Cell phone ban in businesses, you good with that?

[theclemsonkid]

As some of you may know, I own a cupcake bakery. Yesterday, some early 20's something girl and her kid come in. She's blabbing on her cell phone, laughing, carrying on. While doing this, she walks up to the case, and starts pointing. I politely inform her my policy, which is "your phone call is clearly more important than our transaction, so I will just wait for you to finish". Her eyes get real big and she says to whoever she is talking to "Hold on, I need to call you back". I fully expect her to order at this point. Instead, she says "who the hell do you think you are telling me I can't talk on my phone?" (As her four year old is standing there mind you). She then goes on to say "the customer is always right, I guess no one told you that" and gives me this look like I better apologize. I didn't.

I said "if you aren't comfortable with my cell phone policy, then you can find another place to get cupcakes". She looked at me like I was nuts, and said "Oh Hell no," and proceeded to walk out the front door. I gave her a "have a great day!" as she left (which looking back, was probably a little smart assed) but what can you do?

So anyways, I am curious. Are you ok with no cell phones at places where simple business and transactions are going on?

 

[jay0705]

Yup

 

[2quills]

Do you have a no cell phone policy posted at the entrance?
I could care less if someone is on their phone at their table but durring the transaction process I agree it's annoying and people should use some common sense.

 

[reefraff]

They make cell phone jammers. You can push a button on a remote to kill the signal. That could be a fun toy for people who don't respect the policy

 

[sharkysmachine]

A jammer is a great idea except they are illeagal to own in the states though. You should be able to make one pretty easily though. Sounds like the younger generation is getting a taste of their own medicine.

 

[reefraff]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SharkysMachine http:///t/397279/cell-phone-ban-in-businesses-you-good-with-that#post_3540884
A jammer is a great idea except they are illeagal to own in the states though. You should be able to make one pretty easily though. Sounds like the younger generation is getting a taste of their own medicine.
Didn't know that. A guy I knew owned a aquarium products manufacturing company. One product they were working on was a cathode-less power compact lamp. He said the only problem with it was you couldn't use a cell phone within a 100 feet of one. Be nice to have a few of those laying around LOL!

 

[aggiealum]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///t/397279/cell-phone-ban-in-businesses-you-good-with-that#post_3540892
Didn't know that. A guy I knew owned a aquarium products manufacturing company. One product they were working on was a cathode-less power compact lamp. He said the only problem with it was you couldn't use a cell phone within a 100 feet of one. Be nice to have a few of those laying around LOL!
Has to do with FCC regulations. You're transmitting an unlicensed radio signal from those devices, regardless if it's 100 yards or 10 feet. There's also the argument that you could also block cell phone signals in emergency vehicles within the range of the device.


As far as allowing or not allowing cell phone usage in an business? As Quills stated, if you post a sign stating your rules, no one should have an issue with it. Businesses are allowed to deny a CHL holder from entering their establishment with their weapon, regardless of your 2nd rights. Would using your cell phone anywhere you please fall under your 1st Amendment rights? More and more cities are enacting laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. We have "no cell phone" zones around all our schools. If you're caught talking on your cell phone while in a 200 yard range of a school, you can be issued a ticket. I read recently where there was this one school where the cops were even handing out tickets to parents who were parked outside the school waiting to pick up their kids. They justified by stating as long as your were in the vehicle, and the vehicle could go into motion at any time, you couldn't be talking on your phone.

I personally think we've gone overboard with attitudes regarding when and where you can use your cell phone. I walk into restaurants these days, and 90% of the people in there either have their heads down "ticky-tacking" on their screens, yapping about who knows what on the phone, or even propping the things up and watching some video while they're eating. I see people with them stuck to their heads while grocery shopping. You walk by them and it's "Hey, what's up? Not much. What are you doing? Nothing. Anything new. OK. Nope. Yep. OK. Really?" The act of being courteous seems to have disappeared with the invention of that device.

 

[reefraff]

I've known a couple people who got DUI's after being caught sleeping it off in the parking lot rather than drive home. If you are found drunk in a car and have the keys in your possession it's DUI. I've only had one occasion to do that so I put the keys on the right rear tire so I could say I didn't have the keys if the cops cracked me before I sobered up.

 

[sharkysmachine]

Cops are not our friends. They show up after a crime has been committed and since they are promoted based on the # of arrests many will lie to make the arrest. My friend received a BUI for a bicycle. While sitting on a curb and the bicycle was parked.

 

[reefraff]

Speak for yourself. The cops aren't perfect but for the most part they are out to do the right thing.

 

[sharkysmachine]

Who else would I be speaking for? I guess you've been fortunate enough not to witness their abuse of authority.

 

[aggiealum]

Quote:
Originally Posted by reefraff http:///t/397279/cell-phone-ban-in-businesses-you-good-with-that#post_3540932
I've known a couple people who got DUI's after being caught sleeping it off in the parking lot rather than drive home. If you are found drunk in a car and have the keys in your possession it's DUI. I've only had one occasion to do that so I put the keys on the right rear tire so I could say I didn't have the keys if the cops cracked me before I sobered up.
What it a DUI or Public Intoxication? They just charged George Lopez for PI after passing out on a casino floor in Canada. Come on, he was just sleeping off a good drunk and simply didn't make it back to his room....

 

[bang guy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TheClemsonKid http:///t/397279/cell-phone-ban-in-businesses-you-good-with-that#post_3540790
As some of you may know, I own a cupcake bakery. Yesterday, some early 20's something girl and her kid come in. She's blabbing on her cell phone, laughing, carrying on. While doing this, she walks up to the case, and starts pointing. I politely inform her my policy, which is "your phone call is clearly more important than our transaction, so I will just wait for you to finish". Her eyes get real big and she says to whoever she is talking to "Hold on, I need to call you back". I fully expect her to order at this point. Instead, she says "who the hell do you think you are telling me I can't talk on my phone?" (As her four year old is standing there mind you). She then goes on to say "the customer is always right, I guess no one told you that" and gives me this look like I better apologize. I didn't.

I said "if you aren't comfortable with my cell phone policy, then you can find another place to get cupcakes". She looked at me like I was nuts, and said "Oh Hell no," and proceeded to walk out the front door. I gave her a "have a great day!" as she left (which looking back, was probably a little smart assed) but what can you do?

So anyways, I am curious. Are you ok with no cell phones at places where simple business and transactions are going on?

I'm good with your policy but perhaps a better delivery. I just hate being in a line where someone is yakking on the phone about trivial nonsense. OTOH I don't want to see you lose customers.

 

[2quills]

I've known a couple people who got DUI's after being caught sleeping it off in the parking lot rather than drive home. If you are found drunk in a car and have the keys in your possession it's DUI. I've only had one occasion to do that so I put the keys on the right rear tire so I could say I didn't have the keys if the cops cracked me before I sobered up.
Co worker of mine years ago got popped for the same thing. He went strait to the bar after we just got done with work from about a 36 hour session of plowing snow one winter. To tired and drunk to drive home he crashed out in his truck in parking lot. Woke up to the cops tapping on his window and got dui charge for having the keys in the ignition. I think that's why they popped him. He was trying to stay warm while he took his little cat nap. That was a Michigan law though about the keys in the ignition. May not work that way everywhere.