[cicero2k]

Common thread:

1. Dying industry, semi-monopoly: Cable TV and Electric Utilities.

2. Dying airlines who somehow after 40 years, can’t figure out how Southwest Airlines does it. By the way, United is the worst of the lot.

3. Others are a surprise. I thought Facebook would be hip enough to have good customer service.

[discostu]

Facebook doesn’t have any customer service. From day one it’s concept has been to put the site up and let people use it. And with as much as people whine about it the user base keeps growing at frightening rate. Which makes the real customers (the ones paying for adds) very happy.

[boop]

The advent of the internet has obviously had a positive effect, but ever try to "contact" an internet business over the phone? Ebay? Paypal? Comcast? Forget it.

As for the worst "customer service" of all time, I'd have to say the IRS. They "close" at 430 pm for heaven's sake. When you call them, you are on hold for a minimum of 30 minutes, and then they "don't know anything" about your return. Even if THEY made the mistake. But they are experts at getting the paperwork to you in a New York Minute if you owe THEM. Complete with forms to arrange for immediate payment, or setting up a payment plan, all sprinkled with warnings and threats if you don't reply immediately.