Several cafes and restaurants I’ve seen have had signs announcing a surcharge for rude and/or cranky customers. Others have banned diners from talking on their mobiles while they queue, sick of having to wait for them to finish their conversations.

Out shopping recently I also saw a business owner intervene and take the side of a young employee when she was treated rudely by a grumpy, demanding customer, asking to man to leave.

This didn’t happen when I was in retail. Where I worked, we were told the customer was always right. No matter what.

This meant the man who reduced a teenage employee to tears over the price of cigarettes was right. As was the woman who started yelling at an employee as she debated the price of postage, arguing that New Zealand was part of Australia.

Most customers were fantastic. But there were always ofters who were deliberately disrespectful, intimidating and demanding to employees because they were standing behind a counter.

Many businesses also need to improve their customer service. But I’m happy to see signs threatening a surcharge for rudeness or banning mobile phones in queues. Because the customer isn’t always right. And buying a product or meal does not give someone the right to mistreat others.