If youre trying to get in and out of the supermarket fast (and who isnt?
), it pays to have a strategy.
Either way, it inevitably feels like the line youve chosen is the slowest.
Photo:Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images
But, what if there were strategies to improve your odds of choosing the fastest line?
According to the experts we talked with, there are.
It just takes some savvy observational skills, and if you want to be extra, a little math.
Heres what we learned.
In that case, Larson suggests opting for the longer line.
The service time per customer is much less.
The cashier can handle the barcode scannable stuff at least as fast as one per second.
Whereas the things you have to weigh take at least six or seven seconds.
It’s almost an order of magnitude difference in the service time per piece of product.
Here’s how to put Larson’s method into practice.
Say youre choosing between two lines with one person in each.
Thats about 15 seconds for the scannable items.
Thats what the calculator app on your phone is for!
That makes the math easier even if youre slightly overestimating.
And, remember, the more you put this method into practice, the more intuitive it will become.
Then it’s possible for you to pick one whos not too chatty.
So take a second to look at those lanes on either end when youre choosing a line.
Think Twice About Self-Checkout
Sometimes you dont have a choice, and self-checkout is the only option.
In that case, best of luck, my friend!
Self-checkout is rarely faster than traditional cashiers, says Julie Niederhoff, PhD, professor at Syracuse University.
Shoppers typically scan items up to 10 times slower than pros.
And yet, many people prefer self-checkout, especially when theyve got 15 items or less.
Another tip to cut your self-checkout time a bit: try memorizing the PLU codes for your go-to produce.
Just like the desire to avoid long lines at the grocery store.
