Originally Posted by
Peoriaman1
The issue at grocery stores, Target, etc is that the lines are separated by racks of magazines, candy and other sundries. If a new register suddenly opens up, the people stuck in the slow lines are stranded there, hemmed in by the racks, while its the latecomer at the end of the line who has the clear path to be the first one in the new line.
At stores where they seem to care about this, I've commonly seen the new cashier come over and say, "I'll take the next person(s) in line" to try and attempt to even distribute everyone who has been waiting. Otherwise, you do get the free-for-all with those at the end of the lane more physically able to run to the newly opened lane.