# What's the economic model for supermarket checkout divider thingies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081 "2017-07-25T15:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/41 "2017-07-26T22:49:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I was joking. Thank goodness. That reminded me of a physician who was a patron of the library where I was employed. He wore rubber gloves all the time I saw him. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/42 "2017-07-27T00:12:36Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I can’t remember when I’ve been this disappointed… I was about to start a MPSIMS thread: “ **John Mace** has his own supermarket checkout divider. What’s a quirky thing do YOU do?” > > But thanks for 'fessing up, John. I’ve been walking around thinking “Whaaaa? Why…?” Well, if I did have one, it would be designed so that if anyone put there crap closer than 6" from the bar, it would announce, in a voice that sounded like Rosie O’Donnell’s: _ **Back off, motherfucker!** _ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/43 "2017-07-27T01:05:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, if I did have one, it would be designed so that if anyone put there crap closer than 6" from the bar, it would announce, in a voice that sounded like Rosie O’Donnell’s: _ **Back off, motherfucker!** _ That would have been a good design project in under graduate school. You could sell, “Kosher! Kosher!” in Brooklyn and Long Island. Oooh! In Jewish stores, “Flesich!” or “Milch!” Meat! Dairy! I apologize in advance for my Yiddish spelling. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/44 "2017-07-27T02:23:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Well, if I did have one, it would be designed so that if anyone put there crap closer than 6" from the bar, it would announce, in a voice that sounded like Rosie O’Donnell’s: _ **Back off, motherfucker!** _ Wouldn’t Samuel L. Jackson be better: _ **Get yo’ mutha. fuckin. shit. away from me!** _ ? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/45 "2017-07-27T05:41:13Z")
I’ve paged our resident independent grocer. We’ll see what he has to add to the story. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/46 "2017-07-28T04:32:28Z")
Some Californians want to ban them because they discriminate: [http://duhprogressive.com/index.php/148-california-set-to-ban-grocery-store-checkout-lane-dividers](http://duhprogressive.com/index.php/148-california-set-to-ban-grocery-store-checkout-lane-dividers) By the way, I asked the manager at Target about them and he said he can order them from the same supply company they get bags and stuff from. I assume it is a Target warehouse of sorts. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2017, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/47 "2017-07-28T04:50:06Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Some Californians want to ban them because they discriminate: > > [http://duhprogressive.com/index.php/148-california-set-to-ban-grocery-store-checkout-lane-dividers](http://duhprogressive.com/index.php/148-california-set-to-ban-grocery-store-checkout-lane-dividers) :dubious: This article, if you can call it that, is from 2011 on a site called “Duh Progressive” that has the slogan “Humor + Politics = Power™” ---
**Author:** ![Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shinna_Minna_Ma)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/48 "2017-07-31T07:54:57Z")
> [@Scribble](#): > > Just out of curiosity - why do you bring your own conveyor belt divider? Why not just use one the store already has? > > Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk In Israel, the stores don’t use them at all. You leave an empty spot after the previous person’s stuff. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/49 "2017-07-31T08:35:18Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > This article, if you can call it that, is from 2011 on a site called “Duh Progressive” that has the slogan “Humor + Politics = Power™” Poe’s Law in action. Besides, it is the kind of thing that silly state would come up with. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/50 "2017-07-31T19:17:57Z")
I remember these dividers being common in the UK up to maybe 10/20 years ago but I haven’t seen one now for a long time. The checkout design is the same, and yes there is often a little wait while the outgoer packs their bags before the next person’s items start getting scanned. I’ve often stood there pondering why you never see them any more. If anyone knows I’d be interested to find out why. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/51 "2017-07-31T19:33:14Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > No. You roll the cart right up to the cashier. You step around and the cashier unloads the cart while at the same time scanning. Our local supermarket does the same thing. And after the items have been rung up, they bag then for you too…and if you ask, they will take them out and load them in your car for you. It’s called “service”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/52 "2017-07-31T20:05:33Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I remember these dividers being common in the UK up to maybe 10/20 years ago but I haven’t seen one now for a long time. The checkout design is the same, and yes there is often a little wait while the outgoer packs their bags before the next person’s items start getting scanned. I’ve often stood there pondering why you never see them any more. If anyone knows I’d be interested to find out why. Because those bloody _Yank_s do. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/53 "2017-08-02T06:10:10Z")
