Re: Threatening to take your business elsewhere can sometimes work, but having been on the other side, letting them know exactly how much money you will be depositing over a month and then projecting what you will be depositing over a year can have a much more powerful effect.
Years and years ago (pre difficult children) I was treated horribly by a grocery store manager. I don't remember what exactly happened, but I do remember just how rude and condescending he was towards me. So, what to do? He's the manager and who do I call on that? To complicate it even more, a close family member worked at the store. I didn't want to go to her, he was her boss.
So, I decided to write to the CEO of this major supermarket chain and describe in detail how I was treated. I even related the dialog we had and it was even more disgusting on paper. Then, I estimated what I spend in a typical month and then multiplied that number by twelve. It was thousands of dollars! Then, I totaled up five years worth! We're talking major dough. My theory in going right to the top people is that they will hand it off to the right subordinate and instruct them to get it handled, pronto.
I send it off certified and moved on. A couple of weeks later I get a letter from VP in customer service apologizing, blah, blah, blah and an enclosed gift certificate (before gift cards) for 50 dollars in free groceries. Okay, so I decide to continue to shop there, but am ready to do a verbal smack-down on manager if he decides to get out of line again. Plus, there's the family member to consider.
Fast forward about a year or two later, I'm not sure exactly how much time has passed. I'm at a family get together and somehow the topic of shopping and rude clerks is brought up. The family member that works at the store is a part of the conversation and I decide that it is safe to share my story of what happened with that manager. Well, her jaw DROPPED! "OMG! YOU wrote THAT letter?!?!" "Uh oh", I'm thinking, but say, "Yes, why?" Apparently, a group of corporate big wigs came out and just about "served" him that letter. The news of my letter spread like a wildfire in October throughout the entire staff of employees. "He nearly got fired over that letter!" she exclaimed. Further, she said, "He's been walking on eggshells since then!". "Oh really?", I replied, "Guess he should have picked someone else to be condescending and rude to".