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Venting

There are real problems in the world.  These are not those problems.

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I am reading Jasper Fforde’s Shades of Grey, so queuing systems are at the forefront of my mind, but, seriously, multiple lane setups (as opposed to single lane setups) don’t work.  They may be a better use of space, but I’m finding even that difficult to believe.

For instance, store A is a typical grocery store.  Let’s say that there are five cashiers and five cashier stations, which each have their own line.  Each line is short but move at different speeds based on the number of items, the speed of the cashier, and whether price checks are needed.

Whereas store B has implemented a system that has a single queue that feeds into the next available cashier’s station.  So cashier 1 may serve more customers overall than cashier 2, but the wait time is fairly even for everyone in line based on the length of the line.

Why doesn’t every store implement store B’s system?

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I bought a bunch of apps — somewhat expensive apps as apps go — before the change from 32-bit to 64-bit with iOS11.  I can no longer use these apps because the app makers haven’t updated them.  So I’ve paid for them but I can’t access them, and the app makers (which are not small, independent app makers; these are multi-billion dollar companies such as Activision) won’t update them.

I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around this.  For instance, book information goes out-of-date and is no longer useful, and no one expects to be handed a new copy of the book.  YET a person still has access to the original, unuseful book.  It’s not as if the book company runs into their house and pries the book from their hands.  What they do with the book they purchased is their choice.

I’m frustrated, but moreover, the experience has made me wonder if I should purchase apps or e-books or digital movies knowing this.  How do I purchase digital content in the future when I know that digital content may be taken away without my permission?  There’s a lack of trust now.

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These are my vents.  What are yours?

6 comments

1 a { 05.20.18 at 10:33 am }

But the multi-lane deal gives you the choice of picking a lane. You take a chance that you might get through quicker. The single lane might be more “fair” but you end up with everyone vaguely irritated because they have to wait rather than only a few irritated (usually with themselves, for choosing poorly) because things are slow. Efficiency is one thing; psychology another.

Sorry about your apps. That sucks.

I have nothing to complain about today. How unusual.

2 nicoleandmaggie { 05.20.18 at 10:48 am }

Sometimes at TJ’s (Store B) it will take a while for the person at the front of the line to realize a line is open. That seems inefficient.

3 Mali { 05.20.18 at 7:54 pm }

My perception is that Apple cares more about selling their new products than helping people use their older products. I think it’s their fault as much as the app makers. Regardless, it still sucks for you.

I have dived fully into e-books rather than paper books. So I hope this doesn’t happen, though I suspect it will. It’s also why I’ve transferred photo backups from CDs (remember them?) to my portable hard drives.

4 Cristy { 05.20.18 at 8:40 pm }

Fry’s electronics did the “store B” option for queuing. I liked it for the reasons you stated. However everyone around me didn’t, using a’s observation about choice. It’s the same thought process that leads to people lane-hopping while on the freeway (even though it causes tracfic jams). I think people like the idea of gaming the system, even if at the end of the day it ends up being more inefficient.

And there’s actually a large body of work on “cheaters” and how they do benefit… if they are low in number in a population. But if they become too frequent, the system collapses (think of the apocalypse/everyone dying).

Sorry about the apps. I’m wondering if you alerted the app makers if there’s a work-around?

5 Amber { 05.21.18 at 5:30 pm }

I seem to be in the minority based on the rest of the commenters, but I like the Store B option! As annoying as it is to wait sometimes, it seems the most efficient to me! That really is too bad about the apps. I hope that is a problem that can get fixed!

6 loribeth { 05.23.18 at 7:54 pm }

I have to admit, I much prefer the store B lineup system. It seems much more fair. It’s inevitable that whichever checkout line I pick is the one that moves as slow as molasses. 😉

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