said by jc100 :

I think you are wrong. Americans do want bargains but they also want the service that comes with it. How would you like to go to a fast food restaurant (even though the item costs a dollar on the value menu) and be told to make your own meal? Odds are, you'd walk out and go elsewhere. By all means, you buying a single dollar item actually costs more to make than the business actually earns. However, said business is still willing to serve you the item the same as the next guy who comes in and spends 20 dollars on that same menu. It's a balancing act. Don't fool yourself to think that Americans don't want service. We just want the service done right. Just as you'd be irked if that dollar hamburger came out cold, so is the person who pays for their triple play and only has 2/3 items working and spends on month on the phone to get the other one fixed. In summation, the delivery and approach count as they all affect the service of the product one receives. Business is all about perception as they say. One unhappy customer, whether big or small, has many friends to tell.