TIME THIEVES

- TIME - A Limited Resource -

Besides money, what do we seem to never have enough of? For many of us the answer is TIME. Our time is limited and fixed. We try to use it wisely and "get things done". But there are impediments everywhere to our best laid plans. Often these impediments are beyond control - accidents, traffic tie-ups, downed computer systems and those jammed phone lines to tech help. However, other impediments to effective Time Management lurk everywhere and steal our TIME. Time may not be a "hard" or tangible asset like cash or a car, but it is an asset we all have. We need to jealously guard it for our own use and not let someone else steal it.

What/Who is a Time Thief?
Simply put a "Time Thief" is someone who steals our TIME. While using their time, they use ours as well. Because of the way they use their time, they steal our time. They waste one of our most precious assets because they do not know how to use their time effectively and/or care that they are "stealing" our time.

WAITING IN LINE
The dreaded,slow-moving LINE. We've all waited in these lines. Despite many strategies implemented by managers and engineers, the slow- moving line lurks everywhere. Techniques such as fast clerks, Express Lines, and "Cash" only transactions to keep lines moving are regularly foiled by the CUSTOMERS. These are the customers who are stealing our time.

GROCERY STORE STALLS
The Time Thief frequents the grocery store stealing our time (as well as that of all the customers in the same line). Common time wasters include:
1- Too many items in the Express Line. [Apparently these thieves can't read signs or count to TEN.]
2- Paying with media not acceptable such as Checks,credit cards, or debit cards.[If these thieves can't read, how did they ever get a checking account or credit/debit card?]
3- Looking for their money after the clerk finishes ringing up their purchase. [Do they really think all the stuff is free?]
4- Start to write the check after the clerk finishes the transaction. [Do they think the date, store name and their name is going to change between the time the clerk starts and finishes the transaction?]
5- Looking for or presenting coupons after the clerk finishes the transaction.
6- Try to pass expired coupons or coupons on items not being purchased.
SOLUTIONS
Don't just stand there- DO SOMETHING. Embarrass the Thief.[A caution - Don't confront these crooks directly - either verbally or physically. Direct comments to fellow customers, the clerk or just talk to yourself.] These people are crooks! They've stolen your time. Often they know they have violated the Rules of the Line. Or they are at least guilty of monumental inconsideration of others. If they are going to steal your TIME, then put that stolen time to work against them. Here are a few ploys you can use:
1- THE STARE. An unrelenting, unwavering stare at the thief - make them feel uncomfortable.
2- If you are right behind the time thief ask the clerk the obvious, such as "Is this the Express Line?" or "Are you taking checks now?" If you are not near the clerk, ask a fellow customer a similar question in a loud voice.
3- If you are in a line where the number of items is limited, count the number of items you have in a loud voice reassuring yourself [and others that you are within the limit].
4- Take out your cash [ or check, credit/debit card, etc.] and coupons before your items are rung up. Sometimes this wakes up the time thief to do likewise.
5- COMPLAIN to the clerk and to management about slow lines and line infractions.
WHAT IS THIS STUFF? We all have run into the sales-person who hasn't a clue about merchandise they are offering for sale. (Customer questions about the merchandise are answered with a blank stare or with the response "Let me get someone who can answer that". That "someone" often proves virtually unlocatable. [Have they been abducted by aliens or fallen asleep in that infamous BACKROOM where most of the employees seem to spend an inordinate amount of time?)
Once upon a time there were just apples, oranges and bananas at the local market. Any grocery store clerk could manage to differentiate among the three. But today there are a multitude of exotic fruits and vegetables. Too often the clerks know less than the customers because the former haven't bothered to familiarize themselves with the merchandise in the produce department and store management hasn't bothered to keep the employees current on what the store is selling. Consequently your clerk may interrupt the neighboring clerk to determine the name of the merchandise and/or initiate a hunt through the Code Book wherein resides the Magic Number which will allow the mystery merchandise to be entered into the register.

WHAT TO DO - COMPLAIN AND SUGGEST
Shopping especially at the local grocery store can be a real time-killer. Crowds, long lines, lack of parking places, sold-out specials are more than enough to deal with; adding incompetent employees to the mix compounds the problem and steals more time. Here are few things you can do to get your time back:
1- Complain to store management.
2- Complain to Division Headquarters. If you are shopping at a "chain" store, call or write the Division Headquarters. Generally your complaints will get serious consideration there. The local store may be contacted about additional training for employees or company shoppers sent in to audit employee performance.
3- Suggest a program to the store which will encourage shopping at Off-Peak hours. Some stores now have special coupon or "senior" shopping days where discounts are offered. Suggest discounts or specials offered to customers who shop during off-peak hours. Many stores are already open for 24 hours a day, but for much of the time the store is virtually empty. [A very good time to shop, by the way is late at night or early in the morning. But, for many people it is just not practical or appealing.]
The Appointment Wait You have an appointment for a certain time, but you sit waiting past the appointed time for the appointment to materialize. Even though you had mutually agreed on the appointment time and may even be paying for services rendered, the other party is not living up to their part of the agreement. In this situation it can be inferred that the other party regards the value of their time more valuable than the value of yours. By keeping you waiting for them, you are being put in an inferior position. The person and/or system that is keeping you waiting has implicitly assumed that their time is more valuable than your time.
Balance the Scales DO NOT accept this assumption. Let the other party know that you regard the observance of the "appointment time" as an important part of the appointment itself. One strategy which can help reinforce your position is to telephone 10 to 15 minutes before leaving for the appointment. Make inquiries whether the other party to the appointment is expecting to keep the appointment at the scheduled time. If you didn't call ahead or did call ahead and still find yourself waiting past the appointment time, re-schedule the appointment if you desire and LEAVE. Let the other party know that keeping an appointment at the scheduled time is as important as the appointment itself. Afterall many service providers will charge you for not keeping a scheduled appointment if you do not cancel the appointment on a timely basis. They are taking the position that their time is valuable and if you waste their time you will be penalized. [This is analagous to charging interest on borrowed money. Interest expense is the time cost of money. As the saying goes "Time is Money".]
* I * D * E * A * S * Have you been victimized by a Time Thief and found a way to get back your time? Send us your story. If we can use it, we will print it here with a link to your page and send you a personalized "Time-Saver" badge to post on your web-site. To send in your story click HERE and get a personalized "Time-Saver" badge like the one shown below.

LINKS to TIME-SAVERS

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