I'd like to break up the monotony by telling the single most impressive customer service story I have ever experienced, and I was the customer.

When I went to college, finally being able to surf the internet was a big change for me. As well, I had a cell phone for the first time in my life. Being really naive and obsessed with gaming, I found a number for Konami's USA office.

So I called them up! I said, very politely, "When are you guys gonna bring Rondo of Blood over here?"

The guy explained to me that he and the office I had phoned had absolutely nothing to do with and no control over Konami Japan's release decisions. I thanked him for his time, and that was that.

Little more than a year later? Yeah, Dracula X Chronicles.

But in keeping with the spirit of this thread, I remember when I worked for the Kroger Fuel Center. I was much younger and skinnier then, and had very long hair (I was at the height of my rock and roll trip).

One morning, I was walking back from the free-standing restroom facility at the edge of the Fuel Center's lot. I noticed an SUV parked at one of the pumps (the only car there), and heard someone cursing a blue streak, apparently trying to get the pump to dispense gas. I mean, this guy wasn't just cussing, he was enraged. If he were a singer, he'd have been showing complete disregard for his larynx.

I immediately went into service mode, saying to myself, "I'll get the pump working for him, and that'll be that, another happy customer."

Then I drew closer, and he came into view. He was overweight, with hair longer than mine, a full beard, a Hawaiian shirt that was not buttoned at all, what looked like boxer shorts, and flip-flops. In public.

I switched gears. What at first had seemed to me like a simple customer service job now seemed more like the prelude to what would eventually become me having to file assault charges. So, I decided to keep walking back to the booth, and handle it from inside the bullet-proof glass.

Before my walking direction had given any indication of where I was going, the guy noticed me, and intoned in one of the most demonic-sounding voices I have ever heard, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT, BUTT smurfER!!"

I said nothing, calmly returned to my booth, locked the door, and the guy peeled out of there like Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Nothing in my entire history of customer service could compare.