>>Back in the early 90s I couldn't make myself understood in Boston bars if I said, "Could I have a beer, please?".
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>>Eventually I realised I'd have to say "Can I get a beerrrrrrrr?" in order to get served.
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>>Recently, since I've been going to a local sandwich shop near work, I've noticed more and more Brits saying, "Can I get ..." (of course, often without the "please" on the end). This is coupled with a recent survey I heard that fewer and fewer (or "less and less" as even the newsreaders are saying) British people are bothering to say "please" nowadays.
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>>BTW The dialogue of serving staff in the UK has changed over the last several years from the British, "Who's next please?" to the US "Can I help?".
>>Generally I don't need any help in a shop - just need someone to serve me.
>>
>>OK USA - we surrender.
>
>One of the biggest complaints nowadays is that service people in shops (clothing, food service, etc) are not polite. I've gone to numerous drugstores and paid for my purchases without the store clerk even telling me the total. She or he just looked at me and waited for money. Not even a thank you or have a nice day. No one counts back the change any more either. They just handout the change based on whatever the cash register determines and stuffs it all in your hand at once on top of the receipt (a pet peeve of mine). Service is terrible most times. I'm surprised now when a clerk or cashier is actually polite.

We don't seem to have that much of the problem you describe around here, at least as far as the not giving a total or counting change - although some do tell you how much the change is as they hand it to you. The 'no please or thank you', yes, we do see that around here. I have found, however, that if I say 'please' and 'thank you' to them, they look slightly surprised, but will respond back with 'please' (as in "$2.54 please") more often than not and with 'you're welcome' almost every time.