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.

I'm amazed that no-one is horrified by the daily Flake habit and suggested OP brings a pot of greek yoghurt and berries to work 😀

In case the OP looks at it, unawares and it triggers her muderous rage again

I was thinking maybe a dry Ryvita and some chamomile tea.

I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be judgmental but the array of chocolate on offer, and OP goes for a flake? Each to their own but why not go for a Twirl? It’s a flake with a coat on, far less messy.

The guy who runs the newsagent next to my office always bellows "chocolate time is it, dear?' every time I walk through the door. Now that is humiliating.

It's rude and unkind to ignore her.

I’m struggling to work out how asking you what you’re having for lunch is ‘too personal’. You’ve made it sound like she was asking what your favourite sexual position was or something 😂 Now that would be too personal!

To be fair, when I get a pastry from Greggs I feel a little bit ashamed. It’s so so good though.

I have multiple voices they just come out i dont even realise. I have a phone voice, a work voice, a mum voice. And my actual voice. Trust me shes doesnt want to be your friend she is paid to be nice and friendly. What do you do for work do you have to speak to others are you friendly to them. Completely blanking someone who is speaking to you is disgustingly rude

🤣🤣🤣

She's making small talk. Stop taking it like a personal insult

🤣🤣 I work in a shop and I say the exact same thing

Im amazed you eat 2 of the messiest foods known to man in you're lunch break

Definitely tales to tell when you get home if you work retail.

Fucking hell you'd hate me im a right chatterbox 😂

This thread is hilarious. Half of MN hides behind the couch and can’t even open the door without 3 days notice, in writing and notarised, and the other half insists a stranger is a friend you haven’t met yet.

There is a middle ground people!!

True story... I had a Flake minutes before my wedding ceremony, in my white dress and all. I was 100% too pregnant to care at that point.

I get it @StinkyCheeseMoose . Social interaction is not easy or pleasant for some people.
Like it or not , it's an extroverts world so there are some social rules that must be followed. If I were in a similar situation I'd get some ear phones, pretend not to hear anything, say hello, thank you and smile.

Also, I'm going to be that person - attached to a routine (even when it's not pleasant), uncomfortable in social situations etc . Have you considered that you might be autistic?

You sound pretty grumpy tbh. It's just friendly convo isn't it?

Op sounds horrendous

I haven’t got past you buying a physical newspaper! Most people subscribe online.

Me too 🤣 The flake comment was out of order but maybe she was being deliberately rude as payback for you ignoring all her attempts at friendliness!

You sound as though you look at retail staff like a piece of shit on your shoe.

I hope you're not the same in real life as you've made yourself sound on here.

@Weetabix11 Introverts don’t struggle with social interaction, certainly not with a little chitchat at a till. They need down time to ‘recharge’ and can’t do too much social interaction e.g a night out, wouldn’t be followed the next night with one if it could be avoided.

Introversion is often misunderstood. What you are describing is a degree of neurodivergence.

Plot twist - Op is Anthea Turner.