Thanks, my friends, you've given me much to think about.

One of the events that sparked this thread was a conversation with friends yesterday on "customer service" in the stores here in Guam. Two of the participants in the conversation were from Japan where customer service is of prime importance. The hotels, restaurants, and shops here in Guam do not do a good job of servicing their customers. A majority of their customers are from Japan. Thus the repeat business is estimated at only 20%. They could do a lot better. Repeat customers tend to spend more than first time customers according to one of my friends.

I remember, as a general rule, that poor service and poor treatment of any kind happened in the cities (except in Japan). Once you get out of the crowded areas you get better treatment assuming the locals are not afraid of you, i.e., bigoted or prejudicial.

As for my sample size I am using the big trip only as a point of reference. It seems to me that the trend has been downward for most of my life.

Of course, it is also true that your treatment depends on individuals.