Handing cell phones to strangers

[countrygirl12]

My daughter once told me that a man had asked her to give her phone to a complete stranger, she didn't know either one of them, he made her feel like its her duty to hand her phone over to someone she don't know, but she didn't do it. No one can make you hand your phone to some one you don't know.

I don't think the OP meant just handing over your phone to some random stranger.  I think they were referring to cashiers. Lowe's for one has a loyalty card and a lot of people have the loyalty card on their phone. So they just pull it up and the cashier can scan the card. Usually you do not have to actually take the phone. If they hold it up you can just scan it. But seems to me a lot of people are total butts and want to shove the phone in your face.
Shove something in my face and it may end up a few feet from you on the floor.

[countrygirl12]

I usually hold my phone and let them scan it with their hand-held device.

I do the same, I also get scared of germs. I'm not a germophobe or anything, but I never know if these employees just went to the bathroom and didn't wash their hands (and now they're touching my screen...where I will ultimately put my face up against it). I just know how people are and it's kind of gross.

Idk, that is kind of really insulting and putting down cashiers. Sounds like you think if people are working in retail they are lower class or something. Do you eat out? Maybe the person fixing your burger just went to the bathroom and didn't wash their hands. What about when you get change back? You have no idea where that cash has been or who has handled it.

[alice44]

That's one of the reasons I rarely use digital coupons.

[countrygirl12]

That's one of the reasons I rarely use digital coupons.

Digital coupons do not require you to hand your phone to the cashier. Unless it is something like a digital code and you usually do not have to do anything but show them the phone.  Most digital coupons are your own account and you scan the receipt yourself at home.

[squirrelgirl44]

If my phone needs to be scanned I usually just zoom in on it and hold it - they usually have a handheld scanner they can use. I don't like other people to touch my stuff in general.

[shasha2210]

they MIGHT take it and run off with it

[autumnsparklemom]

I have to agree with countrygirl12, some cashiers have filthy hands. Most have handled stuff from the folks in front of you. Not very clean...

[mjoseph1]

have done it once or twice but i'm very leery about it indeed

[s34g35j]

i see no reason to give it to anyone

[judylucas]

I don't use this feature so I don't have to worry

[countrygirl12]

I have to agree with countrygirl12, some cashiers have filthy hands. Most have handled stuff from the folks in front of you. Not very clean...

I have been a cashier - never would I say I had filthy hands. Even if I did handle money or whatever from the person in front of me. That is an insult to cashiers. Like they are beneath or something. And your own phone probably had more germs on it at any given time than my hands did.  I was more concerned with having to handle people's filthy phones and what I would get on MY hands!

[countrygirl12]

they MIGHT take it and run off with it

I doubt very seriously a cashier would run off with your phone.  A general stranger no I would tell them to ask the business we were in.

[countrygirl12]

i see no reason to give it to anyone

If you have loyalty cards stored in your phone some times it is necessary for the cashier to physically take the phone and scan it. If you refuse because you feel he/she is nasty or going to break your precious phone then don't use the card. IF the cashier drops the phone solely thru their own fault there are cameras and the store would replace the phone. And more and more people are storing credit cards on their phones. Which is stupid in itself but the ph doesn't always scan with the handheld thing.

[braggin]

Why don't you buy a case with a plastic cover that goes over the glass screen on your phone. That way, if anybody at all drops it, you included, it isn't very likely that it will crack.

[makeblessed]

I would not give my phone to a stranger, if they are in some kind of distress I am happy to dial the number for them and relay message; & I try and avoid ever having to give cashier unless absolutely necessary! ex. they cannot make out the bar code or are having difficulty getting it to scan.