I know Starbucks would never allow a sign like this to be posted...

...but I like the policy of Anodyne Coffee in Milwaukee -- "If you are on your phone, you are not in line." (This warning is taped on the counter by the cash register.) Metropolis Coffee in Chicago has a similar rule, while Charlie's Coffeehouse in Wilmette, IL won't allow customers to make or take calls while in their place. (Click on the image to see it larger.)

Comments

[PissedOffBarista]

Ah to dream. I really do wish we could put up a sign like that, however.

Our poor precious customers can simply not go through there day and actually talk to the people serving them! Oh no they might get lower class all over their nice Gucci bags! Or their handsome suits![/sarcasm]

I can't remember who said it, but Starbucks really does make you come face to face with your pet peeves.

[njbaristachick]

There is quite a difference between Starbucks and Starbucks employees:

Starbucks caters to the semi-elite/elite of society....Starbucks employees deals with the crap from the semi-elite/elite

Yes regular people get coffee at the bucks too, but I'm not talking about them, seeing as they usually don't cause me a problem.

A few weeks ago, an older woman came through drive-thru and yelled out her order to me, yelled at me about us being out of vanilla biscotti, while talking on her cell phone to someone else not giving me a chance to confirm her order...

This bitch, for lack of better terms, drove up in a jaguar, wearing a big-ass fur coat, and talking on her hot pink razr on speaker phone (while holding it up to her ear of course).

While asking her what was in her Iced Grande Americano just to make sure it was right (she barked out her order, yelled at me and drove away before any kind of confirmation mind you,) she was looking at me, mouthed the words "I'M ON THE PHONE!" and said quietly while trying to restrain her anger, "I...TOLD...YOU...AT...THE...SPEAKER!"
As I replyed, "Yes ma'am, I was just unable to catch the last part of that Iced Grande Americano." She looks at her phone...looks at me, whispers her order while telling the person on the phone how she has to order her coffee "AGAIN!"

::Talking to me like I don't speak English and like I'm mentally challenged:: "I WANTED! A GRANDE AMERICANO!!!!! ICED!!!!! With HAZELNUT!...HALF AND HALF!!!! AND A SWEET AND LOW!!!! DO YOU GET IT NOW?!"

Gave her the drink, said have a nice day, and sneered at me...

And she was talking on her cell phone this whole time...Whenever this woman comes through drive-thru, I just want to tell her off and call her a miserable excuse for a human being...

[JW]

There should be signs like that in every store everywhere! Except cellphone places of course.

[drivethruhater]

yea...people come through the drive-thru on their cells all the time...i think it should be mandatory signage in all stores...NO CELL PHONES IN LINE!! there's so many chances for people to be insanely rude in the drive-thru...it would be great to cut out just one.

[Tim]

Seattle: Please adopt this policy... PLEASE!

[Angela]

Yes, it is hard to provide great customer service to someone who is on the phone. But you cannot post anything hand written. I wonder what their DM thinks about this!!!

I saw a GREAT sign at a cafe in Seal Beach:

Unsupervised children will be given an espresso and a free puppy

BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!

[IcedSoyLatte]

If they are on the phone, I usually just continue what I'm doing behind the register until they are ready to have a real conversation with me, or I help the person behind them who has an annoyed look on their face because they also agree that this inconsiderate person can't take a minute to order, make a payment and leave the counter. The only time I ever help someone on their cell phone is if it is a regular customer who I see every day, and I know exactly what they would like, and I know they aren't usually "rude" like that. Personally I agree with JW.....every store should have this kind of signage. Not to mention there have been many times when someone on a cell phone holds up the line in the middle of a morning rush with a line to the door.....yeah. thanks. =\

[Bladerunner]

This is the biggest issue that Barista's have to deal with everyday! Please we need policy and a sign NOW! I will try not to take a drink order from someone on their phone. I will tell them to please order when they are ready,(which means they are not on the phone). This works about 50% of the time.But that phone might ring just when they reach the counter. And the phone is the most important thing in the world. Don't you know. At home I don't even have the ringer on. The phone is a tool, every time it rings a large precentage of Americans, drop everything else, even driving to answer it. WHY! Why is the phone so important, more important then even anyone you are with at the moment.

[Ryan Ebelhar]

I wish we could do that. Cell Phones become public enemy #1 while i'm at work.

