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The Matter of $1

I got to experience some free-market inefficiency at the local Safeway today, where a lady, whose club card failed to work, held up the line for nearly 20 minutes to claim the $1 she would have saved with the club card.

The gentleman in front of me and I discussed how time is money and that with the price of time in the DC-area, it was tremendously wasteful for all of us in line to stand there while the woman reclaimed her money.

I even offered to give the lady a dollar to get her out of the way, a suggestion which neither she nor the cashier seemed to understand, as neither replied.

Perhaps looking at the situation holistically would reveal that in fact the situation was efficient. Perhaps the money I save from Safeway’s corporate policies – including the policy which deprives their employees of independent judgment – reduce my overall costs.

However, I’ve seen a lot of lines held up by one person’s payment dispute. Food stamps, coupons, and price inconsistencies have all been culprits. I would hope that the executives at these companies consider that they are increasing the price of their goods when people are required to stand in line. If they want to compete on price, they need to compete on time, too.

~KDR

Posted by Kevin D. Rollins on December 11, 2006 07:37 PM |

Comments

Supermarkets should adopt bank-style lines where everyone forms up into one line to be helped by the next available teller (or cashier). This way no one person can hold up the entire line. Problem solved!

Posted by: dhofmann [TypeKey Profile Page] | December 13, 2006 12:44 PM

Free-for-all (frfr-ôl) -- n. A disorderly fight, argument, or competition in which everyone present participates.

from Dictionary.com



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