A BETTER Way to Wait in Line

If your establishment has multiple registers, it would seem that there are 2 ways to setup the customer lines:

1. Individual lines at the registers. Let the customers decide which one to get on.
2. One line for all registers. The employees call the next customer in line.

For me, the clear choice is number 2. Having a single line eliminates all the anxiety of trying to choose the fastest line and all the analysis of the clerks and the people waiting on each line and how many items they have that goes along with it.

When you are waiting on "the slow line", nothing burns more than watching someone get on "the fast line" well after you and then seeing them leaving while you're still on line. If everyone is on the same line, there is no decision to be made and the line actually seems to move faster because someone is always moving up to a register.

The store that comes to mind as a winner in this area is Kohl's during the holidays. Normally they operate under scenario #1 but in the holidays, when everyone is particularly stressed and their lines are very long, the switch over to scenario #2.

Everyone who ever got burned on the slow line, especially by the deceptive looking person with only 1 item who is actually holding the place in line for a person with 50 items, let your voices be heard below! If you know of stores/restaurants/etc. that have great line setups, please post them.