I have been in USA for just over two years now. This article is based on my personal experiences of customer service here.

I like the level of customer service we get here. The employees of local grocery stores are so helpful, locating something we are just not able to find, or taking something off the top shelves for us, to sweetly apologising for not carrying a particular item. I was once looking for Smuckers Pineapple flavor at a local grocery store. They had every other flavor imaginable, but I was specifically looking for pineapple. So I stopped one employee and asked him. He also looked into their reserves and said they did not carry pineapple flavor, because it wasn't as much in demand as raspberry, grape etc. I laughingly told him, "I am dealing with a very particular palate here."  He laughed and said, "Yes, and it's a good palate, a good palate."

I was impressed by this guy's diplomatic answer. While apologising for the lack of an item, he also managed to make me smile and go away without a feeling of frustration or disapproval, at not being able to get the item. Really good.

We have had very good experiences at large hardware stores, electronics stores, furniture stores, car was, dealerships,. It is impossible to single out anyone. Its very surprising and sweet to hear an employee call out, "Bless you", if you sneeze and they are nearby. You are obligated by nature to say thanks. Even my home cleaning lady is sweet. She does impeccable work, and already I am quite happy. However, if i tell her that something is not right, or I want something else cleaned, she will do it with a smile on her face. No grumpiness there.

This is very much unlike what I have seen, experienced, or heard of in my home country. Home cleaning maids charge atrociously, and they either demand, or expect, a cup of coffee at the end of their work, or some sweets now and then, an extra buck for doing something not on their list of chores. Waiters serve us with a smile, rarely seen in my country. So, I guess it takes living out of your country to see the faults of the system and appreciate little things that we do differently here.