Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site dciem.UUCP Path: utzoo!dciem!ntt From: ntt@dciem.UUCP (Mark Brader) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: Supermarket Flames! (Post Offices, single combined queues) Message-ID: <715@dciem.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 15:38:21 EST Article-I.D.: dciem.715 Posted: Wed Feb 15 15:38:21 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 20-Feb-84 16:15:55 EST References: <5543@uiucdcs.UUCP> Organization: NTT Systems Inc., Toronto, Canada Lines: 30 [Unfortunately not superstition when the first line is INDENTED:] What would be wrong with a queue structure similar to that of the post office? Single stream, multi-processor system. That is, have one long line with an n-way branch to the cashiers... Do all US post offices use the single-queue-multi-server (SQMS) system, then? I wish Canadian POs did. But no, they typically have three or four wickets, each of which has a distinct function in addition to selling stamps, two of which are closed (including the "stamps only" wicket, if any). AND they have managed to incrementally reduce service to Monday-to-Friday 8:30 am - 5:45 pm at most locations. How sweet it is to be a monopoly. Oh well, at least the lineups here are shorter than in the US in my experience. Some banks here use SQMS for all transactions, and I think all the rest use SQMS for ordinary deposits and withdrawals but you go to a special counter for other stuff. I think the latter is silly (and confusing). Major bus and train stations use SQMS. This is nice; it's such a fair arrangement. And people are used to it; I've seen people spontaneously form SQMSs when several people are lining up to use a cluster of automatic teller machines. So why don't supermarket checkouts use it? I'LL TELL YOU WHY NOT! In the present arrangement, you spend several minutes waiting next to a stand full of magazines and candies and Midnight Globes and disposable razors and Management-knows-what-else... anything they hope you'll buy on impulse. And people do buy the stuff. So do you really think supermarkets will adopt a system where you will be separated from those displays? HAH! Mark Brader