
I thought to myself, this would never happen in
America.
Through subsequent years I have picked up a few
facts about lines. For instance,
McDonalds was the first to have multiple lines for multiple stations, realizing
early-on that turnover was the secret to profitability. Costco still uses that
technique at their food counter.
Others took a different take on the process, using
multiple service personnel but feeding them through one continuous line, thereby
decreasing the frustration that comes when one chooses the slow line and
watches while others coming later get their needs accomplished earlier. There are variations on that and some
companies offer exceptions, like the A-list at Southwest Airlines, or Pre-TSA
boarding, or Business Banking, but in general the feeling is that you are
getting taken care of as quickly as possible.

Speaking of elevators, I have noticed two changes in
elevators, recently: some buildings direct you to a specific car, depending on
what floor you are going to. Press the
floor and a sign directs you to the next elevator going to that floor. The
second aspect of that is that you don’t have to press your destination floor a
second time; the elevator remembers you.
Which always reminds me of a routine Woody Allen
did on television almost fifty years ago.
He told of how he was so frustrated at his TV that he threw a lamp at
the screen and smashed it. The next day
he was in Manhattan and took an elevator that had no operator, just a voice
that said, “Floor, please.”

My final thought on lines is that there seem to be
more of them, as we fight for limited space or crush for entry into events that
have a specific starting time. Last night
I waited in line for twenty minutes at a local library to hear an author, and
the wait for sporting events or concerts can seem interminable. I’m reminded of
a comment made by one Englishman in the queue for the double-decker bus. He said, “You Americans must be fond of
lines. You have so many of them.”
He may have been right!
Next Post will take me back to music as I reflect on
a Chamber Group that is celebrating an anniversary: The Kronos Quartet. Please
join me.
No comments:
Post a Comment