Kai Clarke

Survey Sees Need for Speed at Checkouts

August 11, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
A survey of 2000 people conducted by Barclays Bank and published by the BBC found 68 percent of U.K. participants had abandoned a queue at one time or another. Apparently more than two-thirds abandoned the checkout line because it was taking too long to be served. What are the most effective methods for reducing the amount of time consumers spend on the checkout line?      [more...]

This is a poor survey. It is UK based which really does not apply here to the USA market. I cannot remember the last time I saw people leaving a checkout because it "took too long."

Furthermore, our checklanes and technologies that are used, as well as the larger store footprints in many of our retailers allow more shoppers through each aisle, faster. This does not happen in the store layouts and designs in Europe because of the limited footprints, checklane designs and technologies used (overall). You would never see a 50-60 checklane store in Europe like we have here in the USA at a Meijer, some Fry's, Wal-Marts, etc. Our large footprint C-stores sometimes rival their standard footprint grocery stores in Europe. Again, flawed information and a flawed result....