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It is fascinating to consider the evolution of consumer behavior in the US, compared to other countries, including the US of yesteryear.  I hold no illusions about the supposed greatness of the past.  A lot of things were much worse.  But people seem to agree that Customers used to be polite to service industry professionals, and that the staff themselves were higher-trained.  Is this true?  I am too young to really remember how polite or impolite or skilled either party used to be.

Regardless, the current state of affairs is unhealthy.

In Japan, the contrast is stark.  There is no tipping, but service is excellent.  Customers are, for the most part, very polite.  Staff are polite as well, and even the 4am convenience store clerks can make instant math calculations in their heads that involve carrying, and staff (AND many customers) bow (very very slightly) at each other a few times during a given transaction at a checkout counter.
Contrast: On a recent trip to San Francisco, I went to a  smoothie chain and the bill came to 2.05.  I gave the employee $3.  He pressed the 3 on the keypad, hit enter, and the register opened.  Then I realized I should make things easier on him and just give him a nickel as well.  The employee then stared blankly at his register for about 20 seconds unable to deal with a register telling him one number (0.95 change) and reality suggesting the blindingly obvious, (give back my third bill, tada).

There are negatives here though.  If the customer wants something that is not on the menu, it is usually not possible to request it, because they clearly believe the inverse maxim: the customer is NOT always right.  At least in this case, I wish they would learn from us.