> [@Shinna\_Minna\_Ma](#): > > In Israel, the stores don’t use them at all. You leave an empty spot after the previous person’s stuff. Yes, but that slows down the checkout line. And anything that makes the checkout line slower costs the store real money. That empty space is just wasted; it means the next customer has less room to put their groceries on the belt, and so they have to wait longer to finish emptying their cart onto the belt, and longer before they can go to the end and start bagging their groceries. So it all adds up to more time taken for each customer. Also, there is an increased chance that the empty space is mis-interpreted, and the cashier either scans part of the next customer’s stuff with yours, or leaves some of your stuff behind with their order. Either one annoys customers (especially if not caught until they leave the store), and when found forces the cashier to make corrections to the register, thus taking more time. So they are used quite often in America. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/54 "2017-08-02T06:55:29Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Our local supermarket does the same thing. And after the items have been rung up, they bag then for you too…and if you ask, they will take them out and load them in your car for you. > > It’s called “service”. More like “servitude”. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/55 "2017-08-02T08:44:23Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I remember these dividers being common in the UK up to maybe 10/20 years ago but I haven’t seen one now for a long time. The checkout design is the same, and yes there is often a little wait while the outgoer packs their bags before the next person’s items start getting scanned. I’ve often stood there pondering why you never see them any more. If anyone knows I’d be interested to find out why. I see them on every checkout lane in Britain. They are mostly white plastic. Although we don’t have baggers anywhere as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/56 "2017-08-02T09:11:04Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I remember these dividers being common in the UK up to maybe 10/20 years ago but I haven’t seen one now for a long time. The checkout design is the same, and yes there is often a little wait while the outgoer packs their bags before the next person’s items start getting scanned. I’ve often stood there pondering why you never see them any more. If anyone knows I’d be interested to find out why. I have no idea why you don’t see them any more. Maybe ask an optometrist? Don’t think I’ve ever been to a UK supermarket that doesn’t have them. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/57 "2017-08-02T09:42:06Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Our local supermarket does the same thing. And after the items have been rung up, they bag then for you too…and if you ask, they will take them out and load them in your car for you. > > It’s called “service”. If you have to ask, it’s not service. And supermarket checkout divider thingies in all the supermarkets here, but no advertising on them (thank God). Just the name of the store. They would, of course, like to get rid of the checkout lanes and go entirely self-service, but they’ve already reallised that’s not going to happen: for one thing, the “potato discount” is already very common for fresh fruit/vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/58 "2017-08-03T07:45:01Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I remember these dividers being common in the UK up to maybe 10/20 years ago but I haven’t seen one now for a long time. The checkout design is the same, and yes there is often a little wait while the outgoer packs their bags before the next person’s items start getting scanned. I’ve often stood there pondering why you never see them any more. If anyone knows I’d be interested to find out why. > [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > I see them on every checkout lane in Britain. They are mostly white plastic. :smack::smack::smack: You know what I’m thinking of the wrong thing. I take it all back. I was thinking of those pivoting divider things you used to see at the end of the checkout that the cashier would swing across so that the shopper could pack their bag while the next person was having their stuff scanned and wouldn’t have to wait. > [@Filbert](#): > > I have no idea why you don’t see them any more. Maybe ask an optometrist? No need for that. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/59 "2017-08-03T13:13:45Z")
Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2017, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081/60 "2017-08-08T05:34:39Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Yes, I can confirm those sticks fall off the belts, get kicked under candy/junk ranks and otherwise migrate around the place. A few nights again during a slow spell at work I spent 20 minutes fishing these things out from under/behind stuff at the checkout lanes and recovered about 15 of them. There were at least that many more I couldn’t get without moving some large shelving units so I didn’t bother. > > Busy lanes will snatch them from unused lanes as necessary. > > Occasionally, one gets destroyed. I expect they do occasionally walk off because there’s a type of person out there that will steal anything. And kids do stuff like that sometimes, we get a lot of 5 year olds grabbing stuff and eating it/playing with it/walking out the door because they have undeveloped morals (adults who do that stuff we tend to be less forgiving of). > > There is a certain amount of attrition. > \ I have attempted to get one of the dividers out from under the gum and had it slip into the crack between the platform the belt runs on and the shelves of the next aisle. I have seem many items roll under the shelves in the megamart. Since I rarely feel like getting down onto my stomach so I can reach under the shelves to retrieve these items, I suspect there is enough product under the shelves to stock a small store. I wonder if stores consider the products under the shelves when they calculate shrink. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-economic-model-for-supermarket-checkout-divider-thingies/792081.md?page=4)