There's another side of the equation, of course, when it comes to customer service. Here's a link to a blog of customer service employees venting about bad customers...

http://community.livejournal.com/evilcustomers/

 Many times when there is a conflict between customer service and a customer, it is really the customer, as opposed to the company, that SHOULD BE ASHAMED, or in some cases both sides should be ashamed.

For instance, if you are going postal on customer service departments under some of the following circumstances, it may be YOU that should be apologizing:

-- If circumstances beyond the control of the company are causing the problem, such as bad weather, then you should recognize this.  Guess what? That towing service probably IS swamped during an ice storm!  RELAX.

-- If the problem happens one time out of many, and they correct it, then you should be recognizing that this is not something to get stressed about.  For instance if McDonalds accidentally puts mustard on a hamburger and you didn't order it that way, you take it back in, they give you a new correct one, and that should be the end of it.

-- If the customer service rep is obviously new on the job, RELAX, give them a break.

-- If you are on hold for a long time when calling a call center, it's rarely the fault of the person who finally takes your call.  Be frustrated at the company, perhaps, for not staffing enough call-takers.  But assume that the person that picks up the phone is doing their best, until proven otherwise.

-- If you call customer service five times and are transferred to 13 people, you should still treat that 14th person civilly, give them an opportunity to help you.  It is unlikely that that 14th person had any hand in creating the problem.