Originally Posted by
bent eagle
Now imagine that the staff in your store is cut in half, and your employer tells you that he must also cut your pay in half, and neeeds you to work twice as many hours, all because your customers are demanding lower prices. After all that, also imagine that your customers still come in and complain about prices, and complain to your employer that you take too long to see to their needs.
That's how it is in my industry (I work for an airline), as well as in many industries these days, including bike shops.
I would still be polite, kind, and considerate to my customers because I would know that if I were rude to my customers, they will leave and never come back and I won't have a job at all. In fact, I'd probably be even nicer and more polite to my customers than ever before!