Good Customer Service begins with being a Good Customer

If you asked anyone who works in the service or retail industries what they dislike most about their jobs, it's very likely the top of their list is dealing with customers. Some of you may even be nodding your heads. Unless you are the kind of person who gets a profound sense of joy and pride out of being in a position of subservience to the whims and desires of every Tom, Dick, and Harry that walks through the automatic-sliding doors, work retail and service jobs can be both crushing, and soul draining. Can be. Operative term.
But, as I have touched on in other entries of this blog, it is all often a matter of perspective. Not just for you if you're in that line of work, but also you, the customer. It's a two way dance, so let's start with a right leg out.

As the customer, you are the sole reason for a business to exist. You're the person who purchases the goods and services and keeps people employed and recieving their paychecks. You are one of many, many stones that make up the foundation of economy and society in general. My first point will be not to abuse this knowledge. You are an important factor of any business, but you do not own or run the business. Don't let the revered status of Customer go to your head.
Never forget that every man and woman in any place you visit with purpose or desire, is a man or woman like yourself. You do not know their business, or their stories. The least we can do, for anyone, is to be civil and polite, if not just simply friendly.
Golden Rule of Good Customership 1: Be Humble.

It is also a good point to bring up, that there are two states you should never go out shopping in. One should never go shopping while hungry, or angry.

I once had a job where for a time me and several other people had to sell memberships to a club. It equated to a lot of standing around and being turned down. One day, I return from a bathroom break taken purely to break the tedium, to a woman seeming to give my partner at the table a hard time about the memberships that we were selling. To take the pressure off my partner, I interjected with a full explanation of the membership and what we offered, very matter of factly and simply. This seemed to offend the woman, and she became even more upset and began to storm off. Merely as a matter of courtesy I tossed out a "Have a good day", which made her spin on her heels and become even angrier. Apparently "Have a good day" is retail speak for "Sit on a tack and die" where this woman was concerned.
The rest of the day I turned the encounter in my head, more so in preparation if she came back for another jab. I came to a conclusion that, she was having a bad day, and she brought it with her and tried to rub it off on us. 
Don't do this. It's not going to make you feel better, you are only going to make things harder on other people, who are simply either going about their business, or just doing their jobs. Misery does not actually enjoy company, so there is little value in sharing your bad day with the rest of the world. In fact, according to the Law of Attraction, you are literally telling the universe you want more misfortune and more bad days. This is not a good mindset to have. The world is full enough of hard hearted, miserable people who just want to make other people just as miserable. Let us not add to the population of them.
If anything, these types of people are the scourge of retail and service.
 Golden Rule of Good Customership 2: Just be nice.

Now, for employee's, just take what we have talked about above, and apply it to your work day. Be humble and civil, and polite. Don't bring your bad day with you, because it will seriously hinder your work.

I could go on to talk about shopping habits and the aspects of people buying what they want rather than what they need, but that is your business. You are going to buy what you are going to buy and no one should be able to tell you what you should, or should not. You're an intelligent person, and it's your money.
...Just please don't manhandle the displays...