I suck at picking lines to stand in

[Exterous]

I don't know what it is but i have terrible luck/ability to pick lines. All of these are in the past 2 weeks.
Example 1: waiting at customs i choose the line far off to the right as it only has 2 other people in it compared to the 5+ of other lines. Got held up because a lady just got married and her visa and passport didn't match
Example 2: a new security line opened at the airport. I was the second one in. The guy in front of me and i both got 'randomly selected' for the body scanner. The guy couldnt raise his hands above his head so they had him wait for 5 minutes in the scanner for a supervisor to come over while i got to stand there waiting for my turn
Example 3: chose a short grocery line. Lady in front painstakingly counts out exact change. Doesnt have enough. Takes out checkbook and slowly writes a check

*grumble*

Tl;dr:
I have a first world problem

 

[CraKaJaX]

Tl;dr:
I have a first world problem

You grumpy old man... There's a thread for this.

 

[Mayne]

thats why i why i bring my ipod with me to the grocery store...tune everything out with some classic country music.

 

[SamQuint]

At a grocery store or even a restaurant always pick the register that is run my a man. Sorry gals I know that sounds sexist but men are less talkative in general and move people through their lines faster. Also don't get in lines behind elderly folks. They have the hardest time paying with their cards or they are likely to write checks.

As a side note I love places that have a single line and then the next in line goes to the next available clerk. Costco used to do this at all their food courts but now they have gone to separate lines. I am there for a single freaking hot dog and I always get behind some joker that wants four or five damn yogurts that take forever for clerks to make.

 

[Leyawiin]

I always pick the register where the pregnant woman with a bunch of children in tow pulls out her WIC coupons and ties up the register for 15 minutes while the clerk checks for eligible items and writes the Gettysburg Address on each coupon.

 

[Ichinisan]

 

[Ichinisan]

As a side note I love places that have a single line and then the next in line goes to the next available clerk.

Idiots pretend they don't know how it works and cut in line in front of me. I was waiting for whichever register becomes available first.

 

[Miramonti]

At a grocery store or even a restaurant always pick the register that is run my a man. Sorry gals I know that sounds sexist but men are less talkative in general and move people through their lines faster. Also don't get in lines behind elderly folks. They have the hardest time paying with their cards or they are likely to write checks.

Likewise.

I will also rarely ever change lanes after choosing one unless a new one opens up or the cashier simply can't handle the situation. I'd simply rather patient than frustrated, and not be constantly headcounting the other lines until I get to the front.

 

[Exterous]

Ha. That reminds me: was waiting for my rental car 5 days ago and both lines were taking forever. After 20 min of waiting i finally get to the front of my line. Instead of calling me up the lady just gets up and leaves the desk even though i was the last person in her line. So i now have to wait for the family of 6 who speak almost no english and have apparently never rented a car before. I had hoped for better from one of national's international partners but i booked two rentals with redspot with poor to terrible results

 

[OverVolt]

Judge the people in the line. You aren't judging enough :awe:.

"Man that 80 year old lady is ancient she is going to take forever and she hasn't even started writing her check at 1wpm yet" and "Wow that cashier won't shutup its a checkout line not a party" have probably saved me 10,000 hours of life waiting in line.

 

[OverVolt]

Yea like getting a rental car or at the DMV. I've had something similar happen except I try not to switch lanes more than once.

 

[Homerboy]

Best animated gif I've seen in a long time

 

[Exterous]

Judge the people in the line. You aren't judging enough :awe:.

"Man that 80 year old lady is ancient she is going to take forever and she hasn't even started writing her check at 1wpm yet" and "Wow that cashier won't shutup its a checkout line not a party" have probably saved me 10,000 hours of life waiting in line.

Thats the thing - she wasnt 80 she was maybe late 30s. I chose the rental car line without the chaotic gaggle of people - that security line would have moved fine if they hadnt selected both of us for screening and he hadnt just had surgery. This bad luck is a terrible life burden to deal with. I should start a Go Fund Me

 

[DrPizza]

The local grocery store I go to - if there's more than 1 person waiting in line, they open another register. There are 3 self check-out registers. Bad luck - one lady decided self-checkout was perfect for $200 worth of groceries. A guy at the next one was trying to put his money into the wrong slot; but the cashier person watching those registers wasn't able to help him, because she was distracted by having to help another old lady put her produce on the right spot and enter the proper code for each item. I waited for probably 2 minutes at lunch time a few weeks ago when this happened. The owner chased me out to the parking lot and gave me a $5 gift certificate for my next visit to apologize for having to wait so long - he was upset that a manager walked by me and didn't open another lane.

