I work in customer service; does this ever happen to you?

I work in customer service and directly work w/ the public. Because I work at the front counter, I get a great deal of contact from our clients.

However, it drives me CRAZY at times, mostly because it feels like people have NO ETIQUETTE!!! Or am I just ready to move out of this field of work?

I sit at a desk, and answer their questions, take payments, etc. A lot of people will cough on me over the counter, eat their lunch on the go in front of me (and chomp on their food at that!), talk on their cell phones and hold up their finger for me to hold on, spit on me while they talk, etc.

Is this bad etiquette, or is it just me???

I have similar problems but luckily, I am customer service only with phone calls and very few walk-ins. I am astounded how some people get by day to day with their (lack of) manners. I would take control of the situation. Tell these people you would be happy to help them as soon as they wrap up their call, because it sounds to me as you are very busy and could be helping others with better manners. Certain businesses even have strict no cell phone usage as well. If you work somewhere that is clearly not a "food" environment, ask the manager or owner to post a sign "Please No Outside Food, No Cell Phones", etc. or something similar. Not only are these people being rude to you, they are making a mess and wasting company time causing you to be less efficient.

As for the coughing, take some good vitamins and hope for the best! Alot of people are oblivious or don't care about making other people sick.....

These sort of trash have little respect for what you do. The one that got me was the person talking on the cell phone and holding up a finger for YOU to wait.

Gotta be kidding me. I would serve the next person in line and Mr. Important can wait.

Sounds like you need a new job:)