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Scientifically, You Are Likely In the Slowest Line
MojoKid writes "As you wait in the checkout line for the holidays, your observation is most likely correct. That other line is moving faster than yours. That's what Bill Hammack (the Engineer Guy), from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois — Urbana proves in this video. Ironically, the most efficient set-up is to have one line feed into several cashiers. This is because if any one line slows because of an issue, the entry queue continues to have customers reach check-out optimally. However, this is also perceived by customers as the least efficient, psychologically."
between single-line multi-server queue and multiple queues.
This occurs in fast food restaurants with the row of cashiers.
This is because some people are "blind" to the fact that there is a single line
situation in effect. These people can be divided into:
1. The generally oblivious. Mindless automatons or cellphone talkers.
2. The socially clueless. Somewhere on the autism spectrum, they don't
understand that queuing is a complex social interaction with rules and etiquette.
3. The obnoxious. Sees the situation but overtly butts in front to stand in front
of one of the cashiers directly, thus forcing others to break rank and sneak in
behind him, since the discipline is shot.
4. The "will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes" devious, who
form their own line like #3 but do it by carefully assessing the situation then actively
pretending that they are in category 1.
So it goes to multiple queues for a while, then some opportunist realizes they
can line up ambiguously in between two cashiers to snag whichever comes open
first, and we're back to single-line til a type 1 to 4 person arrives.
Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
I prefer the scan-as-you-pick system, where we pick up a scanner when entering the store, then scan and bag our groceries as we go through the store, and when checking out, simply hand over the scanner and pay. The goods never go on a conveyor belt, and aren't handled by someone who alternates between touching money and food without washing their hands. And you know the total price before you go to the counter. But most of all, it's faster.
Oh, and it's better for the environment too -- you bring your own bags in and out.