping about something dumb should learn common sense and decency to not yabber on as someone makes them a sandwich.
This sign is ridiculous and I can’t believe so many people on this site agree with it. When I’m ordering a sandwich, its the employees job to listen, take my order, and make the sandwich. Not tell me to get off my phone. If I’m on an important call, the chances of me getting off the call while on line because the store is understaffed are close to zero. And if someone is being discourteous and not placing their order promptly, they’re also going to get their ass put in gear by me, or I’m placing my order in front of them.
Luckily, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a subway. Their sandwiches are terrible, and they run you down some conveyor belt assembly line and ask you questions even after you’ve instructed them about specifically what you want. How about Subway trains their employees to listen the first time when given an order. Then they can make the sandwich, while I talk on the phone. What an idea.
A sign like this would be ignored and laughed at in New York; and I’d love to try and see anyone short of the Soup-Nazi enforce such a policy. He gets to because his soup is awesome. Subway’s food is marginally edible.
“If I’m on an important call, the chances of me getting off the call while on line because the store is understaffed are close to zero. And if someone is being discourteous and not placing their order promptly, they’re also going to get their ass put in gear by me, or I’m placing my order in front of them.”
@ModernDemagogue: You just contradicted yourself there. If you’re the guy that’s on the “important call”, then you’re the one not “placing [your] order promptly”, and this sign exists to “get [your] ass put in gear”.
Look, if you’re really that freaking busy that you can’t put your call on hold for 2 minutes to order a damn sandwich, then kindly step aside and let other people order. Order your food when you are actually able to give the task your attention.
I didn’t contradict myself. If I’m on line, I’m talking, emailing, taking care of whatever needs doing. If I’m up, I’m ordering; “Ham, Turkey, Salami, on a roll. Lettuce, mayo, mustard, thanks” and then I’m back involved in my conversation. Call stays active on my iphone headset. I’ll take one earpiece out to let the server know I’m talking to them, and put it back to let them know the interactions over. This happens frequently enough that unless you’re on a conference call with a number of parties, whoever you’re talking to gets what’s going on and accepts the natural pause. It’s not rude, it’s how the world is. In 10 years, I’ll have a screen on my contacts and you won’t know whether I’m looking at you, or reading a consumerist article.
Ordering a sandwich is not a two to five minute process that involves me observing its construction. If this were the case, I could have made it myself- so why am I paying the markup for labor. Its a ten second one that involves communicating what I want to the person that is going to do it, like anything else in life/business/etc.
A sign like this is insulting; it assumes the lowest common denominator and treats the customer like a mindless sheep to be herded. If I saw something like this in any business that was not providing something I REALLY wanted, there is no way they would get my money; and odds are they’d lose more money trying to deal with me if they enforced it.
If people took a little more personal responsibility and weren’t such wimps, this wouldn’t be a problem. If someone is holding up the line, rather than make passive aggressive comments or simmer silently, you tell them and fix the situation.
For any corporate policy decision makers, take note.
This is a step in the right direction.
It would make the line go faster and reduce the number of ordering mishaps. Not to mention that it would reduce aggravation experienced by the people during morning and lunch-hour rushes.
That’s awesome. Every store should have that policy.
@coren: I’m pretty adept at watching them while they make my sub, maintaining eye contact, etc. Besides, what else should I be looking at?
It goes something like this: *wait for them to look up, look ready, anything* “yes i’d like this bread for this meat” “blah blah blah on phone” *wait for them to put meat on bread* “this cheese” “blah blah blah on phone” *wait for them to pass to veggie person* “these veggies, salt & pepper, and mayo” “blah blah blah on phone” *hand money to cash register person* *walk away* “blah blah blah on phone”
Not hard.
And here’s a warm “thank you” to all those above who have posted that they understand some people CAN focus on a sandwich while talking.
@dianabanana: If you want people to mind their own goddamn business, then don’t hold a personal conversations in a public forum.
When you’re in public your behavior is subject to public scrutiny. There are basic codes of social conduct. People will oft turn a blind (if rolling) eye to rude/inconsiderate/abusive behavior. Sometimes you encounter a rogue manners vigilante.
