I really didn't mean to offend you, Yann. I was 
actually thinking of the American mentality of 
"You better serve me and serve me what I want 
NOW." It wasn't an off hand criticism about the 
European or Asian way of doing business. I was 
criticizing the "I am customer and serve me NOW" 
attitude that I find often accompanies American 
buyers (in all aspects of the service industry -- 
and I have had to serve some of these flaky 
customers in my day).

Believe me, I'd rather criticize American buyers 
more often than others. I took your suggestion of 
calling ahead in order to confirm an appointment, 
to heart, and believed that would have saved me a 
lot of problems. I think that is sound advice in 
any instance -- and one I didn't take. 

To anybody else I have offended, I apologize. It 
was not my intention. 

Wendy