[Ian]

Wow. You people would make great police or maybe even prison guards someday when you move up from baristas. Last I checked this was America. You are so willing for everyone to adhere to your very narrow ideas of what is polite. If you are certain that cell phones are such a big problem then maybe you should call the police on these horrible criminals. If the management doesn't have a policy then you need to get to work and mind your own damn business. Perhaps people should only be allowed to order that fit your stringent economic guidelines and act like you deem appropriate. Have you heard of the first amendment to the US Constitution? Freedom of speech. This is a retail outlet for coffee and the CUSTOMER IS QUEEN/KING. I am a flat broke college student and I generally don't talk on my phone in line. But if I want to talk on my phone all damn day I WILL. For you to attempt to dictate to me my behavior while I am in line just makes me want to talk on my cell phone to spite you. I don’t have a problem with baristas giving themselves brain damage with their rock and roll lifestyle; so don’t tell me not to talk on my phone in line. This is a free country. Apparently you hippie control freak fascists can’t deal with a little ‘technology’ because it makes you sad. Sheesh, what a bunch of whiners.

[Jennyalana]

Apparantly the person above me (Ian) has never worked in customer service before, otherwise he'd have a different take on it all

[drivethruhater]

ian...

y'know, there's only so much a person can take. people nowadays are flat out rude...and i think we're all pretty tired of it. no ones telling you not to talk on your phone, just have some more consideration for all the human beings around you that aren't interested in listening to you yap about whatever.

and EXCUSE ME??? "hippie control freak fascists can’t deal with a little ‘technology’ " you don't even know who youre talking to. you should really evaluate why youre so inclined to personally attack people for expressing their own opinion...talk about first ammendment rights...SHEESH

[ChrissyatWestchase]

I remember this one occasion, a businessman on his cell phone was about to order but he was busy having a pretty intense coversation so he held up his hand and nodded to let his little girl order first. She asked for a tall House Blend and a vanilla cupcake which I thought was a little strange but I went ahead with the order assuming maybe she was ordering for dad.

That is until dad finally came around to add a grande non-fat vanilla latte to that order. I gave his total as I handed the little girl her coffee and cupcake. He looked indignant and said into his phone, "Hang on a sec. I'm sorry, but why is this so much money, did I miss something?"

This has happened to me before so I read back the order to him. His expression glazed over with annoyance: "This isn't my kid, we're separate transactions ..." (adding with good measure into the phone) "... Can anything ever just GO SMOOTHLY?"

I promptly apologized to him and the little girl (who looked as confused as ever) voided his vanilla latte and afterwards the distracted businessman paid for his vanilla latte without making eye contact with me.

I always get shaken up, I haven't developed tough skin with customers yet. I wonder sometimes, do they think we're out to get them? That I decided that morning, I was going to rope him into paying for some strange kid's order? Maybe if he wasn't on his cell phone, he would have processed what was happening a little bit better.

I'd love a No Cell Phone sign. Starbucks is about making connections with our customers, not distancing ourselves from them because of something they can do when they step outside.

Also, to Ian. You're right, it's not criminal to talk on your cell phone but it is rude. That's the distinction. Talk on your cell phone all you like, just put it down when you're about talk to a person.

I don't mind people talking on the phone as long as they acknowledge my existence, make an effort to be polite and most importantly... don't hold up the line!

That being said, I remember this one time when a guy was so overwhelmed by his girlfriend's complicated drink on the other side of the line, he just passed me the phone and let me take the order. I thought that was quite funny and it probably saved us both A LOT of time.

[Prosumer partner]

Can one expect these customers to read and respect a sign? They can't even choose on a size when ordering.

[Kat]

Unfortunately Prosumer Partner is right. The very people who are the biggest pains in the behind about this are the the one who won't even read or acknowledge the sign.

As a fellow customer I detest people who keep yapping away on their cell phone while in line. Listening in, its never important, just some inane conversation. Put it down, call your friend back, and act like a human being. It won't kill you, I swear, but your fellow cutomers and the employees behind the counter may want to if you don't.

Cell phones have been a real boon, but god almighty they've made people ten times more rude too. Sometimes I wish they'd never been created.

[Amanita Barista]

Ian-

Ooooooh...yeah...Us baristas with our "Rock & Roll Lifestyles."

Ha. ha. ha.
Please.

