RE: Customer DIS-service and Changing Attitudes in the Electronic Age
Well, if you walk into a store like B&N (photography equipment) you get excellent service from someone who knows their shit.
If you walk into BesterBuy, Wallymart, notOKmart you will see lots of products, but very rarely will you get service, except to actually get you and the TV to the checkout counter.
So, the only "service" that is expected today is highly pushy salesman "service". And usually that isn't service, that is someone to pull one over on you. You see this a great deal at cellphone dealerships. Where upselling is mandatory or your fired.
Also, the internet has the reviews on everything. From people who are at least somewhat knowledgeable in the field. So, when purchasing a commodity product, the salesman is superfluous. And the only thing left is price and returnability.
And yes, that sucks for people in a real item sales environment.
Hand crafted art needs to be so cheap its disposable, or so expensive that all feel its worth it.
That seems to be very much the truth these days, and the market for the latter shrinks a little bit, every year as people become ever more mobile and less inclined to be in larger houses. Meanwhile, more and more "art" is actually hand-mass-produced in S.E. Asia and can be had for $1.99.
Your analysis of the modern evolution of service feels spot on!
You've got what it takes.