It’s become so common, most people don’t even realise they’re doing it — but for shopkeepers across France, this modern-day quirk is pushing their patience to the limit.
He thought he was rescuing a sheep—but it turned out to be something else
This bizarre French customer habit is driving shop owners crazy
When phone calls and customer service collide
Running a shop is no easy feat. Between juggling stock, keeping queues moving, and offering friendly service, the last thing a shop owner needs is a customer who’s physically present but mentally elsewhere. And that’s exactly what’s happening more and more often, thanks to one frustrating habit: talking on the phone while ordering.
Whether it’s at the local café, bakery, or boutique, shopkeepers are sounding off about customers who walk in, phone glued to their ear, and try to place an order mid-conversation. What’s meant to be a quick exchange turns into a guessing game — and one that rarely ends well.
As café owner Eric Trouvé put it, “When we ask something simple, like ‘with water or without?’, they don’t hear us. We have to repeat ourselves. It’s just basic courtesy — thinking of others around you.”
The lunchtime chaos that comes with multitasking
It’s not just about manners. For many retailers, this habit actively disrupts their workflow and creates mistakes that lead to unhappy customers. One bakery owner shared how her lunchtime rush has turned into a daily challenge thanks to distracted buyers.
“People on their phones just aren’t paying attention,” she said. “They order tuna but get home with salmon. Then they come back angry, but the mistake started with them.”
The issue? While staff are trying to confirm orders, phone-tied customers are only half-listening. In busy periods, when every second counts, this distraction slows down the line and increases the chance of order mix-ups.
Why this habit needs to go
Of course, we’ve all taken a call in a shop before — maybe you’re in the middle of sorting dinner plans or fielding a work emergency. But making it a habit can come off as disrespectful to those behind the counter, and to the people waiting in line behind you.
Shopkeepers across France are now asking customers to put their phones away, at least for the brief moment it takes to place an order or pay for a purchase. It’s not just about efficiency — it’s about restoring a sense of human interaction, something that’s slowly disappearing in the age of constant connectivity.
So next time you pop into your local boulangerie or café, take a second to hang up. You might just leave with the right sandwich — and a bit more respect from the person serving it.
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Oh la la, let me tell ya about those French customers! They take their sweet time like its a catwalk, browsing like its a museum. Sacré bleu, the patience needed! Shop owners be like, Merci for driving me nuts!
I remember this one time, I was in Paris, tryna buy a croissant, and this lady started rearranging the pastry display like it was her living room. Shop owners must have nerves of steel dealing with that kinda stuff all day!
I remember this one time in Paris, this lady asked for a refund on a croissant cause it was too flaky. The nerve, right? French customer habits, man, theyre on a whole different level. Gotta love em for keepin us on our toes!
Man, these French customers with their endless questions and demands! Its like a never-ending game of 20 questions. Shop owners must have the patience of saints dealing with all that chaos. Can you imagine the headache when phone calls and customer service collide in that mess?
I remember this one time in Paris, the cashier nearly fainted when I dared to pay with a card! Its like they only speak cash or somethin. Chill out, Frenchies, its the 21st century!
Ugh, I remember this one time at a French café, the owner lost it cause I didnt say bonjour before ordering. Thought theyd burst a baguette! But hey, manners matter, right?
I swear, these French folks and their, like, obsession with *lingerie*! Cant a shop owner catch a break without someone asking for lacy undies in the middle of the day? Give me a break, people, Im just tryna sell some croissants here!