The person opening the shop has begun work before the first customer begins comparing service.

By the time anyone walks in with an opinion, hours have already gone: lights, deliveries, floors, the till counted, whatever broke yesterday dealt with quietly. Customers arrive at the middle of a day and judge it as though it were the beginning. That is not malice, only the natural limit of what can be seen from the door. Most work stays invisible to the people it is for.

Next time service disappoints you slightly, hold the thought a moment before it becomes a verdict. You might ask how long they have been open today. It is a small question, and it usually changes the temperature of the exchange.