The supermarket is one of those unusual places where people find their peace. Walking around with a cart, choosing each brand per item carefully is heaven for a lot of men and women. So much to choose from! It’s a sort of escape from reality, odd as that sounds.
That is until they get to the cashier to pay for their groceries and see a long line of people waiting their turn. Who likes waiting in line? They are such a waste of time. There’s so much to do!
Tesco thought otherwise.
In the town of Forres, situated on the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, this Tesco branch has a “slow” checkout lane. They call it their “Relaxed Checkout” where people are free to take as much time as they want during their transaction.
Free from the anxiety of rushing and the embarrassment of holding everyone up, you can actually dawdle about while paying for your groceries. Talk to the cashier, play a game on your phone, and even rush back if you forgot that can of tomato sauce!
There’s even a sign.
There’s actually a wonderful side to this strange idea. For the elderly who aren’t as spirited in their movements, who may even suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s. For the depressed and the lonely, and even the stressed and tired, this is the line for them.
The idea is from Alzheimer Scotland.
The relaxed checkout lane is currently available every Tuesday and Wednesday morning and is staffed by cashiers trained by Alzheimer Scotland.
Customer assistant, Kerry Speed shares,
“We have people with social anxiety issues, depression, autism, learning difficulties, or basically just a mum with three kids that might want to take it easy when she gets to the checkout.”
They are very thoughtful folk.
Wendy Menzies of Alzheimer Scotland says,
“Just by giving people a little but more time at the checkout can help people and having somebody that understands some of the problems that people who are living with dementia and their carers might be facing can be so supportive for them.”
Patience is a virtue.
It has to be said. There are people in line who do not have the decency to wait their turn. And the worst ones are those who make others feel their impatience. Well let’s hope they find themselves at this Tesco.
What a thoughtful way of reaching out to others. It’s such a fast paced world that even supermarkets are all about that rush culture. Sometimes, it’s a great idea to slow down and take some time to appreciate the simple things in life. You never know what that cashier is going through so strike up a conversation.
Special training.
The checkout staff at this relaxed lane are really trained to identify any special needs of their customers so they can operate at a speed that best suits them. It’s basically giving the customers the confidence they need to go about their groceries.
And so far, it’s been receiving positive feedback from customers. Life is stressful enough as it is for the healthy. Imagine what it’s like for the elderly and those who suffer from mental health issues. Such an awesome idea. Remember to relax!
See the story of this relaxed checkout lane in the video below!
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