I have received some pretty atrocious service at times too, but on the flip side, my family receive preferential treatment at other times.
At the foodcourt near my work, there is a laksa stall that does the most fabulous laksa ever. Whenever I go there (far too regularly according to my bathroom scales), I am greeted with a huge smile and a happy "hello!" This same person then turns to the other customers, smile all gone, scowls and says "what?" I am then handed my lunch with a "thank you, see you next time, ah?", while the other patrons are blatantly shooed away.
I have received similar responses from the staff at our local shops and hawker centre, though not quite as blatant as this. Although, to be fair, I hardly ever hear anyone else greet these people with "good morning" or thank them when they have fininshed the transaction. It is also quite common for people to interupt or push into the line (perhaps they think I am just wasting time with the pleasantries). My kids also know not to leave the shop without saying "thank you" - this has been a real hit with the uncles at our local shops, who see us regularly and now know the kids by name...
At home, it is normal to ask the person in the shops/supermarket (whereever) how they are (if they haven't already asked you). It's usually pretty sincere - you're expected to answer, and you'd wait for one if you asked first. I thought this was totally normal, and one of the first things I learned to say in Japanese was "hello, how are you?" and said it at the internet cafe, supermarket, on the bus (just as I would have in English)... I thought for a long time that it was my pronunciation and no one could understand me as they just looked totally aghast!
Anyway, my point is that often (note: not always), people in the service industry are treated like crap all day. I'd be rude and surly after a few years of that too.
and crossed my fingers...
