"You can't charge your cell phone back here!!"

[Hon'ya-chan]

A few weeks back, I was at register doing....something, when a guy walks around the counter and starts to root around near a register, THEN asks me if there is a spare outlet for him to charge his phone for 5 minutes. I tell him no, and he pesters me where he could find an outlet. I tell him 'I don't know" and he goes off angry.

And just today, as I was cashing out customers again, some guy is walking around with his phone to his ear. He walks past, and then out of the corner of my eye, I see him walking around the counters, and bending over to find an outlet. I motion him to leave the back of the counters. He then walks to the front of the counters and begins to tell a story of how his flight was delayed/canceled, and that he's been on his phone for hours trying to get home.

As much as I would be sympathetic with his cause, couldn't he have just waited and asked me directly instead of sneaking around? Is it that hard to do?

[Gravekeeper]

Oh God, I see people try to do this at the 7/11 up the street from my office all the damn time. They have one outlet near the candy rack for the cleaners. The outlet has a heavy latched cover on it. Yet people still just waltz up, unlatch it and plug their phone in without so much as checking to see if that's ok with the staff.

Which it isn't of course but they can't always keep eyes on everyone in the store every second.

I've even seen some particularly over achieving space chimps plug the cell in to charge and leave it there while they wander the rest of the store. WTF? Not only might someone just step on it outright ( I've been tempted too ) but anyone could just snatch it and walk out. What the fuck is wrong with you? ><

People always walk in there to ask about a bathroom too despite A) The sign saying no public bathroom right behind the guy they're asking and B) There being a Star Bucks and a MacDonalds a block away, a coffee shop 2 stores down and 3 restaurants directly across all of which would logically have public washrooms. Instead of coming into 7/11 and begging to use the employee one.

[AirHostess]

The other day in the airport saw some high flying business man had his laptop plugged into a plug which said 'Unpredicatable voltage, do not use.'

I wanted to stick around and see if he got electrocuted but had a flight to catch.

[jerkface11]

The other day in the airport saw some high flying business man had his laptop plugged into a plug which said 'Unpredicatable voltage, do not use.'

All Hail Lord Lucas!!

[Peppergirl]

WTF is the matter with people???

The *only* place I've ever asked to charge my cell was the t-mobile store when my current phone died as I was shopping for a new one.

It wouldn't even occur to me to plug in my phone or ask a non-phone related store to do that.

Damn, people are just...just...

Ugh.

[tropicsgoddess]

Screw asking around to charge my phone when I have this little baby from iGo (you can get different tips for it depending on the model of your phone) !

[sms001]

Screw asking around to charge my phone when I have

I got my wife a flashlight for the truck. It's one of the wind up kind AND it has a detachable cord that plugs into her cell. Hope she never has to use it, but....

[AnaKhouri]

Ugh, our bookstore has WiFi so I'm cool with people sitting around being on their laptops, but it irks me no end when they plug them into the outlets! We provide the WiFi for free, but that doesn't mean you can leech our electricity! Not to mention their cords are all over the damn place and I have nearly tripped more than once.

The one time I didn't mind was when there was a huge windstorm that knocked out power for lots of people, and many people came in and plugged in their cell phones to charge.

But then they would leave them on a table or wherever, charging, and wander around the store. A large store. Where anyone could swipe their phone without them seeing.

[Golden Phoenix]

When i worked at [large UK supermarket chain] i was walking tot he break room once and spotted a guy using an electric razor which was plugged in to an outlet near the bathrooms. He'd unplugged our photocopier to use it.

Wtf? Coudln't you wait until you got home? Or had you just me the love of your life in our store and absolutely had to go on a date with her now or else?

[Evil Queen]

Being nice and ASKING goes a long ways.

Once, about a year or so ago, I was making a cross country trip. I pulled into a truck stop around 3 or 4 am and desperately needed some sleep. 10 minutes after I drifted into dream land, my phone woke me up; it was dieing. So I walked into the gas station, made a purchase and told them I was sleeping out by the light (I had asked for permission before hand if I could park for a few hours) and asked if it was okay to plug my phone in. The lady at the counter said it was okay and I left my phone number and license number with her.
Off to sleep I go.
About 3 hours later, I'm feeling more rested and go get my phone. I thank them and made another purchase and left. The same lady was on shift so I didn't have to worry about having tio explain a big story to another person.

[MadMike]

Not only might someone just step on it outright ( I've been tempted too ) but anyone could just snatch it and walk out.

And if either of those had happened, they'd probably be screaming at the cashier and blaming them for it.

[Gravekeeper]

I got my wife a flashlight for the truck. It's one of the wind up kind AND it has a detachable cord that plugs into her cell. Hope she never has to use it, but....

Oooh, we have windy flashlights in the office for emergencies. I <3 them. They look like phasers. >.>

[Evil Queen]

Oooh, we have windy flashlights in the office for emergencies. I <3 them. They look like phasers. >.>

That's why I love mine. ^^

[JustaCashier]

Regarding the people that plug in their phone, then take off for awhile to shop:

I've never had a cell phone, so don't know if they generally can be used, when the battery is dead, by plugging them in and then just running off the juice from the outlet, rather than waiting for them to charge. But, for fun, let's assume they can be.

After the SC walks away, go over to the phone, dial up a phone sex line, and when they answer, say "I'll let you do all the talking, and I'll just listen." Then, set the phone down and go back to doing your job.

Of course, be sure to save the number in memory!

Mike

[Evil Queen]

Yes, JustACashier, you can do that with cell phones. I did it last night while I was talking to RW and Mom.

That is an evil thing to do though. I like it! XD