OK First check this out http://blog.mrmeyer.com/?p=4646
Basicly, math applied to standing in line...interesting, but there are so many more varibles. So heres a list of findings that is steeped in not only being a customer but at one time a bagger. This is a short list but should shave considerable time off your line time.
- 1.Check for the quiet checker that is trying to take a small break by not actively recruiting customers
- 2.Avoid all senior citizens, as a rule of thumb. Ladies especially (Sorry ladies...I know you don't have much on your schedule but I'm young and in a rush for some reason.....what was that reason??)
- 3.Avoid talkers, in line and for cashiers, unless of course you are looking for a little camaraderie. Talkers are enjoying themselves catching up on gossip and status of friends. Good news for towns (over say...3,000) and cities this really isn't as much a problem as this is mostly a small town occation.
- 4.If you happen to be tall enough (I'm 6'6”) watch the checkers if one of them starts looking around and gets a bit wide-eyed and reaches for the phone you can bet they are calling for back-up-get ready to jump on that line before the checker grabs the kindly ol' lady (see #2) and cuts you out of being 50 seconds to freedom.
- 5.Avoid older checkers as with #2 they are a bit lacking in the ambition department.
- 6.Youth is not good either! So don't go running for the new blood in the store assuming that they are in a rush because, sadly, they are not. They are more worried about doing the job right and not getting fired because the last thing they want to do is go shag carts, pick up that broken jar of mayo on isle 7 or help out the little ol' lady that just cut you off (damn it!)a t the new lane that opened.
- 7.Rewind to #4 (this bouncing around helps you remember the list better) the checker that is looking around is probably the head checker. Watch them. Really. Head checkers get to be head because they are fast, efficient, and the epitome of all that is good. They also know, if not set, the produce codes and they already have the manager keys; so, they take care of you first then go help minions.
- 8.Use CASH! Time and time again I test this one and cash is faster than credit/debit is faster than a check is faster than food stamps is faster than .....anyone? This one will always incur arguments as to efficiency and speed, so just hear me out. While computers get faster when it is 6 pm and everyone is picking up that last thing for dinner and you're standing there asking why isn't this thing faster than cash?..... you should of used cash. If you don't happen to have any, spend all that extra time pressing buttons and not giving a dollar to some cause, and get some cash back so that next time you won't have to......
