When I hear about people like that, what pops into my mind (and yes, I confess, I sometimes even say it, if the situation warrants it) "Are you always so rude, or do they pay you extra for that?" That always gets their attention, especially if you say it loud enough for the manager to hear. <G>
I said that to a rude cabbie in NYC one time, when I was 17 (my poor, polite father was beyond horrified), but the guy thought it was so funny, he ended up driving us around the city for two hours - NO CHARGE! - and when he returned us to the hotel, he jumped out and took our bags up to the doorman, who was flabbergasted at such courtesy. It worked well on a rude cabbie in Paris, too, but in French. <G> Sassiness absolutely knows no boundaries.
