A new year but the same lousy service.(Editorial)

We never hear the end of retailers applauding themselves for the high standards they achieve in the provision of customer service. Most of these claims are, of course, complete rubbish. Anybody with eyes and ears in their head knows this, and anyone who has been to a shop anywhere else in the world will have something with which to compare UK standards. I sometimes wonder why UK retailers don't just admit their service is woeful and play to their real strengths, such as low prices.

You might be thinking that I have recently had a bad experience while shopping, but you would be wrong. I have had several. From trying to explain to retail staff that I want them to …