You’re standing at the supermarket checkout, frantically trying to pack
your weekly groceries alone, at the same time fumbling for your purse. The
assistant, meanwhile, does nothing to help, just sits glaring at the queue that’s
growing behind you. If it sounds familiar, you won’t be surprised to learn that
5 British people moan on average to no less than 13 friends about bad shop
assistants. But if poor service is increasing, it could be because, as a nation,
we’re the least likely to make a fuss about it.