HOW often do we accept the awful customer service that sadly our country is “famous” for?

It doesn’t even cross my mind to be offended, or even slightly put out, when I’m greeted with a surly waiter, grumpy barmaid or bored an inattentive shop assistance.

To be honest, at times, I even feel lucky that they’ve bothered to look up from the magazine they were reading, their nails that they were picking or the bored gaze at the floor they were perfecting to serve me at all.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve served my time on the other side.

I worked as a barmaid throughout college and university. I’ve also, when I was so poor as an undergraduate, had to work in a supermarket during the day, then a waitress in the evening and a behind a bar until the wee small hours of the morning.

And I know how hard it is to smile and be polite, especially when you’re greeted with some unimaginably rude folk, who barely look you in the eye let alone manage a polite please or thank you .

Because of my time with my shoe on the other foot, I try to always make sure I’m polite and courteous to those working in the service industry — not least because the hours are long, the money rubbish and it’s very, very tiring.

So it’s only when I experience “good” customer service that I realise how woefully lacking a huge chunk of our “service industry” really is.

I’ve been to America, where, as a mild-mannered Brit, I find the forced cheeriness a little intimidating.

But let’s face it, our US cousins are famed the world over for their excellent customer service.

The same applies in Ireland, where nothing is too much trouble and everything is done with a smile. Not only does this mean it’s actually an enjoyable experience waiting for that perfect pint of Guinness, you also find yourself slowing down and relaxing, which I think we can all agree makes everything so much more pleasant.

But it was on a recent trip to Edinburgh that I realised north of the border are also beating us hands down with their customer service.

Literally everywhere we went, people were mega-helpful, polite, smiled and could not help enough.

Be that the guide on the open-top bus tour — yes I have reached the age where this is an absolute must on any city break — who welcomed each new person to step onboard, the bar staff in some of the hostelries we visited, the shop assistants, museum staff and everyone at the Scottish capital’s world famous castle.

Yes, Edinburgh has — rightly so in my humble opinion — a global reputation as a top tourist destination. But so does London, and some of the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced has been there.

And all this absolute loveliness from everyone in Edinburgh, coupled with the fact it’s a really brilliant place, mean I’m already planning my next trip.

So, two things need to happen. First, we undoubtedly need to start to properly value those who work in customer service, afterall, they’re the people who are often what visitors base their opinions of our fair town/region/country on, and pay them properly with good working conditions.

And secondly, we need to get a lot, lot better at it.