[Becky Thatcher]

Usually I quite like it but I am more than happy for them to just say "Hello" and get on with the job.

Today I was in a bit of an irritable mood and was annoyed with the young girl saying that the weather can never be too hot for her except when she gets too sticky at night, etc. Don't worry, I was very polite and nice back.

What does annoy me is 18 YO boys asking you in a bored voice "Any plans for the weekend?" when you know they have been told to ask that. I have an 18 YO DS. I know that he hardly gives a sh*t what I am doing on the weekend let alone some random.

Sometimes I am tempted to say "Well I was thinking of asking you on a date" or something

[House.of.blue]

I use to be front end manager and I hated small talk :/ I avoided it at best I would ask closed questions so the response was limited then I could stop talking. Rude maybe but truthfully I didn't give a f*ck what you have done, how your day is going or what you are doing later I simply wanted to scan the groceries and get on with other stuff. Now as a consumer I give closed answers I hate talking for the same reason I know they don't care so why waste my breath and time telling them. It's mostly for the elderly that we tried to make an effort if we were not too busy as I do feel like sometimes I was the only 'stranger' they may talk to that day/week.

[lifehacker]

No, I just want to get my groceries and go, as long as they ariren't rude then I don't need conversation.
I often feel a bit weird when the boys ask that, it sounds like how they'd talk to their mates. I feel like I should be saying "oh Bro, I'm heading to the beach, catch some rays, ya know"

If I truthfully answered and told him, well I'll be washing the dog, taking the kids to athletics, doing several loads of laundry,mopping the floors etc would he really want to know that?

Usually I just say "not much" "hoping to relax" or something along those lines.

[Dinosaurus]

Well don't do that as it will constitute harassment

I am happy with chit chat and small talk.

I was not happy with the bloke at [shop] the other day who spent about 15 minutes telling me about his artwork, his commissions, his donation to charity (a portrait) and how this was just something he did because he loved people (he was about 50 so could well have been telling the truth).

Then after ringing up my 5 tops (all Xmas presents ) I presented him with my gift cards (5 of them) and he said "You're lucky it's not busy, I don't accept gift cards when it's busy. I definitely wont be accepting them over Xmas"

Seriously, cut down on the art talk and take the bloody gift cards *goes off to write complaint to store as is still mad 3 days later*

[sweetboysofmine]

NO! I'm a self confessed self serve addict

[Puggle]

I'm normally quite chatty with the checkout people I encounter.

However, there is a guy at my local Woolies who quite frankly gives me the heebie jeebies. I try and avoid him wherever possible. Judging from the length of other queues even when his is shorter, I'm guessing I am not alone in trying to evade him. I have no problem with any of the other people who work there.

*shudder*

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I don't mind it most of the time, but that's probably a lot to do with the fact that I always opt for self serve if I'm only getting a few things so I don't deal a lot with checkout people. When I do I often have DS with me, and he tends to soak up the attention and start a conversation. I quite like the chat because when I worked in retail I hated people just ignoring me - made me feel like a slave. Sure, they might not care what we're talking about, and I generally don't care either, but to me it's better than awkward silence

[Becky Thatcher]

NO! I'm a self confessed self serve addict

I do that if I have a few items but they frown at you with a trolley full

[vintage.blue]

I don't mind them saying hello but it's annoying when they go on and on.

[sweetboysofmine]

I do trolleys full. I live in a small country town where people prefer the small talk and are unsure of self serve. There's often lines and lines at the checkouts but no one at self serve.