So the other day I happened into an Israeli pharmacy to pick up some medicine and there were two lines - one for those who only needed one to two items, and one line for those who needed more than that. Both lines had numbers going and you needed to get a number to stand in either of the lines - a number from the green machine for the express line or a number from the red machine for the regular line.
I got a number for the express line and went to sit down. It seemed curious to me that there were about 4 people waiting for the express counter, but the number I took was 250 and the number on the board was 205. Where were the 15 people that are supposed to be ahead of me in line?
Anyway, I took my seat and waited. Some people came in after me and got their numbers. Obviously the numbers started flying by on the board, as there were not many people in line. The board was about 3 numbers away from mine when a curious thing happened: A man that had just been served at the regular counter came over to a couple waiting for the express counter and, although they arrived after me, he gave them a green number which was apparently smaller than mine so they got served before me.
Now I am not upset that they got served before me. They were lucky, yay for them. But it did solve the mystery of the missing people.
Apparently people coming into the pharmacy took a number from each of the machines so that they were covered by whichever number showed up first.
This seems to me a very Israeli thing to do, which out of decency I would not have done. It seems rude and wasteful.
On the other hand, maybe I need to learn the system and assimilate into the Borg.
*sigh* one of these days I'll learn....
3 years ago
3 comments:
no! stay pure. renounce those people.
behaving in such a manner does not make it ok.
we're here for you buddy.
Was this a kupat holim pharmacy by any chance? I've noticed things are better at, say, SuperPharm. There is actually a line there. Last time I was at kupat holim, I actually shouted at some guy who decided that he was going to use my turn at the cashier's to find out whether the meds he needed were on the discount list. He was very offended.
hmmm Alon, well you won't be for long now will you?
And Nom, this was a Kupat Cholim Klalit pharmacy to be sure. and you raise the issue that is worthy of a whole post in itself: the famous Israeli "I just have a question" maneuver for getting to the front of the line quickly :)
Good for you for fighting the good fight. Power to the People!
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