Over familiar shop assistant

[StinkyCheeseMoose]

I had a bad attack of internal rage today.

Apart from a bit of snippiness - which the subject of my rage quite possibly didn't notice - I managed to keep it to myself.

I work in an office close to the high street of a small town. Every lunchtime I walk into town to buy my lunch and take it back to the office.

On my way back, I go into the newsagent to buy a newspaper and a flake.

The shop assistant is murderous-thought inducingly annoying. She is the kind of person who speaks to her elderly customers in a higher than usual sing-sing voice and seems to think that a bit of patronising chit-chat should be part of the service.

My annoyance started to accelerate a few weeks ago. I had bought a sausage roll from Greggs before I went into the newsagent.

"Oooo! That smells nice, what are we having for lunch today?" She asked.

I decided to ignore her question and paid for my paper and flake.

A few days ago, the weather was colder than had been forecast (unfortunately, the heatwave everyone else seems to be getting has passed us by). It was cold and windy and I wasn't wearing a jacket or cardigan.

"Oooo! Aren't you cold dressed like that?" She asked.

I ignored her question and paid for my paper and flake.

Yesterday, I put my paper and flake on the counter and waited to pay. As she picked up my flake, she said:

"Oooo! You really love these, don't you? You'll look like one soon if you aren't careful"

Am I unreasonable to expect a shop assistant to respect my privacy, not to quiz me on what I am having for lunch, comment on what I am wearing or what I am buying?

I don't mind a quick "It's a lovely day today" type of interaction, but all I actually want from her is quick and efficient service.

You sound fun.

I think you’re being a bit grumpy. I’m not overly chatty, but I’d have answered her questions.
Very perky people get an internal eye roll from me, just because I’m not like it myself, but in some ways I envy them.
If she annoyed me that much, I’d buy my paper and flake elsewhere 😁

She is the only person some of her customers will speak to all day.

You want her to stop because you can't make 2 seconds of small talk?

Do you ever mix it up and buy something different to a flake?

I don't know why this made me laugh so much.😂

Don't ask op a question ffs, you'll set her off 🤣

I imagine she’s equally nonplussed about the rude customer who comes in everyday and can’t even summon up the decency to respond to her basic questions

@StinkyCheeseMoose This ☝ and for all you know she may be living a really unhappy life and it is her only bit of relief to be pleasant and welcoming and chatty to her customers.

I imagine having a conversation with customers makes what could be a long and boring day more interesting for her.
If you really detest having a brief conversation with someone then maybe go to the bigger shops where you can go to self service and have no interaction with anyone.

I'm assuming you are not Northern. She sounds innocuous.

I'm not one to chat to shop assistants but she seems normally friendly for that kind of role. Use a different shop if it bothers you so much.

Or buy multi packs of Flakes from the supermarket and take one of them into work each day. You'll save money and won't have to talk to her.

Ah come on op

in the world we live in right now - kindness goes a long way. These chit chats make me less lonely every day, I appreciate them so much. I’m surprised the shop assistant still keeps trying, you seem a little unapproachable

Same. Hilarious.

I love you OP.

Need the 😂 back

I work in a shop, I hope I’m not annoying 🙈 it’s just mundane chit chat isn’t it. Apart from the turning into a flake bit. Maybe she’s just looking a reaction at this point. That’s probably what I would do if someone ignored me when I was serving them.

You sound like a miserable cow.

Yep, YABU! It’s just friendly social chat passing the time of day.

If you don’t like it shop elsewhere. You’re an incredibly rude person.

You sound extremely southern. (Apologies to the friendly southerners!)

Honestly! I’d take my custom elsewhere!

I’m sure the assistant will be glad of it!

”Quizzed about what you’re having for lunch” 🤣🤣🤣

I’m hearing and seeing Caroline Aherne as Mrs Merton - think it’s all the “ooohs” 😂

I know she annoys you but just chit chat back op. Where’s the harm in it? It’s so much easier just to get along with people even if you are faking it.

You sound up your own arse, what's the matter with you,do you want the assistant to be as rude and miserable as you.
Honestly just be civil.

Yeh I feel like this frequently because I’m depressed and introverted. At the same time I recognise that a bit of friendliness oils the wheels of interactions and a lot of people value it.

So when i encounter people similar to the one you describe, I go along with it in a fairly minimal way that doesn’t encourage the other person to sustain the chat unduly or ask further questions.

You sound utterly cheerless and unnecessarily brusque.

It’s the silently placing down of the paper and flake that did it for me. 🤣