customer service

This week I have had two experiences of customer service, one really good and one dreadful, well, the corporate side of it anyway.  I don't think this is terribly relevant as far as design is concerned, but as a hopeful internet trader, I thought these different experiences and the way they made me feel are useful to observe.

I bought a coat on ebay, it arrived on Thursday, but the post office didn't deliver it, just a card saying I need to pay £5.90 to get it, as it had been sent with reused stamps.  I didn't have a bean in the house or my purse, so I emailed the seller and explained what had occurred.  She was very upset about it, having carefully salvaged some unposted, unfranked stamps, and checked at her post office that they were ok to use.  We both tried to phone the post office, but no joy, so yesterday, when I'd done some cleaning and earned a bit of money, I went to collect it and have it out with the post office.  
They were'nt having it, I was told, rather snappily, that once a stamp has been stuck down, that's it, you can only use it for that one envelope or parcel.  (I immediately thought how would they know if you cut out a large part of the envelope and taped around it like it is a label, and put a recycle your envelope address sticker on there, but I digress.)  
I said I thought that the stamp was valid until it had been stamped, and I certainly reused them in that way when you could steam them off.  She was adamant and I was parked white van man style across a keep clear area, so I just paid up and ran, but I really think they should print that clearly on the books of stamps, and make it plain.  I thought that was such bad customer service, I was not happy, and if there was an alternative system to choose, that kind of sharp practise and curt customer interaction is just the sort of thing to make me or anyone go elsewhere.   I am going to email the post office and tell them exactly that.
The seller was great about it, I offered to share the extra cost, as she had only charged me £3.50 p+p, and the coat was very cheap, so I feel a bit mean about that, it wasn't her fault, I would have done the same thing if I had unposted stamps, although when I do it now it will be in a covert kind of way!  I like a challenge.
The good sevice was at Morrison's, where I went after college to do my weekly shopping.  I bought a Valentine's  meal offer; ten quid for a bottle of wine and dinner for two (days in my case), and a load of other stuff, some things I didn't expect to buy but were reduced and on special offer, and some storage boxes, so when I paid I thought- 'ouch that's a bit more than expected, but I have bought all this stuff', and I was so caught up in thinking about exhibitions and blogs, that I just paid and went home, where I eventually noticed there was only one pudding, so it hadn't triggered the meal offer discount, and even worse- I only had one pudding.  I phoned them next morning and told them what an idiot I'd been, and that I only go to Beverley once a week, so they phoned the Malton branch and phoned me back to say go to the customer service desk, where a very helpful chap went off to get me a tiramisu, and a handful of cash.  
I was so impressed, and it really cheered me up, as I was feeling incompetent and stupid about everything at the time, and they were very nice about it.  I felt this was the right way to be treated, no one was surly or reluctant, there was no hassling involved, and I have been telling all my friends how helpful the staff were.  Definitely something to remember when dealing with customers, as is the importance of good communication, which helped to resolve the postage issue with the ebay seller in an amicable manner.