Canada is very similar to the USA in capitalism/economics. Yet the customer service in Canada is noticeably worse. If you live in Toronto and turn on talk radio, you will find this topic arise at least once a week on one of the talk channels or another.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the level of complaining. I know Americans, according to the stereotype, complain a lot. But they are also probably the biggest tippers. In Japan, if I understand it, it's rare to complain. The Japanese may never show up again at that store/restaurant, but they don't complain.
I work a kind of customer service oriented job. Every other person complains. They complain about ANYTHING. Waiting times too long (2 minutes). Service is "incompetent" because they need to check some figures. Prices aren't low enough. I even had one guy complain that prices weren't HIGH enough (that's not a typo..it's a long story).
Listening to complaints all day long is going to change your thinking process.
I wonder if this has anything to do with the level of complaining. I know Americans, according to the stereotype, complain a lot. But they are also probably the biggest tippers. In Japan, if I understand it, it's rare to complain. The Japanese may never show up again at that store/restaurant, but they don't complain.
I work a kind of customer service oriented job. Every other person complains. They complain about ANYTHING. Waiting times too long (2 minutes). Service is "incompetent" because they need to check some figures. Prices aren't low enough. I even had one guy complain that prices weren't HIGH enough (that's not a typo..it's a long story).
Listening to complaints all day long is going to change your thinking process.