You know when you’re in the checkout line at the grocery store and it starts to back up the cashier will call for assistance on the PA system and a new cashier will appear and walk up to the next person in line and basically escort them to the newly opened register? I wish they had this process everywhere as I’ve been noticing a trend lately from coffee shops to drug stores: The Feeder Line.
I am sure you’ve experienced it. The feeder line consists of a makeshift system where a line forms behind a cashier with a buffer zone between the customer and the cashier that is large enough to accommodate through traffic. Then a second cashier will open a register and the next person in line will move over. Now the newly appointed �next person in line� must make a decision. Either divide the line forming two new lines, which could potentially be aggravated by the opening of a third register, or stand strong and form the feeder line that allows for a brisk, efficient purchasing system.
I’m obviously a proponent of the latter. It just makes sense to have each customer wait his or her turn in an orderly fashion. This problem is really noticeable at Peet’s on Fair Oaks Blvd. During a rush the “Bean” register will double as the “Drink” register which forces each member of the line to decide whether or not to take their chances in the feeder line or jump ahead of the person being helped causing a chain reaction of line chaos. The choice seems simple to me. However, this is an “all or nothing” proposition as once a customer deviates from the feeder line all bets are off and it’s a free for all. I am beginning to think that store managers should step in and govern as the people obviously can not rule themselves.
What say you, Sacramento?
The Sac Rag 
I know exactly what you are talking about, runnergirl. The turnover is such now that I will only order certain drinks if certain people are working the espresso machine. It has gotten so bad lately that I’ve been forced to order drip only in fear of obtaining the dreaded bitter mocha which only serves to remind you that you shouldn’t be paying $4 for any beverage…that doesn’t impair your driving I mean. And just when 3 out of 5 employees know your drink preference…gone! The nature of the beast, I suppose.
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You ever wind up in the feeder line and the person behind you asks, “What line are you in?” Not only do I correct them for ending their sentence with a preposition, but I also retort by telling them that I’m in both.
Honestly, there are too many choices you have to make in life where you’re stuck with a decision you make and are gambling on the outcome. IT’s like that with insurance, or coupon books, or all those options they tell you about when you buy your car, or your house, or a dishwasher. Can’t we just stand in the master line and take the next open register? Do you, ma’am, and your three children by three different men have to give me attitude because I don’t want to commit to a line in order to buy my Dora the Explorer talking oven? Please, be patient, and maybe you’ll go to heaven.
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Rontopofit has identified training that seems to be lacking in modern society. Cueueing should be a high school requirement for freshmen. I’m going to write to Jackie Speier (the biggest busybody in the legislature) and ask her to carry a bill.
Cueueing course requirements:
1. Cueueing at the office (elevators and hallways)
2. Cueueing at the grocery store (checkout lines and aisle-blocking)
3. Cueueing at the public restroom
4. Cueueing and the automobile (parking lots, four way stopsigns, and merging)
5. Cueueing at miscellaneous retail (book store, coffee store, bank)
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Somone do a find and replace on ^
Cueueing -> Queueing
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please please, no more grammar police. nobody likes the grammar police. where is Flava Flav when you need him. spellcheck that, nerds!
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I too am a fan of the one line, and the first person in line goes to the next available register (such as waiting in line at the bank, as we did in days of yore.) Without this system, you go to what you think is the shorter line; however, the odds are you end up behind a person making a return and wanting their change in Seychelles rupees.
Regarding Peet’s, if you’re a regular and one of the old-timer employees is near the bean counter (place where you get beans, not an accounting professional), you are sometimes singled out to have your order started for you — that is, if you always order plain drip coffee & not some frappa-crappa item. But, since they’ve had some major staffing turnover in the past few months (who ARE all these people, anyway?), that hasn’t happened as frequently. And watch out for the very “natural” looking red-headed girl — she’ll drop the money you give her & she’ll tell you you still owe more.
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What about the hated “double drive-thru” at McDonald’s now?
If you approach and there’s one car in the drive-thru, do you just get behind said car, or do you get in the second drive-thru lane?
Keeping it to one line surely saves confusion and effort on the part of the employee, many of which are probably easily confused or lack the effort for effort.
But if you do this, the next car to approach will surely go to the second lane. Now, you’ve doubled your wait, so you’re screwed.
Of course, Darwin would probably question why humans like me survived evolution.
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