Deadly silence on entering a shop, off putting?

[eggplant16]

I've just been browsing a few local shops. The atmosphere in the charity shop wasn't pleasant, nobody spoke at all so I left. A small boutique had a friendly lady, chat about the weather and so on. I had a browse and made a mental note to return and try on a few items. A vintage shop had absolute stoney silence.
Before anybody jumps on me, Ive volunteered in charity shops and it can be draining.

These are local shops.

It doesn't bother me at all if the shop staff don't speak to me, I prefer it really as I don't then feel pressured to buy anything.
I used to work at Monsoon and everyone hated being the 'greeter', saying hello to everyone, you look nice today, random comments about the weather etc was excruciating.

Not as bad as when I went into a small and full boutique clothes shop and the woman behind the counter said to me very loudlu "We've got plus sizes in the back". Bitch, I gave her the look of death and walked right out.

There is nothing that puts me off a shop more than people trying to make conversation with me and asking how I am. A 'hello' is ok, but I find any more than that really intrusive, and if I walked into a shop where someone told me I looked nice or started talking about the weather, I would walk out immediately.

I hate staff speaking to me in charity (or any) shops, unless I’m actually buying something.
Can I help you as I’m browsing usually sends me towards the door.

I like a hello and something generic like ‘can I help with anything or are you just looking’ or ‘let me know if I can help you with anything’ - nothing more. I also it if there’s nice music playing at low volume so it doesn’t feel all echoey and silent.

I like it if they say hello and don't mind if they follow up with say a comment about the weather. I don't mind if they ask if they can help me with anything either TBH, all I have to is say no thanks, or just looking today. I don't really like it if they follow me around though or come over from where they are working specially. Being ignored completely is horrible though, if they want my business I'd like a tiny bit of effort to acknowledge my existence.

No, I love being left alone to browse. As long as there is someone there to ask if I need to.

I don't really want a chat when I'm out and about.

A quick/cheery "hello" or "let me know if you need anything" is the most I want. Anything more is a pain in the arse. I also want them to be actively doing something else and not just watching/staring at me as I browse.

try being the local coppers wife and walk into a pub! you've never known silence like it

I vastly prefer to be left alone in shops, it puts me right off if the shopkeeper starts trying to engage with me. Just let me browse in peace.

The worst is walking out of a charity shop without buying anything and hearing the passive aggressive "thank you!" hurled at my back. Hate it.

In France the standard is ‘Bonjour Madame/ Monsieur’ to which you reply ‘Bonjour’..

On leaving without buying anything customer says ‘ Merci’ , usual reply ‘Bon journee’

greased the wheels…

All of this. I don't mind the shop assistant saying 'hi' as I walk in, but don't engage in conversation, I want to browse in peace and not be hassled.

I also hate it when I am the only customer in any particular shop, and it puts me off going in if I look through a shop window and just see the shop assistant there and no customers. I feel like I have to make conversation and I HATE it.

Yes somebody eyed me up and down and said " We don't do size 14"

Standard approach is for someone to smile and say hello when you enter and then leave you to it. The rudest thing is when they look up, see you, but say nothing and look away.

Haha it's always creepy in these local type shops when you walk round in silence then just as you're at the door ready to leave they say thank you, goodbye!

I do find this very easy to believe. My husband and I went to a mens (independent) clothes shop about 5 or 6 years ago to get him some new trousers, when he was about four stone overweight.

As we walked in, the checkout assistant said (loudly in front of a dozen other people,) 'I'm not being funny Sir, but the much larger sizes are at the back of the shop. That's where you need to go.'

We spent about three more seconds in the shop and never went back again. I know he was a bigger size then, but there really no need for that. It's not like he asked where the bloody bigger sizes were. She just volunteered the information and really embarrassed him.

Inexplicably, the shop closed down after going under about six months later. I do wonder why. 🙄

For local people

They're local shops for local people, there's nothing for you there.

I'm fine with silence as long as any staff are helpful if I have a question. I'm also fine with 'Hi, let me know if you need anything'.

I don't mind a "hello" but absolutely prefer to be left alone to browse! I hate it when they come over and start talking to me, i will leave as quickly as possible!

There you go OP. Just walk in and yell "bum journey" at them. It's French, n'est- ce pas?

Make sure you're wearing a Breton top and carrying a baguette.