Austin, Texas is the most impatient city in America, according to new research
which examined where Americans are least likely to wait for the day-to-day
conveniences of modern life.
Houston
ranked third and Dallas, fifth in the study(1) which was commissioned by eBay
Express (NASDAQ:EBAY -
News) and conducted by
Guideline, Inc., an independent research firm. The study pinpoints exactly where
Americans want, expect and are willing to pay for speed and convenience.
The "Most Impatient Cities" study examined the top 20 American cities,
assessing on a per-capita basis the number of convenience-oriented services
available to help them avoid long lines, traffic jams and wasted time. The study
examined the prevalence of convenience stores, "in and out" gyms (featuring 20-
or 30-minute workouts), availability of city government services online, quick
copy shops, one-hour cleaners and photo developers, quick-change oil shops,
overnight delivery service centers, speed dating services and Wi-Fi hot spots,
among others.
While patience may be a virtue, the study showed that impatience is a way of
life for Americans as they become increasingly time-starved. And Americans want
quicker ways to look and feel good fast: the most impatient cities all have
significantly more "in and out" gyms and one-hour photo shops to get their
citizens ready to do something else in a hurry: speed dating.
"Americans with lots to do and not enough time tend to be impatient," says
Peter Turla, co-author of "Time Management Made Easy". "Many people need help
managing their time, and are desperate to find smart ways to get more done. For
example, instead of cooking at home or dining in a restaurant, they purchase
convenience-store food for immediate consumption. Busy Americans demand services
that offer fast results."
Austin beat out other contenders by a slim margin with the highest per capita
"in and out" gyms, quick-copy centers and quick-change oil services. The city
also ranked second in the number of Wi-Fi hot spots and convenience stores, per
capita.
The growth of the technology industry and its role as the state capital were
cited by the Guideline researchers as possible explanations for the citys
preponderance of ways for residents to get what they want, when they want it.
Austin citizens so crave convenience that the city is now building a toll road
that wraps around the city (State Highway 130) that will only accept electronic
tolls -- paying cash apparently takes too long.
While Indianapolis zoomed into the second spot, by finishing in the top half
of the rankings in every category, Americas third most impatient city --
Houston -- wasnt far behind. The city finished in the top half of every
category but one, "In & Out" Gyms. And Dallas tied with Jacksonville and
Baltimore for fifth place. The city ranked third in quick service restaurants,
fourth in speed dating services and fifth in one hour cleaners and quick copy
centers.
The cities presumed by many Americans to be the fastest-paced may not really
be that way. Los Angeles shuffled in at number 17 on the list, and New York
slogged along behind, ranking 19th in the nation on the impatience quotient.
"Americans today have this intensified need to get things done quickly and
efficiently, including their shopping. And we designed eBay Express to help
time-starved consumers find what they need quickly and easily, to quell their
impatience," says Lara Bridges Housser, director of eBay Express.