There needs to be a lot more calling out of public asshattery, IMHO.
Does the “Soup Nazi” from Seinfeld own this Subway store?
I work for Subway (located in a hospital, of all places), so I’m really getting a kick out of these replies.
I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I’ve been shushed or told to hold on so people could finish their cellphone conversations. I’ve even had people hold up the line during our dinner rush to call their friends and ask if they wanted any food.
There’s a special place in hell reserved for people who order THROUGH their phone, though; the conversation usually goes as such.
Me: What can I get for you?
Customer: I’d like a sandwich.
Me: What kind?
Customer, on phone: What kind of sandwich do you want?
This continues until the sandwich is wrapped up, and every single time, the person on the cellphone is holding up a growing line.
Guys, gals, if you’re ordering for someone else, either step out of line to find out what they want, or write it down ahead of time.
@Ein2015: Losing customers over this?
I believe I already observed that they will probably gain 2 for every 1 they lose.
@Black Bellamy: Of course you can. Everyone thinks they can.
You can’t. Get over yourself.
@ModernDemagogue: And you, sir. The sign is just for people like you who are so important/smart that they can’t be bothered with things like COMMON COURTESY.
If you don’t like the rule, SHOP/LIVE ELSEWHERE. We will NOT miss you.
@doctor_cos: But it’s not a common courtesy. How is it a common courtesy?
Not sure if anybody has made the point that it’s even ruder to the person you’re talking to.
This is even worse if it’s a business call. How ridiculous and unprofessional.
@ModernDemagogue: “A sign like this is insulting; it assumes the lowest common denominator and treats the customer like a mindless sheep to be herded.”
I think that says it very well.
I think now our collective passions are overtaking the direction of the discussion. Now we are talking past each other. We are assuming both extremes, on one hand the rude cell phone user and on the other the demonic/incopetent clerks.
@Ein2015:
When it’s your turn, you should give the poor soul on the other side of the counter AT LEAST the same consideration you would expect if the positions were reversed.
I would not appreciate you expecting MY undivided attention if I did not have YOURS.
If you cannot at least tell the person on the other end of the phone to hang on while you order, you can STEP ASIDE.
You may notice (most people don’t seem to) that there ARE other people on this ball of rock besides you.
I am unapologetically enthusiastic about such a policy and would patronize any establishment with such a policy. Would that we didn’t have to have such policies, but in this self-centered world where an asshole such as myself has to explain COMMON COURTESY…
In a nutshell…
YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. You have a responsibility to treat others as well as you would expect in return.
@Ein2015: And before anyone else comments, I am also no better than anyone else, although I do have a cool icon
@Ein2015:
I think you took what I posted a little out of context. I have a great life, and more friends than I even wish to have. I am happy to just wake up every single day, and conduct my life in a somewhat normal way. I am a very mellow person, and often not in a hurry. Still, that doesn’t mean you should be able to waist my time. I also have a few flaws myself, but I have taken the time to notice this, and take no offense if someone politely point them out to me.
I do agree, it is great to have all the freedoms we have. The thing is, I try to be as considerate to others as I can possibly be. To be exact, if I am annoying you in line, i’ld appreciate it if you told me, in a polite mannor, that I am, so I can correct whatever it is that I am doing. Now if you act like an ass about it, you just might get the 12 pack of beer I am buying slapped right upside your head. Laugh at me, and were going to have an issue. I’m not a tough guy, but I don’t take any shit either.
The point I was making, is it doesn’t matter how little time you waist, it’s the fact that your not being considerate to others. Consistently inconsiderate people, to me, are pieces of shit. Really nice people tend to become consistently inconsiderate when on a cell phone, and most of the time don’t even realize it. It’s a sad fact of cell phone use.
@Channing:
If your ordering for someone else, get their order before you get in line. If you can’t remember it, write it down. Ordering for someone else, is no excuse. Get off the phone when in line. You never know, you might get to know some of the people around you while you wait.
