'They'd just point': Corner shop bans customers talking on their phones

Owners of a New Zealand corner store have become so fed up with customers on their mobile phones, they were forced to put up a sign on the counter advising they would refuse service unless they hang up.

Husband and wife owners of Queenstown’s Eight To Late Foodcentre in Fernhill said people were coming into the store on their phones up to five times a day, and just pointing rather than communicating.

"They'd point at the cigarettes or at the EFTPOS machine,” Mark Douglas told Radio Live on Monday.

“They would just point. That’s what we thought was out rude part of it the fact that there was no indication - no conversation whatsoever.

“We decided we’ve had enough of it.”

The sign tells customers they won't be served if they can't be bothered getting off their phone.

“If you can’t be bothered getting off your cellphone we can’t be bothered SERVING YOU sorry,” the sign reads, accompanied by a sad face.

Mr Douglas said the behavior was happening about every three to four months when he and wife Brenda took on the business four years ago, but the habit had drastically risen.

“We got more and more frustrated.”

He said most feedback to the sign - from locals and visitors alike - has been positive.

"We point at the sign when they're talking and they immediately say, 'oh, sorry, got to go', and they put their phone down and apologise,” he told the New Zealand Herald.

"We pride ourselves on talking to the customers – this is a community dairy.”