Found a way to stop the 'just looking' crowd from blocking the register line

At my bookstore, people would stand right in front of the counter browsing for ages, backing up the line. I started putting a small 'Please Wait Here' sign and a basket of free bookmarks on a table six feet away. They move for the free stuff and the path clears right up. Anyone else have a simple trick for managing customer flow?

3 comments

3 Comments

wells.reese2mo ago

Honestly that's genius. My only trick is just standing there looking helpless until they notice me.

robert_craig2mo ago

That helpless act is a real gamble in a busy place like a downtown coffee shop at 8 AM. You could stand there for ten minutes while five people who walked in after you get served first. It puts all the pressure on someone else to notice you, and that is not fair to the workers. Being clear and polite with a simple "excuse me" works way better for everyone. It gets you what you need without making your problem into their puzzle to solve.

the_charlie17d ago

That helpless act is a gamble alright. I once stood frozen in a bagel shop for a solid 12 minutes because I was too stubborn to just say something. The guy behind me ended up ordering, getting his food, and eating half of it before I finally croaked out a quiet "um, excuse me." So yeah, I learned the hard way that being clear is way faster than hoping someone reads your mind.