[ExBarista]

Love Anodyne Coffee and the sign.
Milwaukee area also had Cranky Al's where a sign was posted stating:
Unattended Children Will Be Given Espresso and a Free Puppy.

[Sheik]

Cell phone customers get [from me] no "hello" or any warm greeting. Since I know a secret shopper would NEVER be on a cell phone because they have to keep one hand in their pocket to start a timer to time how long they've been in line/waiting for drink...

Cell phone customers get a raised eyebrow from me as a "what can I get you?"

I DO love it when they are on their phone in deep convo and POINT AT THE PASTRY CASE instead of telling me what they want.

[DubT]

I also love it when people point to the pastry case instead of telling me what they want. I really want to just point to the door and tell them to get out, but that wouldn't be very legendary.

People who point or ignore me will get the same attitude they give me right back to them. It's not my job to be ignored and grumbled at.

[SalemBarista]

Ian's obviously too stupid to realize that "hippie" and "facist" are generally mutually exclusive. His generalization of all Starbucks baristas leading a "rock and roll lifestyle" further underscores his ignorance, showing that he's never been served coffee by one of the large segment of baristas that are older women or high school kids with their first job. If he wants to preach about the first amendment, let him, but he's probably never seen a copy of the constitution anyways. Seems like the type of guy who reads the NY Times headlines and thinks that he's read the entire paper.

[Chi1227]

Ahhh...customers like Ian (if he's ever even been inside a Starbucks, mind you), make me realize just how little respect is given to those of us who work in the customer service industry. Might wanna get a grip on your ego, boy...it's about to burst.

[BNBARISTA]

I have to upsell just about everything in the store, so anyone who's on a cell phone hears my whole speech at full volume: "Hi, how are you today? Would you like to make your _____ a venti for ___ cents more? Would you like to try an extra shot of espresso in that today? Can I get you something from the bake case, perhaps a cookie or fresh-baked scone? Okay, your total is ___ unless you've got a Barnes and Noble members card, which saves you ten percent at least! Have a nice day!"

Really, what can they do, fill out a complaint that "my server was too talkative?"

As for the whole cell phone thing, the worst ever was the man who couldn't even be bothered to speak to me to order, he TYPED HIS ORDER ON HIS LAPTOP, talking on the phone the whole time. Every time I opened my mouth, he shook his head "no".

[anss]

I always make it a point when I'm in line somewhere else to say something if somebody is holding up the line on a cell phone. I usually either try to hop in front of them in line when they are ignoring a cashier, which their responsie is usually "what are you doing?" and I'll reply "if you're not going to pay attention to the person trying to help you and order, I am. You're holding up a line of people who are more probably just as busy and important as you are" or I say "Could you move it along, there's a line behind you". People won't learn manners if they aren't taught manners.

[Stacy]

BNBarista -- I would have kept asking him questions just to piss him off. I'm a person. I will not tolerate being yelled at, cursed at, or talked down to. That is where my legendary service ends abrutly.

Ian -- you just proved to everyone here that you're an idiot. Good job.

[pepperminthotchocolategirl]

As a customer I totally agree with that sign and believe that it should be put up in every Starbucks.

If I'm on my cell phone say like it rings and I'm in the store either

A. I push that button that makes the ringer go silent and ignore it.

B. Pick it up and go hey, hold on a sec ok, and talk to the cashier and place my order, once we have completed the transaction I then move on down the way to the pick up section and talk, when the person gives me my drink I say hold on or just put the phone on my shoulder quick and thank the person.

C. If it's really that urgent I move out of line and talk.

It's that simple folks! I figure hey, you're here to help me so I should be able to provide you with quality time instead of mouthing my drink to you as I listen to my conversation or writing it down. Plus that's annoying when you can't even take a few seconds out of the conversation to say to me what you want. So I vote for that sign! And hey to all you who work at Starbucks, maybe it's time to make a statement, you talk on your cellphone, I'll ignore you or go sorry I couldn't understand you since you are carrying on two conversations at once, please hold one of them, if they put you on hold, say NEXT! and take care of the next person. Trust me, you start making it known that people need to be PEOPLE at a store instead of mindless cellphone drones, and they'll listen to that and get off that dang phone.

[Garan]

I would like to say that people generally do not realize the effect and frustration that they may have on people in the Customer Service industry when they are trying to do their job.

