A line or queue here and there, is all too familiar in South Africa and the rest of the world. This is something everyone hates. Sadly, lines are inevitable. There are numerous contributing factors to this phenomenon. Supply and demand are central. We queue to obtain a particular service.
Depending on the efficiency of the service provider and the availability of stock, the queues can sometimes be quick or super slow.
Without mentioning names, many of our retailers have dismally failed to tackle this challenge. There are instances where people go to a shop and turn away because of the long lines.
Some giant retailers have what is referred to as “express tills”. These are mainly designed to speed up the process for customers with a limited number of items.
On paper, this is a perfect solution. Yet, it is made to fail by the stores and the customers. We’ve all seen people with more than the required number of items forcing their way into these express tills.
This is not a battle to be fought by me as a customer but by the retailer.
Leniency is a good thing but it should not be to the detriment of others. The fact is, we are all pressed for time. We cannot be lenient to people when the rest of the world suffers. We stand in the lines to be served and due diligence is required from all.
If a till is meant to serve people with five items or less, there should be no debate about it. Whoever has more than the stipulated number should then move to the other tills without an argument. While retailers are top of mind with all their inefficiencies, fuel stations are no better. It is hard to blame the attendants for some of the mishaps, especially when there are too many vehicles arriving or when it is the end of a shift.
As drivers, we are in a far better position to guide the attendants.
However, often our egos get the better of us.
Drivers are vigilant people. Yes, some are at the mercy of others. If you arrive at the fuel station after me, you cannot expect to be served ahead of me. You have the onus to protect the attendant and the next driver.
This is where the Americans have got it spot on. For those who are not aware, the United States of America (USA) does not have fuel attendants. You fuel your own car. You pay at the cashier and proceed to fill the vehicle at the pump.
In a country with a high unemployment rate, this is a contentious issue.
The fact is, it would eliminate all our challenges at the garages. In the absence of patience, we must find workable solutions to end all the queues. Time is precious, we cannot continuously spend it in lines.
