Customer care in Germany

Customer service in Germany is traditionally bad.
Many major stores and chains (including their customers) care about cut-price only and if you need any service beyond choosing on your own and paying at the cashier, you are often lost.
That said, many smaller shops nowadays offer better (and sometimes very good) customer service to differentiate themselves (and justify their higher prices) from the big chains and Internet merchants.
Restaurants often have good service, because the waiters want your tips (which, contrary to USA and some other places, are only given if one is satisfied).
Some of the worst service in Germany is at government offices (incl. the dreaded Auslaenderamt), where you often feel like you're begging for favours from arrogant and unsympathetic buerocrats.