By BritCats Studio @ Adobe Stock

According to the National Customer Rage Survey (love the name), 77% of customers reported a product or service problem in the past year—a new high.

Remember the old saying, “the customer is always right?” Well, you can kiss that phrase goodbye because, based on the number of shoppers reporting a product or service problem, telling a customer they’re wrong is a risk companies seem willing to take. In other words, if you’re a problem customer, you can take your problems elsewhere, mess with another company, and make us better.

A clear example is the airline industry. If you’ve taken a commercial flight recently, you know exactly what I’m talking about. How about a cruise? You get what you pay for has never been truer. It’s why you need to be increasingly diligent about prior planning both endeavors. The same goes for your retirement life.

You’re reading this because you’re one of my successful American readers who saved ‘til it hurt and lived within your means. Listen, you can afford to spend the extra dough to travel with the peace of mind and comfort you so richly deserve. You don’t need to be stuck in the back row with the folk who are traveling for “free” because they took advantage of the system. It’s not fair that you’re paying for their trip too, right? Exactly.

So, here’s the deal. Inflation’s a problem, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Be prepared for some sticker shock. You don’t want to ruin your trip before you leave. Make a list of the trips you want to take and figure out what you’re up against.

Make a list of must-take trips and what might be possible trips. It’s ok to dream. This is what this stage is all about. Hey, you can’t take your money with you. And who said you need to tell the kids how you got there? (That is the fun part, though, isn’t it?).

Action Line: Customers who believe they’re always right are not worth the hassle. A business that kneels down to them isn’t running the business; they are. As I said in my conversation with one of you yesterday, go to Paris, don’t go too far off the beaten path, dress accordingly, fit in, and you’ll be just fine.

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Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.