Some stores have adopted the bank teller model of queuing and people are gradually accepting (perhaps because banks almost universally use the method) the more rational approach.
As to Hammack’s three-register model, it is also true that 2/3 of the time, the person in the “B” line will not be in the slowest line — BAC, BCA, ABC and CBA — which might contribute to the illusion the traditional model is quicker than the bank teller model.
I think big grocery stores in which most people use shopping carts may no choice than the present inefficient system. I don’t think that it would be possible to have a long snaking line of carts, unless you allocate a lot more space.
:)
2 comments
Jeff Hess
December 30, 2010 at 12:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Shalom Mano,
Some stores have adopted the bank teller model of queuing and people are gradually accepting (perhaps because banks almost universally use the method) the more rational approach.
As to Hammack’s three-register model, it is also true that 2/3 of the time, the person in the “B” line will not be in the slowest line — BAC, BCA, ABC and CBA — which might contribute to the illusion the traditional model is quicker than the bank teller model.
B’shalom,
Jeff
Mano Singham
December 31, 2010 at 9:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Jeff,
I think big grocery stores in which most people use shopping carts may no choice than the present inefficient system. I don’t think that it would be possible to have a long snaking line of carts, unless you allocate a lot more space.