I want to say that there are moments when you cannot interupt the person who is speaking on the other end of the line, however, I would think that one shouldn't go into a place where they have to order if that is the case. There are rare circumstances where it is nessecary but can usally be avoided.

However, as a person who has worked my way from Barista to Corporate I would like to remind the frustrated baristas out there that this website is open to the public. That includes but is not limited to all excutives, your managers, and most importantly your customers, possibly including the ones that you are writing about. I relize many of you get frustrated but releasing it in such an angry way is not healthy...for you or for the business. Perhaps if the instances get under your skin to much you may find that this is not the line of work for you. And that is perfectly fine, there's nothing wrong with that. I would also like to remind you that Starbucks is viewed as the premier place to get coffee around the world. I can tell you that no other company is ranked higher by Forbes magazine and related companies. I can also tell you that you will have a hard time finding a company that will give you the pay and the benifits that Starbucks provides for you (free merchandise, 30 percent discounts, free food and drinks, and a free pound of coffee everyweek and benifits over 20 hours.) If you have the right attitude you can move up in the company and recieve even better things than mentioned above.

I am not picking on anyone just a friendly reminder that what you say directly effects what you do. If you choose to be positive the world will repay you...if you choose not to it will only bring YOU down. Remember this is an open forum and if you have no customers than you have no paycheck or promise of a postion.

[chi-town's best/angriest barista]

i NEED that sign. i think i'm going to make it and put it up tomorrow.
and what's the deal with no hand-written things? don't we hand-write our COW and silly promo signs? and the ever popular "restroom out of order" sign?
as if it wasn't disgustingly corporate and impersonal enough already.....

your $4 coffee drink does not buy you the right to harass, insult, degrade, abuse or belittle me. it does not buy you the right to be rude and inconsiderate and treat us badly. it buys you coffee. that's it. just coffee. your disposition and ways of treating me buy you the rest.

[duh]

yeah it would be nice if we could operate like blackjack dealers in casinos where cell phones aren't allowed at the table. If somebody gets on their phone, we can ask them to step away or get the pit boss. That would be great... oh well, one can dream.

[chi-town's best/angriest barista]

and garan-
i KNOW it's an open forum, i hope some of the particularily awful people read this and realize how awful they are being.
i also don't give a shit what forbes or any of those "sources" say, my sanity is not worth a free pound of coffee a week. this company is begining to disgust me.

[GEM]

Ian: I agree with everyone that is bashing you.

pepperminthotchocolategirl : I do the same if I am on a cell phone. Even going into a drive-thru, I turn down my car radio.

anss : YOU ROCK!!! I do that also. i guess it's a way to abuse other customers when I am one, without any repercussion... and I always get a smile from the employee...

DubT : Yeah ,,when people start to point, I act stupid and mention every pastry but the one they are pointing too.

I told one of my regulars that I didn't recognize him with his cell phone!! He used to mouth his drink, now he actually puts his cell down.

I saw a sign at another establishment that says "Sorry we do not split drinks, please do not ask" We need that sign too.
/

[CuteBarista!]

it always cracks me up to no end when people pull out the first amendment "it's a free country" defense...yeah. that would work if Starbucks was the federal government, which it's not (although i'm sure that's in the projects folder for next quarter).

can we all agree to just not ever mention the first amendment on these boards again? cause if i hear it again i'm going to drive a pencil into my ear canal.

as for cell phone a-holes, back in the good ol' days i used to just turn on the grinders, both of them, full blast whenever someone came up to the till on a phone. worked like a charm.

[GEM]

Garan :

I am glad this is an open forum. This is a HEALTHY way to relieve frustration. I am glad everyone post and reads this, and don't care if it is the customers, managers or corporate, perhaps someone will get a clue, and understand that even if it "just coffee" it can get stressful.

Now, lets not preach that SBUX is the only company that benefits employees... I'll give you another :GOOGLE:,, check out that web site, and the part about why to work for them. They have everything if you can get in.

And about Corporate,, hmmm maybe they should step down once in a while and hit the front line.. perhaps they should pull a show time shift once a week.. at first, I am sure it's fun and exciting,,, but give them a month or so,,, they will start calling in sick.

Corporate does make some stupid decisions, I wonder who hired them or how they got promoted (IE... "free iced bev Internet coupon)... lets not go there.

But anyway, thanks for the friendly reminder but this site is better than going to partner resources or jumping over the counter and strangling that customer that took it a bit too far..

