How to get good service
By Melanie Chambers • Bankrate.com

Has your waiter ever taken so long to deliver your food that you wondered if he ran off to join the circus? Does your mechanic cringe every time you walk through the door? If so, you may not be doing everything you can to get the best service possible.

Waiters, mechanics, hair stylists and hotel owners -- they say they give the same great service to everyone who walks through their doors. But they admit they'll often go out of their way to provide top-notch service to their favourite customers.

So, what can you do to make sure you're favourite customer and get the best service possible? In most cases, it's more than just leaving a big tip.

Mi casa es su casa
My house is your house. When hotel guests treat a room like their own home, especially when staying in a bed and breakfast that is literally someone else's home, owners appreciate the extra care.

Regulars at Hillside Haven in St. Catharines, Ont., always leave the room in good condition, says owner Shirley Faber, which means less work for her.

She also likes guests who make themselves at home. One of her favourite young couples who are regular guests visit the area's vineyards and bring back wine to enjoy on the patio by the pool, just like they would at home. "It makes it feel like a different world there," says Faber.

Being a regular also comes with some benefits. "Sometimes we tuck something special, something they like, in their room, or we serve them a treat at breakfast," says Sherrie Cryan, owner of Victoria's Historic Inn in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

She adds that regular patronage can also lead to discounts and other perks. After all, repeat business is the backbone of many smaller accommodations.

Larger chains also keep tabs on regular guests. This may come in handy if you have to cancel at the last minute. While most chains will charge a partial room fee if you cancel on short notice, many will waive that fee if you're a regular guest.

Mind your Ps and Qs
Manners go a long way with people who work in high-pressure jobs.

"The biggest asset a customer has is civility and patience," says Neil Showers, director of fixed operations for Competition Toyota in London, Ont. "If people come in with their guns loaded, this doesn't go far." But, if customers enter the shop with the idea that they want to be part of the solution rather than the problem, then everyone is happy, he says.