This ordering for someone else excuse is a joke.
@ModernDemagogue: OK Mr Inconsiderate, you’re in the minority here.
If it weren’t for self-absorbed, selfish individuals such as yourself that think they have the right to inconvenience everyone else so they can continue to yap on their phone, this wouldn’t even be necessary. 10 years ago, this wasn’t even an issue. It has only been in the past 6-7 years that people have gotten this idea that they can be on their phone anytime they want to, anywhere they want to without regard to others. That is the underlying issue here my friend. Its called common courtesy.
when i worked for blockbuster, if a customer ever came up to my register while talking on a phone, i would always stand there and stair at them. until they either got off the phone or noticed that i wasn’t helping them. some would say sorry, most would stop their conversation and ask why i wasnt ringing anything up, and i would respond with “oh, i didnt want to interrupt your important phone call.”
@ModernDemagogue:
If your call is soo important, you shouldn’t be in a place of business, let alone ordering a sub anyway. Truely important calls demand 100% of your attention, and if you can’t give it, it’s not all that important.
Your excuse is lame.
The people who are defending cell phone rudeness, are coming across as self centerd assholes, and prove our point even more. Even that self proclaimed “thug”, Black Bellamy. I am sorry Black, I am calling your bluff. Your no thug. A real “thug” wouldn’t be caught dead on a site like this, let alone behind a PC on the net. He would be too busy turning his community into a pile of shit.
Oh, and also, ModernDemagogue.
You mentioned the term “mindless sheep”.
I would have to say that it’s the cell phone users that are the “mindless sheep”. Your posts scream of a sheeply moron who thinks they’re more important than anyone else.
Guess what, if the “Soup Nazi” can make you follow the rules, anyone can. NYC is full of a whole shitload of sheep. You can bet your ass on that one. Probably more so than anywhere else other than L.A.
Props to Subway on this one. If they put one up in my town, I’ll switch over from my current sandwich establishment.
I remember watching a guy talking on his cell phone and filling up his soda at a Taco Bell once. It was an amazing experience. He paused for about 10 seconds, then got a little bit of ice. Then another long pause, and some more ice. Then another long pause, and moved the cup to the soda. Then another long pause, and a little soda. Etc., etc., for about two minutes. That dude needs to buy a dual core processor for his head.
@doctor_cos: The funny part is, I have been in both roles. I’ve worked at Subway, and these days I occasionally eat at Subway. But here’s the thing, I’m paid to take your order, not your attention.
@Everybody who says “self centered” in these comments: Why is it self-centered? Is it not just as equally self-centered that these people think they deserve to rush the people in front of them, that they deserve not to hear cell-phone conversations in a line full of random people, that they deserve to order their sandwich 0.3 seconds earlier, etc? I haven’t heard a single argument here that isn’t self-centered (“I”, “me”, etc). Thing is, there is no public good being affected. The public is neither harmed nor helped by these cell-phone conversations.
@doctor cos: I do live somewhere else, and I don’t go to Subway, and certainly never will. This is a business interaction; I am buying a sandwich. I am courteous, but I have other things going on in my life. No, my conversation isn’t SO important, but its more important than me doing nothing and babysitting someone I am paying to accomplish a task they perform hundreds of times a day.
Do you watch over your assistants/lower-ranking employees every move and step? No, that would be inefficient and you wouldn’t have any time to be a doctor; instead, you tell them what you want, they do it, you sometimes check up on it, or if you trust them, it gets done and you don’t even think about it again. Ordering a sandwich is no different.
@Raiders757: As I pointed out, already, the Soup Nazi gets to do this because he has something people want, REALLY GOOD SOUP, and control over its disbursal. Subway does not have a monopoly on the already over-saturated commodity of Sandwich Making. An average deli here will make a better sandwich, for less, and the experience of buying it is much better.
And- wah, wah. Ad hominem attacks. Nice job. Bah bah bah look I’m a sheep; actually, I’m a sheep maker but whatever. Ooh that was clever.
