I'm curious (and a bit self'conscious) as to why our local shop owner finds me so amusing!

[Wisteriabloom]

I go in about twice a week. The other day I went in, bought quite a few items and brought my own supermarket bags with me (local shop bags are quite flimsy and would have ripped half way home)! He almost collapsed with laughter, 'You've got your OWN bags?!, and was still laughing as I left the shop!

Recently I paid for my items, then saw they had a promotion on my dd's favourite crisps by the door, so went back to till and paid for a couple of bags.

He didn't say anything, but next time I was in, he said 'Are you going to get tempted by CRISPS again'? and was laughing the whole time he was ringing up.my shopping!

Another time it was raining, and he said 'It's raining, you won't get your sit-down outside today's and went into fits of laughter again! I had to think what he meant, but a few days before I was sitting on the wall where the bus stops, waiting for dd. He'd obviously seen me and remembered! 😮

By the way, he's not English, Nepalese I think. I'm not racist, but thinking my normal, everyday actions may seem funny to him, whereas they wouldn't to an english person?

He took over the shop about 6 months ago, I never used to have this with the previous owners!

Have you listened to what he's like with other customers? I'm just wondering if it's his way of trying to sound happy/positive with customers.

I don’t think he’s laughing at you by the things you’ve said, more displaying a friendly jollity maybe? He probably chuckles away at everyone. The things he brings up are to show familiarity rather than laughing at you by the sounds of it.

Yep you sound fine, is he like this with others. Trying to build friendships and business

I agree with others. I don't thinks he's laughing at you but he's one of those jolly people who generally chuckles away as he makes conversation.ive met people like that before.

What a jolly fellow, easily pleased. Or just stoned.

Just read your "I'm not racist but"... calm down. It could be a cultural difference and it's not racism to know that those exist.

some people are just giggly, I wouldn't read into it

🤣

He just sounds a bit odd 🤣🤣

Sounds like he’s using laughter to perhaps bridge a gap/build rapport and it’s just not landed with you and has instead made you feel a bit self conscious. Form what you’ve said nothing sounds malicious or unkindness aimed at you, rather that he remembers you as a customer.

Unless you’re daring to post something about cultural differences as a British person - in which case, you’re definitely racist according to many on MN.

Sounds like he’s one of these people who laughs at everything OP - which can be a bit disconcerting.

I disagree with pp's. It's rude. It would massively pee me off. Nothing you've mentioned has been slightly amusing.
I'd observe what he's like with other customers. Hang back and see. Then ask him outright why you amuse him so much.

This is what I think
It's hard to be funny in another language

I think hes trying to be friendly and build up relationships with customers. Sounds very lighthearted

It probably is that, he's new to the area and maybe prides himself on remembering details about his new customers.
Because English isn't his first language, his observations seem to come over rather more 'pointed', than an english person just casually making conversation. I need to observe how he is with other customers!

I have a local shop owner sort of like this. This guy is more...make a big joke out of the smallest thing, it doesn't feel personal. Fortunately I don't have to go in much. Last time I gave him a funny look and he calmed down immediately.

I'm curious to know if he is like this with men.

I have a male relative who puts "ha ha" at the end of every sentence. I think it's the same thing, though lord knows what it's about!

God that would really annoy me, I bet he doesn’t do that to male customers.
Have you got a DP to send in to see how he interacts with him?
Personally I would vote with my wallet and try and shop elsewhere if possible.

This reminds me of Sex and the City, when Miranda confronts the lady at the Chinese takeaway as she always pisses herself laughing when Miranda phones up with her order, turns out she did the same with every customer (yes, I realise this is fictional but still, life imitating art and all that ).

Count your blessings op. Yesterday our local shop owner told me I looked like Theresa May!

Reminds me of the guy who ran the corner shop near my old house, he was always talking and laughing and would come out with some random stuff sometimes but everyone knew that was just his way. I much preferred being served by him than the other owner who was completely silent apart from telling you the amount due and glared at you like you were an inconvenience the whole time.

What did you say? 😂

We've nicknamed our local corner shop owner, 'mad bloke' because he's such a timewaster and will tell you his life story when you go to pay for what ever you are purchasing.

Sounds like the guy in the OP's corner shop is just plain bored and doesn't care about how he comes across.

I've just remembered the Fast Show sketch where the late Caroline Aherne is the checkout operator and comments on every purchase being made as she scans it through the till !

As other have said, what's he like with other customers ? What's he like around the men who enter his shop ?

I'd much rather your shopkeeper than the one who took over one of our 2 local shops who was constantly attached to his mobile phone and called everyone 'mate' - which might have been fine for the teenagers but as a middle aged woman I didn't appreciate being called 'mate' nor having to compete with his phone conversation! He lost my business very quickly!

I think it sounds like your chap is just trying to be friendly and probably does it to everyone.

I do think British humour must sometimes seem very odd and impenetrable to non-Brits, especially if English isn’t their first language, and he may be just trying to do what he’s seen people do, comment about things and have a laugh about it. I wouldn’t take it as “rude” unless he actually seems to want to upset you. I’d laugh along and join in and have a conversation (a short one, just in passing) about whatever he’s talking about. “oh yes, the crisps are for my daughter, she loves them! You should try them.” Etc.

I’ve also been to places where making remarks about people is normal and not seen as rude at all, don’t know about Nepal but in Central America people - nice people who I was working with etc - would openly discuss my weight and looks, the fact I hadn’t had a baby at the ripe old age of 30, my clothes etc right in front of me and to me, and laugh about it. They didn’t see it as rude though it would have been in British culture.

if he is relatively new to British culture, he’ll get more of a feel for it over time so just help him along.

Aw, I miss being called "mate". Well, the newsagent does it but I don't have cause to go in there much.