To dislike people commenting on what you are buying?

They’re just recognising you as a regular. Most people would call it good customer service.

It’s just small talk. You’re not obligated to reply with honesty. Ultimately, being a part of a community where people recognise your patterns is a layer of personal safety as much as anything.

‘You’re always buying these’ - Yes, I love them! Have a great day!

’You’re later today’ - Gosh, I don’t know where the day has gone - have a great day!

‘you’re not buying your usual items’ - Mixing it up, I like to live life on the edge. Have a great day!

I think there's a fine line between micro connections which are actually good for us, and intrusiveness.

I hate it when they look at your debit card and then call you by name. Yes, that happened and the staff were told to do it as good service. Doesn't happen now.

If a clothes sales assistant says that's a lovely top you are buying...I think they say that to everyone and it's just annoying.

I don't mind a chat about if the new biscuits out are nice...or recommendations when they are genuine.

I quite like seeing people on their routines. Regular customers, regular commuters. Micro connections....saying good morning to the same sales assistant, waving at a neighbour.

You might be able to change your body language/facial expressions to discourage it if it bothers you. Act distracted, engrossed, in a rush. Be more standoffish

Quite right. I’m sure there are lots of pearls you need to go and clutch.

Yes I don't worry about what strangers think about me regarding unimportant matters, which is honestly something which might vastly improve the lives of most people on this thread.

You’re obviously happy to come across as crass. I’ll leave you to it.

Wouldn’t bother me
Just an accurate observation

I’m so torn. I love a chat and so wouldn’t want that to stop, but I totally agree that it’s uncomfortable when someone passes comment on what you’re buying, especially if others are around. It’s could be a bit vulnerable sharing all the details of what you’re purchasing (toilet rolls, sweets, stamps, whatever) and I would prefer if there was an understanding that chat should not include the stuff you’re buying.

I am quite chatty naturally, so I rarely have cashiers comment on what I’m buying, but I think that’s because I’ve usually preempted them with my own inane chat first

I don't understand? Is there a class requirement for this discussion about whether or not small talk is acceptable? We're on a message board not in a fancy restaurant I'm sure you can handle a bit of slang 😇

Did you mean to be that classy?

I actually used to work with someone on the checkout who never said a word to customers other than hello, £x please and bye and you wouldn't the amount of complaints he got for being rude, unfriendly etc. The poor staff can't win.

I couldn’t care less about this. I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

Very well said. Life happens, we choose how to react, how we see it.

You’re not alone, OP. I hate my purchases being commented on, too.

I once bought for 10p a French Stick (baguette) which I planned to use for croutons. The cashier was rude enough to say infront of other customers, who all turned to look at me, "oh you'll break your teeth on this, it's as hard as rock". Now I may have only been able to afford 10p for something to eat that day so he really should have kept his mouth shut.

Its when you buy some snacks for yourself and they say ooh are you having a party?

YANBU and it's nothing to do with autism. I don't mind the odd "Oh that looks nice". Although I have to stop myself replying: I know - that's why I'm buying it. And in book shops where the assistant can recommend other similar texts it's sometimes alright (not reading the whole thing and bending the spine like a PP had). Any indepth comments or judgements that show the assistant has spent actual time thinking about you and your shopping are rude.
I might have mentioned this before on here but when I was buying a pregnancy test from Sainsbury's years ago, the assistant started waving it around saying "What do you reckon? Are you? Aren't you?" I was stunned into silence and just stared at her until she put it down and scanned the rest of my shopping.

Bored shop workers just trying to initiate a conversation to make their day more pleasant and go quicker, I'd guess. That's all. Maybe try chatting to them.

YANBU @Paddingtonscare

It annoys the shit out of me. Just put my stuff through and mind your own!

I used to go to a shop that sold cakes and pastries (similar to Greggs) some 10 years ago, and I had a particular favourite cake that I bought every time - 2 to 3 times a week. (On my work lunchbreak...) One woman in there was serving every single time I went in, and she ALWAYS said 'ooooh here she is, toddling in for her big iced belgian bun.. You like them don't you?' I said 'er yeah, I wouldn't buy them otherwise.'

She said 'you'll be looking like a belgian bun you will.' 😆 She said this every every other time I bought it. REALLY LOUDLY!

I was like and

It really pissed me off. I know if I had complained about her though, I would have been THAT woman who complained about Julie, for 'just being friendly...' I would have been labelled as a 'certain womans name!' So after the 25th time she had said it, I stopped going. I had to sacrifice my belgian bun as there wasn't anywhere else that sold any that were so nice and succulent, but I couldn't stand her constant commenting.

I have a number of similar tales about me - and DH - who experienced someone who always had to make fucking comments every time we bought something, but I'd be here all day.

I don't give a SHIT if they are 'just being friendly,' I don't want them commenting every bloody time! #SORRYNOTSORRY! I am not apologising, and I am not explaining myself, or responding to the tiresome 'oh no, human interaction alert' and 'LOL!!! I bet never you answer the door or pick up the phone!' type drivel! (And I am not listening to any excuses as to why the 'always gotta say something' people might be like this!)

.

I think it would irritate me and I usually get the same things for lunch but I'd ignore so that I can get what I want 😀

Yeah but that poster was talking about when she was buying big baskets just full of biscuits. So I the comments were probably not neutral.

Heaven forbid we have any human interaction hey?!

In response to you're always buying this...I'd have just laughed and said yeah I should buy shares in them!

You are overthinking all this.

I remember when this forced conversation came in and I absolutely hated it. I've learnt to put up with it because I know the shop assistants are required to do it as part of their job, but it doesn't cease to annoy me that they comment on particular things I've bought and I'm supposed to explain what I plan to do with 12 tins of peaches or whatever. I'm psyching myself up to a Tesco delivery tomorrow. I stall the delivery men by asking if it's their last drop or something, but you still get the odd one who wants to know why I'm buying so multiples of dry goods. They probably see me as a mad old hoarder. I still get really embarrassed about going to the same shop with the same order, e.g. the butcher's, especially as my orders are tiny because I can't afford much.

This freaks me out too. I wouldn’t do it to others and it’s just so creepy that they are keeping tabs on you.