The Costco near me used to have one single line for all lanes of self checkout machines, it was great. Then some months ago they switched it to a line per lane and I hate it so much. I think it’s just stupid “perceptions” — people probably just “feel like” it takes longer when it’s one long line, so they’re happy to wait longer in a shorter line because visually “their turn is coming soon.”
I think I’ve read that it is about perception, which is up there with children thinking the tall, narrow, glass has more water after pouring the short wide glass into it.
100% about perception, but doesn’t mean it’s not valid. One long line that’s constantly moving is better than a small line that’s stuck for a while. Also, as you mentioned, it prevents issues when one of the checkouts is stuck for whatever reason. The line would still move, just a bit slower.
For self checkouts I have always seen it as 1 line to a group of them. Some larger shops have multiple clusters of self checkouts with their own individual lines though.
The Costco near me used to have one single line for all lanes of self checkout machines, it was great. Then some months ago they switched it to a line per lane and I hate it so much. I think it’s just stupid “perceptions” — people probably just “feel like” it takes longer when it’s one long line, so they’re happy to wait longer in a shorter line because visually “their turn is coming soon.”
I think I’ve read that it is about perception, which is up there with children thinking the tall, narrow, glass has more water after pouring the short wide glass into it.
Very “1/4 pound burger is larger than a 1/3 pound burger because 4>3” coded.
100% about perception, but doesn’t mean it’s not valid. One long line that’s constantly moving is better than a small line that’s stuck for a while. Also, as you mentioned, it prevents issues when one of the checkouts is stuck for whatever reason. The line would still move, just a bit slower.
For self checkouts I have always seen it as 1 line to a group of them. Some larger shops have multiple clusters of self checkouts with their own individual lines though.