[GEM]

Screw it,, partners have cell phones... lets just take a call when they are at the counter.. and we both can both lip sync and order.... or ask them to wait cause we are on the other line...

CuteBarista!: you crack me up... no air in the pitchers!!! loud as hell!!!

[20secondshotguy]

I loved the story about the customer who handed you their cell, so that you could get the customer's order right! I had that happen to me once too. Hilarious!

Chrissyfromwestchase, don't worry about building a thick skin, I bet some of your best moments in a green apron come from being able to be genuine because you're expecting the best from people. You don't want to lose that.

My son likes to walk up to everyone he sees working in a restaurant, fast food joint or coffee shop and say hello or thank them for the work they're doing. He'll say goodbye too. He's not even 10. Somewhere between there and the rest of our lives we forget how important it is to be considerate.

I don't want a sign in my store. I think it's just as bad as being on the phone. There is a favorite sandwich shop of mine that made that their policy. I go there less now.

I use my breaks to catch up on my messages and return calls. Because of their cell policy they're losing a customer. I know the intention is good, but it doesn't work for me.

So I'm against a sign but I am for finding a better way for all of us to be more considerate.

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

We do not have this problem at my Starbucks. I bought a cell phone jammer and it works like a wonder. If a person walks within 30 feet of my store there cell phone connection is lost. Enough said.

BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL
PRIMUS INTER PARES
STARBUCKS REBEL ALLIANCE
AIM SN: BOSTONSTARREBEL

[BestBaristaEver]

Garan, I sure hope you have a secretary because your command of the English language is probably why you are at corporate. You should also recommend that Starbuck's start selling cheese, because after visiting this website, it is very clear that you don't have a shortage of whine in your stores.

[averrycafinatedbarrista]

BSR: you just made my night.

And to to the guy from Corporate: While you said alot of interesting things in your post, I would like to remind you about the nature of this forum: it is an open forum. This means you will have some of the malcontents entering as well saying horrible things about our company. As much as corporate would like, not every place with the mermaid is a venture for starbucks to advertise, this place IS independently run (at least, I think it is) and is not in the interest of produceing good review work as well. I am glad that Corporate does take a look at these kinds of places so that they can look at the world around them.

Now, I do agree with you that its a worldview thing. you can choose to get it under your skin or you could choose not let it do so. heck, I have had plenty of times when I have had customers come to me blaring away on a bluetooth headset and bark out there order in one single line of text. and they then got angry with me when I asked to repeat it. Hell, I had a customer furiourly enter the store with his cell phone chatting furiously. without bothering to even order comes up to the barrista on bar and asks for a drink. he says he doenst have time to pay and demands that he be served first (inbetween talking to his broker I believe).

However, there is another story that reminds me why its important to not be an ass about phone callers. I remember working one day on bar when a woman walks in with a verry concerned expression on her face. she was in full throws of her discussion, but everything about her seemed off. it was obvious that something was wrong. she ordered her drink and she went to go for her pocketbook. a proscess that would have made her hang up the phone. I told her to finish her conversation insted of paying because she apeared to be worried. she looked and me graitfully. when she finished, she told me that it was her sister going into ER. She had lung cancer and they were going to do some surgery to remove the tumor. the customer was graitfull that she did not have to hang up her conversation. She paid for her drink afterwards and tipped us.

just a reminder to all of us baristas: sometimes the phone is important.

[chicago starbucks rebel]

if the phone is so importnat, why the hell are you ordering coffee in the middle of the convsersation!? shouldn't you be devoting your attention to the importance of the call? it's degrading to everyone (on all sides) then, which in my opinion is worse than anything else.

[averrycafinatedbarrista]

if I recall correctly, the lady had just gotten off of work and was on her way back when she had learned of the whole thing. she needed a place to breath a little.

[njbaristachick]

chi-town's best/angriest barista: You are soon enough becoming my best friend!

Boston Starbucks Rebel: You're a frickin' genius!

Ian: How dare you make accusations like that! I COULD just as easily say, "you've never worked a damn day in your life"...but that would be stooping down to your level...So to you mister, "I'm a broke college student" such as I and many people here WORKING TO PAY FOR SCHOOL, why don't you take a course on being considerate?!

