Not So Quickie Mart

So, in Ottawa there is a chain of convenience stores branded as Quickie Mart. Yes, I had visions of Apu the first time I saw one. How could you not. I occasionally purchase items from the Quickie Mart. Tonight was one of those nights.

When I arrived at the store there was a long line at the cash register. Not a long line for a convenience store but a long line for nearly anything. There were nine people in front of me. I picked up the bottle of Coke I wanted and joined the line. It turns out the line was not moving. Two more people entered the store and eventually joined the line that was still not moving.

Upon further investigation it appeared the lone employee was conducting some type of cash-out.

There are two problems with this.

First, a convenience store is supposed to be convenient. You should be able to get in and out quickly. You pay a premium for them to be open at all hours and you can quickly make your transactions.

Secondly, and possibly more importantly, the security within a convenience store is based on not a lot of people being in the store at once. If you have to many people in an convenience store it gets a lot easier for someone contemplating a robbery to pull it off. It is easier to generate confusion. It's easier to control a larger crowd. It's easier to get conflicting witness statements that may help prevent a conviction.

It is understandable that employees must compete reports. Managers must know what is happening in the organization. That being said, serving customers should always be the first priority. Customers should not be made to wait. A waiting customer has the ability to change their mind. It costs you sales.

Tonight the Quickie Mart was not so quickie, maybe they should seek out and hire Apu.