Has the quality of customer service encountered in everyday life deteriorated in the past 5 years?

I feel that it may be slipping in some area's that normally pay minimum wage and that hasn't nearly kept pace with the cost of living.When you have sad clerks and such who can't make ends meet its difficult for them to put on the happy face we would all like to see. Often how the customer is treated relates closely to how management treats their workers. Just a smile can work wonders when you see an employee having a difficult day. And a little humor can help lighten ones day.

I would argue that customer service started to take a downswing about 4 years ago when it was evident from the top office in the land, right on down, that concern for others went right out the window. If a customer wasn't spending thousands, why bother? What is the point in satisfying the average Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public? Isn't that what Wal-Mart is for?

Not only is it because of today's poor ecomnomy, I think it is also because of some people 's poor parenting skills. I'm not picking on anyone in particular, because by NO means am I a perfect parent, as a matter of fact, sometimes I suck at it!! But, if you compare people, or children of today than what they were 50 or even 20 years ago, children are more impolite, inconsiderate and smart-mouthed than ever. When is it alright for a 4 year old to tell their mother, " NO F--- Y--!" ?? Never!!! I know it is hard to do is some states, but here in Missouri, I spank my children when they need it! When the Sheriff of my county , can spank his son in the middle of Wal-Mart, for throwing a HUGE temper tantrum, then so can I!! I think the problem is, that a lot of people also confuse spanking with abuse. To pop the kids on the butt a few times is not abuse, unless you knock them off of their feet or leave red marks or bruises, then, that is abuse!!

I think it's because the customer service people that we encounter on a daily basis are paid such low wages that they're miserable. Also, from having worked in customer service before, I speak from experience when I say that customer service workers are generally treated like dirt by customers, especially now that cell phones are so popular. It's like you don't even exist unless you do something wrong, THEN people will get off the phone.

I indeed think that customer service has deteriorated of late. I think this is due to people simply doing the bare minimum to keep their job and get paid. We live in a society that's experiencing high gas prices, war, and other major issues like immigration. Our country is in a state of trying to find some stability. This is not saying that there isn't good CS, but it'd easier to point out bad CS than good CS.