All we want is some courtesy for once and people talking on their cell phones usually don't give it! Is it that hard to take 3 seconds out of your conversation to order your drink so we don't have to read lips? If your call is that important, the coffee can wait. I'll be more than glad to help you...IF YOU GIVE ME YOUR TIME! Just three frickin' seconds!

[GEM]

averrycafinatedbarrista

Are you kidding me!!!! Her sister is on the way to the ER, and she stopped for a cup of coffee!!!, hmmmm,,, coffee - ER?? coffee - family?? 3 minutes for coffee-- maybe the last 3 minutes with my sister....

yeah I see it,,,, NOTTTTTT!!!!!

[Charles]

Ian:

I think the sign is great. You know what? I'm a customer, not a barista. Never worked as such.

But here's the thing: I hate having to be behind the guy trying to give an order while talking on the cell phone. Part of it is being embarrassed for the sheer rudeness. Part of it is because it's taking him twice as long to complete an order.

I can understand if there are ten folks in front of me--providing you hang up (or at least put the person on hold) when you get there. Still, all in all, I'd rather not be in that position.

Though it is changing, etiquette (or at least common courtesy) dictated that you don't listen in on other people's phone calls. Before cell phones, this was easier to accomplish--if you see someone on the phone, you try not to be near them. But, if a phone follows them everywhere, and they are talking about personal, private stuff while in line, or in an elevator, it puts the rest of us in an awkward spot.

For that matter, it's taking something away from me (remember, the customer). For a few minutes, I can be in line, and not have to hear the sounds of business that I am escaping. I don't have to wonder what's happening in some children's lives. The car repair guy is not part of this world. Someone on the phone next to me blows it.

I'm not saying there should be a total ban--that you can't talk at tables, or on the street. But when in line, can't you hang up for five minutes?

[cornfrost]

Garan,

You say that Starbucks gives its employees "free food and drinks," and also that if you move up in the company you can receive "even better things than mentioned above."

I am not aware of being given FREE FOOD. If there is a corporate policy about this, could you please provide a reference?

Also, you indicate that people who move up in the company get better benefits. Again, could you please clarify? Except for higher pay/bonuses (and things like vacation time that accompany seniority), I am not aware of what these BETTER THINGS are. In fact, I thought Starbucks was all about providing equal benefits to its partners, no matter how low on the totem pole.

[IcedSoyLatte]

Yes, this is an OPEN FORUM, and thankfully we have spots like this on the oh so wonderful world wide web. It is a great place to vent, learn and understand others around us, just as it is when dealing with customers in our stores.

I love my job and I am happy to be a part of Starbucks. It is good that EVERYONE can read these posts on this website and respond. But I believe that in this world, there are those who have become too self involved and inconsiderate to the other people they share this amazing world with, where a place like Starbucks can exist. Cell phones are only one of many things that I have seen which are rude in an atmosphere that is suppose to be "welcoming and genuine." but hey! that's life, and I move them right along the line so I can move on to help a customer who wants to say Hello! and smile and get the same in return from me. Where we can have a real, positive connection that this company "prides" itself on and strives for.

As for the lovely gentleman, Ian: You have A LOT to learn in this life. ;)

The answer: Get back to the basics people. Talk to each other. Say "Hi." There is a right place and a right time for everything....talk on a cell phone in the store, at a table or while waiting for a drink or waiting in line....but communication is key if you want your order to be taken seriously and to get it correct!

[Amy Alkon]

We do not have this problem at my Starbucks. I bought a cell phone jammer and it works like a wonder. If a person walks within 30 feet of my store there cell phone connection is lost. Enough said.

Can you please buy all the Starbucks in southern Cal and install phone jammers?

[T]

BSR cell phone jammers may be illegal. It is none of our business if I am on my cell phone or not. Is it a rude thing when ordering of course but for you to take it upon yourself to jam signals for thirty feet what about the customers at the tables or just walking down the street in front of the store? If I knew what store you worked at I would turn you over to the authorities.

[jc]

The cell phone jammers that BSR speaks so highly of "jam up" many fire, police and emt radios as well.

I used to work with someone who, if he noticed the person ordering was on their phone would call it from bar as for "the customer on their cell phone". That way, every person in the store notices that this is the only person whose drink was not delivered by name, because they were too busy on their phone to give a name. Generally the person would look embarrassed/angry and everyone would glare at them while they walked away. It worked like a charm.

I really do like the idea of a cell phone blocker. Not being able to check messages on break is a small price to pay.