ah, the phone... yes...the phone...
sadly, it may be a requirement by upper management to answer by the 2nd ring (goodness knows whenever "I" answer it because its still ringing and hasn't been answered, it ALWAYS turns out to be the district manager, who wants to know WHY I am answering the phone (I work in the area of last resort for phone answering....)
However I do try to explain to the cashiers to do as you ask, but I don't know if you have ever been B3#$#ed out by a customer on the phone who feels THEY deserve to let their fingers do the walking, and could care less that you want service, and actually CAME to the store to get some....
it is always two sides.....