Recently, I wrote an article describing how I am responding to a local supermarket's dreadful customer service.

I stopped shopping there. But before I did, I announced this intention to the manager and specifically told him why.

Then for a number of days afterwards, I'd pop in to remind the staff that I STILL was not shopping there.

The point I was driving home is that there are ongoing costs to rudeness, and to be missed and to be counted, you must demonstrate dramatically that you are deliberately staying away.

But alas, this could only go on for so long, because the market is jogging-close, and I would have to waste time and burn fossils to reach its competitor.

So, now, I have changed my strategy to a BUYDOWN PROCESS.

I am punishing the service-deficient store by purchasing only those products that are ON SALE or are necessities. My discretionary purchases, the ones that are the most profitable to vendors, are reserved for stores, to which I must drive, but that provide better service.

And of course, I'm telling those that will listen at the offending store that I am denying them the full bounty of my wallet, consigning them to losing money or making a pittance on those items I do purchase at their place of business.

Why all this effort?

I'm creating a buzz, multiplying my impact with each new service sanction I impose.

Ultimately, this suite of articles I am writing about this store will make its way to senior management at the chain, and cages will be rattled all the more.

Already, I have chronicled my experience in a new audio program that I recorded, which will be published in the coming months.

As consumers, we have many ways to "pay back" poor service. Make sure to implement the full measure of yours, if you want to have a constructive impact and reform the worst customer servants.