The NE DC ones are friendly but not particularly chatty. The one by galludet has a lot of deaf employees. Op might like that one better. The new one by Catholic University hasn't had much chatting either. I think I recall one checkout person saying something like "oh I keep hearing this is really good but I keep forgetting to try it."

And here I was thinking they were all super nice ..

😬

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

You don't have to. Just smile and give them their card. If you're so convinced they're only chatting for professional reasons, they won't care.

DP. It's just so awkward. Sometimes they just comment about liking whatever it is but I hate when they ask questions like what are you making? I was buying some fruity flavored syrups at home goods to make smoothies and the guy was going on about how smart I was to buy this to make mixed drinks, was I having a party? And I just kind of shrugged. Like what if I'd been an alcoholic. It's so annoying.

And sometimes the other customers turn to hear what you are making after they have commented on what items you are buying. "No, Larla, from down the street who happens to be shopping with her little kid, we are not entertaining tonight just making pizza nothing to hear here." -different poster

You shouldn't worry about the busybodies with so little in their lives that they need to snoop on other's conversations to fill their day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

You don't have to. Just smile and give them their card. If you're so convinced they're only chatting for professional reasons, they won't care.

DP. It's just so awkward. Sometimes they just comment about liking whatever it is but I hate when they ask questions like what are you making? I was buying some fruity flavored syrups at home goods to make smoothies and the guy was going on about how smart I was to buy this to make mixed drinks, was I having a party? And I just kind of shrugged. Like what if I'd been an alcoholic. It's so annoying.

And sometimes the other customers turn to hear what you are making after they have commented on what items you are buying. "No, Larla, from down the street who happens to be shopping with her little kid, we are not entertaining tonight just making pizza nothing to hear here." -different poster

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

You don't have to. Just smile and give them their card. If you're so convinced they're only chatting for professional reasons, they won't care.

DP. It's just so awkward. Sometimes they just comment about liking whatever it is but I hate when they ask questions like what are you making? I was buying some fruity flavored syrups at home goods to make smoothies and the guy was going on about how smart I was to buy this to make mixed drinks, was I having a party? And I just kind of shrugged. Like what if I'd been an alcoholic. It's so annoying.

I grew up in New England and spent my whole life on the East Coast. I remember the first time I went to northern California and went into a juice place and someone warmly greeted me and asked my name—a lifetime of snarls from Dunkins employees making it clear they'd serve me my coffee but wanted to talk to me less than I wanted to talk to them and I found the whole experience alarming. No one else did.

Believe it or not, some people like interacting with friendly people. It's weird, I know.

I would suspect that Trader Joe's spent a long time thinking about this policy and doing research and have found that it's good for business.

I also suspect it's not really a policy—after reading the post, I realized I HAD been complimented on my selections a few times (but there were also products which are great, so it felt obvious someone would say nice thigns about them), but I was there 20 minutes ago, and the only question I got was "Do you need a bag" and then "have a nice night". They're always nice to my kids and offer them stickers. That's nice, though it doesn't make me go to TJs instead of Safeway. I go because that's where I can get the frozen croissants.

What difference does it make? I'm already buying the thing at that point. Either I already like it and don't care what they think, or I am already committed to giving it a try at that point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

You don't have to. Just smile and give them their card. If you're so convinced they're only chatting for professional reasons, they won't care.

DP. It's just so awkward. Sometimes they just comment about liking whatever it is but I hate when they ask questions like what are you making? I was buying some fruity flavored syrups at home goods to make smoothies and the guy was going on about how smart I was to buy this to make mixed drinks, was I having a party? And I just kind of shrugged. Like what if I'd been an alcoholic. It's so annoying.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

You don't have to. Just smile and give them their card. If you're so convinced they're only chatting for professional reasons, they won't care.

Anonymous wrote:This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

I agree they shouldn’t have to, or they shouldn’t comment on your items. The buyer could literally be coming from or going to a funeral. I’ve been there. With my mom’s death, life still goes on and I was at the store within a couple of days. I’m in the mood for pleasant greetings but not making talk about my food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?

And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.

I am an administrator and prof at a university that has a hotel on campus and I probably have a breakfast meeting there like once a month. I was always so impressed that when I got there the hostess and front desk clerk would address me by name. And then I got my kid a little job there as a cater waiter and she was like “Mom, in the training they make us memorize the names and photos of all the people who come there regularly. It’s not personal. You are on the list” and I had that same reaction. “So they’re not just being personable?” Nope. It’s all business.

Now you know what it's like to be in a country club without having to pay country club prices. The poor man's country club.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?

And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.

I am an administrator and prof at a university that has a hotel on campus and I probably have a breakfast meeting there like once a month. I was always so impressed that when I got there the hostess and front desk clerk would address me by name. And then I got my kid a little job there as a cater waiter and she was like “Mom, in the training they make us memorize the names and photos of all the people who come there regularly. It’s not personal. You are on the list” and I had that same reaction. “So they’re not just being personable?” Nope. It’s all business.

But it intersects.
Overall they set up a system that both benefits their business and makes you feel better.
They could have *not* done this.

And the fact they had to memorize you, makes them potentially more able to help you, commiserate, go the extra mile if you have any major issues while you are a guest. Say you arrive and then have a family emergency suddenly. You ask to not be charged for the room, they are more than likely ready to say yes because they know your name.

This is why I prefer self checkout, delivery, or parking lot pickup. I don’t want some random worker gawking at my groceries to force fake small talk. It’s creepy and invasive and I honestly feel bad for the workers forced to do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You do know the people that work there are in the business of making sales, right?

And you're already at the checkout getting the things scanned. It's not like they are convincing you to buy. They are just making you feel awesome about what you bought. Which you already should because their stuff is so darn good.

I am an administrator and prof at a university that has a hotel on campus and I probably have a breakfast meeting there like once a month. I was always so impressed that when I got there the hostess and front desk clerk would address me by name. And then I got my kid a little job there as a cater waiter and she was like “Mom, in the training they make us memorize the names and photos of all the people who come there regularly. It’s not personal. You are on the list” and I had that same reaction. “So they’re not just being personable?” Nope. It’s all business.

Anonymous wrote:A few weeks ago, I bought pizza dough, mozzarella, and pineapple. The guy was like “hey are we making pineapple pizza?” I said “yeah, exactly what we are doing tonight.”

He and another coworker were like “woaaah. We always ask when people have dough and pineapple, and they say no.” The two of them genuinely liked and were surprised that I was making it.

This was awesome bc it wasn’t a strange compliment, like “ooh I love these plantains. So good”

We are also a pineapple pizza loving family. Did you get ham too (or SPAM!)?
The food is going to be a natural, common interest when things come down the belt, people. Don't read too much into it.

A few weeks ago, I bought pizza dough, mozzarella, and pineapple. The guy was like “hey are we making pineapple pizza?” I said “yeah, exactly what we are doing tonight.”

He and another coworker were like “woaaah. We always ask when people have dough and pineapple, and they say no.” The two of them genuinely liked and were surprised that I was making it.

This was awesome bc it wasn’t a strange compliment, like “ooh I love these plantains. So good”