For most of history, customers didn't have the kind of legal rights they have now. Businesses could refuse to serve you, warranties were non-existent until late

For most of history, customers didn't have the kind of legal rights they have now. Businesses could refuse to serve you, warranties were non-existent until late 1800s. And even when consumers did get rights, there have been constant stories in newspapers of "big companies trampling on the rights of consumers".