Over familiar shop assistant

It's just chit chat, if you don't like it take your own flake and newspaper to work? It sounds like it's become irritating to you because it's part of your day. Yes there are annoyances but no need to let them get to you, especially a few minutes a day. I'm sure at some point the server will change and you can be annoyed at their abruptness?

Me, I work in schools, take my own lunch, barely have enough time to eat it and go to the loo so this actually sounds wonderful lol 😆

There used to be a guy in the local Tesco express who would comment on every item if buy. It drove me crazy!
I'm was very polite and would murmur a response or acknowledgement of what he'd said. But this guy would literally say in one trip
"Oooh a bottle of wine, have you had a hard day? I prefer chocolate to cheer me up...oh I see you've bought a giant bar a dairy milk too. You must be upset. Aha sanitary towels, that explains it, you're on your period..." Etc etc etc

Don’t go into Lush.

Over familiar? I think she sounds fab

Those comments are fine. I was highly amused when a checkout assistant asked the man in front of me who was buying canned dog food and industrial quantities of beer if the dog was having a party. The whole queue laughed including the customer who was buying it.

I'm with you OP.
I have worked in retail and some shop assistants cross a line from making general conversation to making personal quips at customers.
I have known shop assistants to raise eyebrows when someone is buying condoms, totally unprofessional and unnecessary!
I have also had shop assistants ask me if I am having a party because of the volume of chocolate I was buying. I was actually just going to binge on the chocolate myself but of course I just smiled and nodded.
I have worked alongside assistants who've said 'Someone's in the doghouse!' when a man was buying flowers.
He didn't reply but honestly, they could have been for any reason, he could be visiting a grave!
It's those types of comments that are unprofessional and unnecessary!
I worked in retail for years and never struggled to make conversation about general things without picking out what people were buying, why they were buying that item etc.
In this day and age, perhaps the shop assistant ought to practice being kind herself by not asking probing questions.

And buying flakes!

@IWantAShitzu

It would appear that Victor Meldrew is alive and well.

I’m one of the most anti-social people going but even I would engage with the shop worker . She’s just being polite.

Change newsagents?
Buy flakes in bulk and have the newspaper delivered?
I like the sound of her

I imagine you can get newspapers easily elsewhere. Maybe order a box of flakes off Amazon or buy some multipacks next time you do a big supermarket shop. Then you can avoid the cheerful lady!

I used to work in a shop for years. Knew everyone.
one lady used to come in, we called her resting bitch face as she totally ignored us!
I made it my mission to get her to crack a smile by being overly nice and chatty. It worked!! Haha
ended up always chatting.
OP- standing in the shop all day on your own, she probably just likes to be friendly, or she’s trying to crack you!

Lately people complain about inattentive vs workers. She's trying to be friendly. Staff can't win. Op thinks she should only be allowed to speak about the weather. What a bore! No doubt she'd get tired of that in a hurry.

Oh god forbid the poor woman actually makes some idle chit chat to pass the time.

If it really bothers you that much wear some headphones with loud music blaring from them, then she can call you a miserable old cow and you’d not hear it.

Less intrusive I mean!! It wouldn’t be questioned!

Brilliant! And so intrusive!

Do you know what…
today I broke down and sobbed because I had to give my one year old life saving rescue medications, struggled to replaced his NG tube and had to give him a suppository as he can’t open his bowels properly. Next week I am sorting out a plan for when he passes away at some point during his childhood.

I’ve never been the type of person to say to anyone “my problems are bigger than yours” but seriously OP, if this is all you have to complain about I envy you.

just be friendly ffs

I should be able to use the shop conveniently situated close to my place of work without being quizzed about my personal choices by a complete stranger

She might have volunteered in a charity shop for experience. The customers there want to tell you every last thing about themselves and are happy to supply details ad infinitum. A lady today told me that she was buying a huge second hand bread bin not for bread, but for her milkman to put her bottles in to stop the birds pecking the tops off. I hadn't asked. I rarely ask why people buy things.

It works both ways.

TBH I think you are rude hearing and ignoring the person asking you a question, you obviously have no manners at all…

Id find a different shop for my lunchtime goodies. People like her wind me up too. But then actually I take a packed lunch almost everyday. For me thats a lot cheaper and healthier and more variety (few lunch options in our town for vegetarians especially).

Are you southern by any chance?

It would be a lot cheaper to buy your Flakes in multipacks from the supermarket.

Yabu to buy a flake every day

greggs and a flake? Healthy 🤣

I hope she's reading this and is now planning to up her game with her intrusive questioning!