There’s nothing quite like asking strangers, “Is five squares of toilet paper enough?” But I got to do just that for my story today on Kimberly-Clark’s new electronic toilet paper dispenser, which gives out five squares at a time.
According to a Kimberly-Clark study, bathroom visitors used 20 percent fewer squares “per event” with an electronic dispenser than with a manual one. That’s good news for restaurant owners and facilities managers. But the company may have a harder time impressing end users.
[snip]
Although [restaurateur Chip] Moore’s restaurants don’t get nearly the crowd that the civic center does, he also said he liked the idea in principle, but was wary of the details — specifically, that the machine only doles out five squares at a time.
“They’d have to do better than that,” he said. “Five sheets ain’t much. It would have to reload pretty quickly or you’d be in there all day.” It’s more important in a bar than a restaurant. “[In] an active bar, the ladies’ room is gonna roll through some TP,” he explained.
How many do you use?
The Fray
Randy says:
I think that exceeds the permitted amount set by the new Sheryl Crow laws, doesn’t it?
Randy says:
Pwils, I find it oddly apropos that you would even mention depends in this article. :)
pwils says:
Gee, I only ment that it depends on what you were doing at the time. Did I offend someone? I actually find the contraption rather hilarious. Although it might be a good idea to carry some depends as you might not be able to get enough toilet paper to do the job.
And anyway, I would like to know how many Andrew uses? When you think about it, it doesn’t make for good dinner conversation either.
Randy says:
OK. Depends as in http://www.depend.com/ is what I meant. Sorry if I wasn’t sufficiently unclear.
gnomic says:
“impressing ‘end’ users.” HAH!
I don’t count. But I’m not doing business (literally or figuratively) with any company that petty in the potty. This is a stunning example of Dilbert management – counting TP while wasting money on stupid ideas. And did Kimberly-clark measure how people felt about such a device (and would you believe them if they did?)