Anyway, I don’t inconvenience anyone, and, I have no responsibility to be anything more than polite to the Subway personnel. In this interaction, they are not people, they are agents/part of the “person” Subway, and Subway generally treats the customers terribly. Sure, I have a responsibility to treat people as I’d like to be treated, but it goes both ways. Why are you taking their side? They should treat us as they’d like to be treated, but your viewpoint is not equal, its bending over backward for them out of pity. If I had a shitty job like that, I’d be pissed off and probably wouldn’t treat the customer well either, but that removes my obligation to act any differently than the way I’ve characterized.
You know who I do go out of my way for, the guys behind the counter at the local deli; I know the name of his kids, and I don’t ask for them to “slice it thin” but there it makes sense, the experience is positive, we chat, he’ll often either give me a little deal on the price or pile the meat on extra, etc… I get a great sandwich for $5.50 or $5.95 – But at a Subway? a) I might as well be eating cardboard, b) It costs $2 more, c) I once saw them charge a girl $5 bucks for 3 little triangles of cheese on a piece of bread. When she asked for more cheese, the employee said “sorry, we can only put that much per sandwich” despite her having nothing else on it, at all! Subway employees are almost always drones to corporate policy, and I resent watching my sandwich slide down a conveyor.
If you want friendliness and a personal touch, fine, go to Pleasantville, or my local deli. But in globalized corporate america, a Subway, a part of that new America, doesn’t get to make rules like this.
No, Ein2015. It’s self centered when the majority speaks, and you choose to go about your rude business anyway.
Yes, we are all self centered in some way or another, and there is nothing wrong with that, to a point. There is a line you should not cross, and cell phone users cross that line all of the time. Even the cell phone users who think and try to do right.
The only true solution is to allow places of business to have a signal jammer, if they so wish to do so. In doing so, they shouldn’t be made to tell the consumer either, as to avoid backlash. This method is also safer than making an average joe employee enter a confrontation with the morons who wish to not follow the rules/request.
The public not harmed by cell phone use? Ha!!!
Maybe not in this case, but think of those who ended up in the hospital due to some idiot flappin’ on the phone while driving, and caused a wreck. What about those who talk on the phone while at work, holding up productivity. This can hurt overhead, and that extra cost is passed onto the consumer. To think there is no public good being effected by cell hone use, is to be a blind fool.
ModernDemagogue, I am not bending over backward for them. I just find most all cell phone users to be rude assholes. Even those who try not to be rude, at times slip up. It’s a small pet peave of mine. I am sick of it. Everywhere I turn, there is some moron plugged in, or holding one up to their ear. Even worse, are those who text while walking. I had a kid walk out in front of my truck the other week while texting. Had I not seen him, and predicted he would do so, he would have been ran down. Lucky for him I slowed down well before I got near him. The shocked look on his face was pricless, just as my relief that he was not injured.
I would like to say that I commend you for going out of your way to help the local shops(aka “the little guys”) out. I truely applaud you for that. I to do the same, and am willing to pay extra to keep my local mom & pop shops open. I wish there more who would do this.
Sadly my kid is hooked on Subway, because there is one in the local convenience store. It doesn’t matter how good the local sub shop is, she’ll claim it’s not as good as Subway. She is a total sheep to the brand, and it drives me nuts.
Now, only if starbucks could do the same. I’d be happy.
@ModernDemagogue: jesus, if you’re that damn busy, pack your lunch and eat in your office.
Sure does make life easier for all involved.
@cadieg:
That Rocks.
That is hysterical.
Must not need that morphine as bad as you thought, lady!
@Raiders757: I didn’t mean on the roadway, I mean’t standing in a line for a sandwich.
Disagreeing with the majority also doesn’t equate self-centeredness. A lot of time sticking up for the minority helps prevent abuses from the majority, such as when they find it slightly annoying to hear cell-phone conversations.
Probably the reason people walk around talking on their cell-phones so much is that they know the type of person they’re talking to. Unfortunately these days, too many people in public are rude and only want to see things their way. Example: me talking on a cellphone and ordering a sandwich is not rude, another person in line interrupting me to tell me that i’m being rude is actually the rude one himself.