Local DMV: they come out from behind the counter to see if you need help filling out the forms. The longest line I've ever had at the DMV was 2 people in front of me.


So, what are these lines you're speaking of?

 

[NAC4EV]

In grocery stores I avoid lines that have old women with purses that are the size of carry on luggage.

 

[dullard]

It isn't just you. Think of a typical grocery store example. You most likely can see three lanes easily: the one you are in, and the one to either side of you. Thus, in your visual world, you are standing in 1 of 3 lanes. If things were random, you'd only be right when picking lines 33% of the time.

That said, I try to pick based off the age of the checkout person. A young teen full of enthusiasm tends to check out people very quickly. Someone who retired and came back to work at the only place that will hire them and doesn't care any more? That line will never move.

 

[OverVolt]

The local grocery store I go to - if there's more than 1 person waiting in line, they open another register. There are 3 self check-out registers. Bad luck - one lady decided self-checkout was perfect for $200 worth of groceries. A guy at the next one was trying to put his money into the wrong slot; but the cashier person watching those registers wasn't able to help him, because she was distracted by having to help another old lady put her produce on the right spot and enter the proper code for each item. I waited for probably 2 minutes at lunch time a few weeks ago when this happened. The owner chased me out to the parking lot and gave me a $5 gift certificate for my next visit to apologize for having to wait so long - he was upset that a manager walked by me and didn't open another lane.

Local DMV: they come out from behind the counter to see if you need help filling out the forms. The longest line I've ever had at the DMV was 2 people in front of me.


So, what are these lines you're speaking of?

Apparently you live in the middle of nowhere.

 

[rh71]

You only have so much control, mostly only at grocery lines where you can see how many items are in the cart. Other than that it's just the person's age and what you can see of physical ability.

A young teen full of enthusiasm tends to check out people very quickly. Someone who retired and came back to work at the only place that will hire them and doesn't care any more? That line will never move.

You also have teens who don't give a crap and are on autopilot until shift ends. I've seen a few local checkout people here who are over 40 and quite enjoy small-talking people while they work and enjoy what they do (surprisingly). They are very efficient at their job at the same time despite it being a busy grocery store.

 

[Sonikku]

When finding the right line I always avoid lines with women loading up on gerber food. That's a WIC transaction in the making and takes FOR EVER. Also avoid lines with old people. They haven't quite figured out how to utilize their form of payment or don't know how to check their bank account to know how many funds they have left.

DO look for lines with soldiers. Usually young guys with really short hair. They don't gab or bullshit or fool around, just get their stuff and get out. Like it should be.

 

[Schfifty Five]

I don't know what it is but i have terrible luck/ability to pick lines. All of these are in the past 2 weeks.
Example 1: waiting at customs i choose the line far off to the right as it only has 2 other people in it compared to the 5+ of other lines. Got held up because a lady just got married and her visa and passport didn't match
Example 2: a new security line opened at the airport. I was the second one in. The guy in front of me and i both got 'randomly selected' for the body scanner. The guy couldnt raise his hands above his head so they had him wait for 5 minutes in the scanner for a supervisor to come over while i got to stand there waiting for my turn
Example 3: chose a short grocery line. Lady in front painstakingly counts out exact change. Doesnt have enough. Takes out checkbook and slowly writes a check

*grumble*

Tl;dr:
I have a first world problem

I get that too but only in grocery stores. Always pick the one that looks the shortest or fastest, only to have one person need some kind of special request or something doesn't scan right.

 

[tynopik]

Yea like getting a rental car or at the DMV.

Wow your DMV must suck worst than most.

Those here just issue you a number then you go sit in the waiting area till your number is called.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Apparently you live in the middle of nowhere.

He lives in Pleasantville. Lucky bastard.

We don't wait in line here either:

 

[OverVolt]

He lives in Pleasantville. Lucky bastard.

We don't wait in line here either:

Oh yea the CVS in Baltimore I was near there.

 

[Charmonium]

You are all spoiled children.

In Mother Russia, you stand in line for the PRIVILEGE of standing in the next line.

OK, really I'm talking about New Jersey's DMV, but same-same.