I was standing in line at the post office the other day. With
our population increase, standing in line has become a way of
life.
I was standing in line at the post office the other day. With our population increase, standing in line has become a way of life. I find myself standing in line at the grocery store, pharmacy, Department of Motor Vehicles, bank, fast food restaurants – and the post office.
When Hollister was smaller, standing in line wasn’t a problem. First of all, the lines were shorter. Secondly, I usually knew someone in line with me. A neighborly chat kept line standing stress to a minimum.
That’s no longer the case. Now if I’m lucky enough to know someone in line, they’re often 15 to 20 people away from me. Shouting down a line of strangers about the latest update on the kids, family dogs and neighborhood rumors seems rather tacky. Instead I smile, wave and usually roll my eyes indicating how I feel about waiting in line. The eye-rolling is often quickly returned.
As I was standing in line at the post office I saw my friend and former fellow librarian Judy Gansen. She suggested I write something about waiting in line since it’s something we all can relate to. During the 30 minutes I stood waiting to mail my measly package, I started to see ways to make line-waiting more pleasant.
Theme parks often come with long lines, but they do something to help stave off restlessness in their patrons: TV screens are set overhead where everyone standing in line can watch everything from the creation of that particular ride to other amusements in the park. This educates the customer while keeping them entertained.
Offering patrons informational programs could be used in a variety of businesses. Banks could use TV monitors to show customers ways to stretch their spending dollar. They could also list ways to save, getting the most for their investments.
The post office could educate people about our country. They could show programs featuring areas of interest in different states. The mail is one way we’re connected with our world. It could be fun to learn more about the vast country we live in.
Waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles could be a great time to show people how dangerous certain bad driving habits can be. For example, we’ve all watched idiots weave in and out of traffic, endangering the lives of those around them, only to catch up with them at the next red light. Showing a view above of traffic patterns might help these impatient drivers realize they aren’t gaining time in the long run.
Pharmacies could keep customers updated on a number of health issues. Grocery stores might increase business by showing cooking programs to waiting customers. This might create some havoc as customers run back to the aisles to pick up ingredients they’ll need to make the dishes being featured.
Since department stores often cater to families, they might have any number of programs playing at different check-outs. There could be cartoons for youngsters, music videos for teens and sports or talk shows for adults.
Waiting in line could also be a way to learn new skills. I often find myself fidgeting while waiting in line, especially at the bank. It might be fun to hire people to teach the latest dance steps to those trapped in seemingly endless lines. And of course, with the right music there’s always line dancing.
Relay races could be held for customers waiting in line at stores where there are several registers in a row. Winners would be guaranteed to be the next customers checked and out the door.
Maybe looking for ways to be a patient customer isn’t always the answer. Perhaps some of the responsibility should be put on the business. In the past three days I’ve found myself waiting in lines where there are several unmanned windows. Waiting in line could be dramatically decreased if customer service became a top priority.
In the meantime I’ll learn to carry a paperback book or maybe even a Frisbee in my purse. That way the next time I find myself waiting in line, I’ll have something to do.
