Do you converse with store clerks and business people?

Bonnie said:
No way can you be as talkative as one of my downstairs neighbors @PamfromTx !! .... she is a wonderful, sweet lady, but she doesn't know how to take a breath between sentences .... and once she has you cornered, you better be ready for a long one-way conversation ...lol
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I had a neighbor like that. She would go on and on and on and on and there was no way to politely shut her up. I tried all versions of "well, I really have to get going now . . . .," but none of them worked. So got to the point where I would go out of my way to avoid encountering her.
 

oldpop said:
I live alone and I am short on opportunities for conversation. That is one reason why I was interested in this forum. So, please excuse some of my long winded posts. In the old days I was quite an AH. I avoided conversation with other people like the plague. I wanted to appear threatening so no one would even venture a conversation with me. Inside I was as shy as they come and that was the real reason for the facade. I had a spiritual awakening in the 80's. I did not see God I just became deeply self aware of how my behavior affected others and myself.

As I got older I got more in tune with myself and made a special effort to become more helpful and kind to others. I found that it was much easier and enjoyable than being an AH. Now for the short answer. Yes, When I do venture out and about I enjoy conversation especially with older than me people. So much to learn from them. So much to learn from everybody for that matter. I wished I had realized that years ago
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I was going to ask what an AH was, but I think I figured it out.
 
I feel that I talk too much, don't know why.. You think some anti-depressive drugs enable this? My theory is that we are drawn to people who are like ourselves in some way- same-generation, race, gender, nationality. Men prefer talking to pretty females, naturally, and they know it. Jokes are often misinterpreted. I get a taken aback look on their faces. Today I went to the post office for stamps. I had to ask this young woman four times what stamps she had, until I got a complete answer. Like she was hiding them.An older person would react better, I think. I do not see customers chatting anywhere in my metro area. A smile is more likely to open someone up.
Hey clerks: Stop saying "have a good day" or" rest of your day". Sounds like a dull robot. Even robots can be trained with better conversation.
 
Yes I do and I can usually say something that winds up brightening up their day. My husband was the same way and now I see my middle grandson is too. I compliment people if I get the chance and genuinely have something to compliment them about. if I like something about the way someone dresses or wears their hair or when they have given very good service (because everyone who serves the public isn't efficient and personable), I'll say so. I just saw one of the Costco employees Tuesday. She said it was nice seeing me again and I said the same to her. Sometime before COVID hit, I was shopping in Shoprite. A senior woman was greeting people and handing out something. She looked so nice. She was smartly dressed and had a bob haircut that suited her face perfectly..gray hair and all. I told her how nice she looked and she told me I made her day. It's not hard to be pleasant and spread a little sunshine when (we) can.
 
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I talk to everyone. If someone says something to me I always answer back. I have noticed since using my mobility chair, that more people, not just the clerks but the shoppers and people on the street speak to me. When I am passing people on the sidewalk I will say good morning or whatever to them. Many times they say good morning back and go on with a smile on their face. Even kids and teenagers.
 
We exchange a couple of friendly comments with the store cashiers....but keep it to a minimum while they are checking our items, so they aren't distracted.

What gets my attention is a customer at the front of the line who thinks they need to discuss their Life History with the cashier....while others are waiting in line.
 
Just a thought. I have noticed that saying "take your time" to people in the service industry really makes a difference in the stress levels of everyone involved. Customer service is stressful work.
 
Talking to the staff in our local library seems to have become a very prevalent thing, even more so after the pandemic lockdowns it seems, and not just the public engaging in long conversations with librarians, but fairly prevalent between the librarians themselves.

Long gone are the days when anyone would be "shushed" in a library it seems, (some days it is used as a creche, to try to find more customers these days, as book reading declines perhaps).
 
Yes, but i always have an eye out for if another customer needs their attention.
i'm a person who requires and enjoys a lot of solitude, in part because when i am with people, even strangers in public places i'm one of those people who's 100% there. i notice people in distress, i do what i can to help. i make small talk on lines to pass the time when in cities. But i live in a small town now and most of us know each other a little bit.
At least now that i'm old people assume my smiling and giggling with kids is because i miss my grandson---little do they know i did that from the time i was a teen. Kids are so straight-forward in their interactions.
 
oldpop said:
Just a thought. I have noticed that saying "take your time" to people in the service industry really makes a difference in the stress levels of everyone involved. Customer service is stressful work.
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It does, unless you've got a real entitled feeling person in the place. i've come to the defense of cashiers just following company rules, or that someone is dumping on them about things the cashier can't control. When stockers apologize for being in the way, i tell them--"Hey someone may come in needing what you're putting on the shelves, but if you can just hand me___, i'll get out of everybody's way."
 
feywon said:
Yes, but i always have an eye out for if another customer needs their attention.
i'm a person who requires and enjoys a lot of solitude, in part because when i am with people, even strangers in public places i'm one of those people who's 100% there. i notice people in distress, i do what i can to help. i make small talk on lines to pass the time when in cities. But i live in a small town now and most of us know each other a little bit.
At least now that i'm old people assume my smiling and giggling with kids is because i miss my grandson---little do they know i did that from the time i was a teen. Kids are so straight-forward in their interactions.
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Love assumptions, I'm quiet because have a background in customer service. Also was an instructor for 3 years. I understand. Thank you
 
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