Spring Chicken
I think it’s the transition from mostly smaller family-run businesses to impersonal mega-corporations and job insecurity. When dad owned the hardware store the customers all knew him, and asked his advice on repairs or tools. Mom’s career as seamstress for Frederick & Nelson was respected in the community, with job security and paid union wages. She demonstrated pride in working there for many years, by her excellent customer service.
Nowadays a clerk at Home Depot is paid minimum wage without benefits for a job with low status, hoping to quit for something better, without pride in the position or desire to grow the company. The company doesn’t care about them and so they don’t care either.
(OK now you all can tell that I’m an old lady too haha)