@ModernDemagogue:
That’s nice if your call is “important,” but so is the Subway guy’s job to get people through the damn line. At least to his boss. And the customers behind you!
I don’t think that most people would mind cell phones so much if someone had to take a business call, or were talking to the hospital that just called to tell them they have their kidney for them. But most conversations I hear in public are something like this:
“Blah blah blah blah, yeah, the boil on Poodlebaby’s heinie popped last night, and then we had to take her to the groomer, and you should see that scarf I saw online last night, I wonder if it’s a knockoff, oh that reminds me, did you get an email back from that guy, that sucks, did you really, oh my gosh I just can’t believe it…”
@Ghede: That’s awesome! Thanks!
@allthatsevil: You are my hero!
I used to work with a guy who, when working registers, would just put his hands up, step back from the register and say, “Whenever you’re ready” and refuse to start ringing them up until they finished up and hung up.
I admit I’ve been on my cell phone when in line before, but usually when I get to the front I say, “I’ll call you back” or “Hold on a minute” and put the phone down. There’s no conversation so important and if it is…well, I shouldn’t be in line at Subway.
Whoever is not a fan of this, can fuck themself. Learn some god damn mannors in public.
Subway +1 to you.
Cell phones exist and we all have to deal w/ it. A place of business, and a franchised one at that has no place making demands of any kind from its customers other than they pay for the services rendered. They are not paying you for your time and they are certainly not in a position to tell you what to do w/ your phone, mouth, vocal chords etc. I would not hesitate to make an order while talking on the phone. I also do not believe that I would go to the end of the line even if asked. They may as well put up a sign that says “Please wait patiently and quietly to order or you will be sent to the back of the line.” People w/o phones can be just as annoying and distracting as people w/ them. It seems to me that whomever manages/runs the operation is a bit too uptight and is expressing a peeve in as public a forum as possible. I also have to say that after reading all the stories of the mavericks behind the counter among you posters who have your own way of dealing w/ phone talkers by being “equally rude” are in fact the rude ones. Your unprofessional manner should see that you stay behind such counters for the rest of your working days forever to be tormented by phone talkers. BTW, I am not a cell phone owner.
Um, well i think its a problem with people on their phones and not the phones themselves. I cant tell you how many times ive driven a car while talking on a cell phone and not almost gotten into an accident. I cant tell you how many time when im on the phone ordering food or some other service or good that it didnt take any longer cause i just interrupted the person i was talking to on the phone because the people im talking to are competent to realize im talking to someone else who is taking an order. So stop making generalizations and deal with each customer individually.
Although i do see people whispering orders to their friends when they are on the phone, which is stupid…
@ModernDemagogue: I get my sub for 5 bucks or less, and I don’t have to have an in with the dude at Subway to do it. I win again!
@Ein2015: Didn’t say you weren’t watching them, but not everyone does. It’s more a matter of paying attention than anything. Plus some of those sauce bottles look pretty similar, I’ve seen the sub have to be remade cuz of a screwup there
@coren: Well the competence of the person to make my sandwich isn’t the fault of a phone.
When I worked, we were smart enough to make sure the bottles looked unique.
AMEN SUBWAY.
When I worked as a register monkey, I had more than one incident like this:
Customer on cell: (walking up to my register) Cigarettes.
Me: Which brand?
Customer: (chattering away on cell phone, ignoring the hell out of me)
Me: (waits patiently)
Customer: What the hell is taking so long?!
Me: Which. Brand. Of. Cigarettes. Do. You. Want.
Customer: (on phone, ignoring me)
Me: (rings up whichever brand is closest)
Customer: That’s not what I wanted! You don’t listen! I want to see your manager!
Of course, after the first six months I could legitimately tell them that I was the supervisor on duty, and throw them out. That was fun.
@RayDelMundo: Hey! How else am I supposed to answer the phone while taking notes while standing without developing a crick in my neck or dropping the phone? The speakerphone sucks on my cell.