I can't say I've had the pleasure of rediscovering a place after having had bad service. Like you, I avoid those places to the point I'd consider anything else before giving such a place my business.
My experience has been the opposite. I submitted an online order yesterday from a food truck not far from my house. The food is excellent. The expected wait time was 30 minutes, but after that time had elapsed, I was told 8 orders came in ahead of mine. Had they told me that before I would've chosen not to wait and told them to cancel the order.
I likely won't be back, since I put a hefty premium on my time, not because I'm any more important than the next person, but because time is one thing in life I can never get more of, earn, etc. I don't appreciate it being wasted, whether intentionally or inadvertently. I may go back in the future and hopefully be pleasantly surprised like yourself, but I suspect it will be quite a while.
You sound a lot like me in that I don't tolerate nutbaggery very well. It means I don't/won't go back to places where it occurs as they don't deserve my money and there's always a different option to choose.
Service is declining so rapidly, disinterested staff, zero care-factor, and lack of training from ill-equipped manages/owners with no clue...it's not a recipe for success and I simply won't give them my money.
I agree. I think we think along the same lines in that regard.
On the opposite end of that, if I receive excellent service, I make it a point to go back and also leave a very good tip, so they know I noticed and appreciate their effort and value their time.
Oh yeah, I do that too...although tipping isn't a thing here. Showing genuine gratitude in a world leaning into selfishness makes a person stand out and apart in good ways and I believe in doing so where appropriate.