What is an acceptable waiting time?

[Bonami]

What is an acceptable waiting time? How long are you willing to wait to get ring up at the grocery stores or to see your doctor or for customer service to answer the phone line, etc. etc. And do you get irritated when you see the customer service continue to talk to another customer long after they have completed the transaction? For me it depends on my mood or situation, I find myself sometimes getting irritated and annoyed by their behaviors. Other times, I find it amusing. Overall, I do not enjoy waiting especially if I have other errands to run. I have been kept waiting in a doctor's office for longer than an hour and I never spoke up even though there were people that came after me that went in ahead. And that put me in a bad mood but I am trying to overcome that by telling myself that I am lucky I am not as sick as those who went in ahead of me. I don't really know but it is just a way to make me feel better about the slight.

 

[mgint]

part of lie waiting to do lifes chores just have to be patient sometimes even though it can be aggravating sometimes.

[bshee58]

Well for me I think it shouldn't be no longer than an hour, from the time you finish with the questions from the front desk to the exam room, it shouldn't take not 2 to 3 hours to get seen. I guess the doctor that is going to take a look at you he wants his money from your insurance provider, so the longer they keep you the more he gets paid.

[MichelleHW101]

For me it depends on the situation.  In the doctor's office, I've waited as long as an hour and physically saw the doctor for only ten minutes.  In grocery lines, I've waited as long as twenty minutes with everyone around me grumbling.  I have patience to wait, especially if there is something I need at the end of the wait.  I've been on hold for a half-an hour but that's the longest I will wait.  Then I just hang up and try again.  That's why I love my cell phone.  I just stand in line or wait around and mess with my cell until it's my turn.  If I'm at home I make calls with my landline phone so I can still use my cell.  If I'm out and i need to make a call I wait no longer than ten minutes then I try back later.     

[bremer51]

If I'm kept waiting when I have an appointment, I will inquire after 10 minutes. Anyone can run a little late.  If the explanation is adequate, I will wait another 5 minutes at which time I say, "I'd like to re-schedule my appointment."  Then I get in right away or I re-schedule.  If I'm waiting in line to check out at a store I visit with the people in line with me until my turn comes up. Some things you can control. Somethings you can't.

[countrygirl12]

What is an acceptable waiting time? How long are you willing to wait to get ring up at the grocery stores or to see your doctor or for customer service to answer the phone line, etc. etc. And do you get irritated when you see the customer service continue to talk to another customer long after they have completed the transaction? For me it depends on my mood or situation, I find myself sometimes getting irritated and annoyed by their behaviors. Other times, I find it amusing. Overall, I do not enjoy waiting especially if I have other errands to run. I have been kept waiting in a doctor's office for longer than an hour and I never spoke up even though there were people that came after me that went in ahead. And that put me in a bad mood but I am trying to overcome that by telling myself that I am lucky I am not as sick as those who went in ahead of me. I don't really know but it is just a way to make me feel better about the slight.

 

It depends on where you are and like you said my mood.  At the doctor I don't really have a choice but to wait.  I have waited as long as 3 hours past my appointment.  I was extremely irritated and angry but you do not have a choice.  And the ones who went ahead of you were not necessarily sicker.  Just lucky, knew somebody, or whatever.  Our local family practice (which is about all we have in my small town) is horrible.  You have an appointment at 2 you can bet you will not see a doctor before about 4:30.  If my appointment is at 2 and I go in at 1:45 and 3 people in line in front of me are "walk ins" who want to see the same doctor they will go in before me.  So why the crap do we make appointments.  Just show up and who ever gets there first gets in first.

I have walked off and left a full buggy sitting there in line at the grocery store before.  It was about 5 or so in the evening and they had ONE register open and people every where.  Like the line was actually 2 going down the aisles and the managers could have cared less.  So off I walked and they can put the stuff back up.

I get irritated when cashiers ring up friends and stand there and talk for 15 minutes after transaction is done.  Sometimes cashiers just get to talking and I try not to get too upset about that.  It could be the customer or the cashier.  You never know when someone could be on the verge of suicide and a few friendly words could make all the difference in the world.

Over all I am not a big fan of waiting. lol.  Totally depends on the situation though.

[heypeg]

Anything longer than 20 minutes is too much for me.

[Skyisbluetoday]

Depends if I have other things I'm doing!

[ktheodos]

Depends if I have other things I'm doing!

Exactly! I can be pretty patient, but it depends on the day...

[cateyes1]

I would say 15 minutes is sufficient 

[rghvac69]

It depends on my mood. Good mood half an hour. Bad mood 5 minutes.

[nannycoe1]

It depends on the situation and how I feel that day

[judylucas]

It's very upsetting for me to wait in doctors office and find out six other patients have the same appointment time as I do. I have been known to leave after 15 minute wait past my appointment time

[sherryfan]

I don't like to wait more than 10 min. I usually go to self service, I hope for doctor appointment you can self service too 

[davidh121]

Too many scenarios. Each of us weigh in on a certain tolerance for different cases and as others have mentioned, it's dependent on the mood you're in. I will get more agitated if I'm in a rush regardless. If I'm in a positive mood, I might be more willing to wait.