Annoying Habits Part 6 – Long Lines

I really hate lines. I hate them so much that decisions on patronizing products and services are based on how long a line is.

I never used to encounter lines years ago. Terms like “fast food”, “quick print”, and “express lane” were true back then. And while items with the word “instant” were not really instantaneous, they were a lot faster then.

I normally deal with long lines in two ways. The first is if I see a line, I skip a store and move to another with no line. But it it’s something I really need, I come in early on another day to avoid the line.

Unfortunately, no matter how much I adjust, people still have a way of throwing a monkey wrench in to the system. Some of the more annoying things can be found below.

The person who cuts in

You’ll find these people everywhere. Whether it is a developed or developing country, people who cut in line will always be present.

I remember one time I was entering a building after getting off the bus. Everyone was in a rush to the entrance, but a line naturally formed right before the door.

What annoyed me was a guy who came from the next bus and nonchalantly cut in front of me. I tapped the guy’s shoulder and politely told him there was a line and that he needed to get behind. He was obviously embarrassed and complied with my request.

Thankfully, he realized that others were there ahead of him and did the right thing. But not everyone is like that. I once heard of a big, muscle-bound guy cut through a line with kids and pregnant women just to get a cab. No one in line had the guts to stop, not even the driver said anything. He was just allowed to through because of his imposing size.

I can understand their reluctance to tell this bully off, but still can’t help but feel very annoyed with him, especially since there were kids and pregnant women in the line.

Slow service

For some strange reason cashiers, bank tellers, or baggers, don’t seem bothered by long lines. In spite of the frowns, agitation, and irritation of customers, they still move at a snail’s pace.

I used to patronize a large warehouse-style store years back. When it was new, people had nothing but praises for the place. It had everything people needed at bargain prices. Plus it had ample parking and was totally free of charge. As far as I was concerned, it was perfect and I saw myself patronizing the place as I grew old.

Of all its good qualities, the only dark spot it had was that the checkout counters took a long time to process customers. Luckily the place was still new and had relatively few customers then. This made the lines bearably short.

Over time, word got around and customers started piling in. Unfortunately, the staff did not adjust to the increased traffic and the checkout counters continued to grind at a slow pace. This resulted in long queues. They were so long that buying a couple of sodas could take as much as thirty minutes at the express counter.

When long lines became the rule instead of the exception, I quit shopping at the grocery. It turns out that many others also had the same idea. Now instead of positive feedback, the word going around is that people should avoid the store because you can’t get what you want anyway.

As far as I’m concerned, the place deserved its new reputation as the place where no one could get anything. The last I heard was that the place eventually closed down.

Favoritism

People in line have always been considered a problem as they don’t police themselves. The third top reason why people regularly cut in line is because they get away with it. While customers like me complain to fellow customers, service providers are still the umpires when it comes to what people can get away with or not.

One time, a friend of mine left early to get her hair done. She was so early that she was the first to arrive at the salon. When she got there, her stylist was standing outside as she didn’t have the keys to the door. During that hour-long wait, several other customers started trickling in; making a total count of six by the time the place was opened.

When the keys finally arrived, the stylist approached my friend and asked her if it was alright to allow the sixth girl to go ahead of her. The stylist reasoned that the sixth girl tried getting her hair done the night before but was unsuccessful due to the number of customers.

This did not sit well with my friend. In the first place, she made an effort to come in early to get a good slot. In the second place, if the sixth girl wanted to go first, then she should have come in earlier.

My friend stayed silent, never giving her approval, to which the stylist took as a sign of affirmation. As the stylist then prepared the sixth girl’s hair, she engaged in some small talk.

What my friend overheard infuriated her. It turns out that the sixth girl boasted about taking her sweet time by first reading the paper, then eating a hearty breakfast, and finally taking a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood before coming over.

Upon hearing this, my friend gathered her things and promptly left the building. She jumped in her car and drove over to the competition, swearing never to return again.

If I were in a similar situation, I would have done exactly the same thing by leaving without a word. If my friend complained, it possible that the stylist my just ruin her hair. This is similar to American waiters spitting in your glasses when you complain or don’t leave any tips.

Sooner or later word will get around on how customers are treated and it will affect the salon. If it can happen to a big grocery like the one mentioned above, it certainly can happen to a small salon.