Is it normal to feel that checking out at a store is awkward?

Wow. I just went off about this just a few minutes ago on another post.

I'm awkward with regular/normal day to day small talk, but if its something actually meaningful, I feel so comfortable. More intelligent, not so awkward & withdrawn, and not so ditzy. Small talk, I'm just like, "Hey, how are you today?"

"Great!"
"Thats good."

Silence.....

I throw in a line that sounds completely ridiculous. Maybe giggle a little. Yup! Its pretty awkward.

I hate it when Staff are trying put on conversations. I'd rather you just shut up and let me pay.

Cashiers don't want to talk. Believe me. They get about 200 customers a day and the "How are you?" thing is a robotic, automated script that plays upon getting a new customer. Treat them nicely and they'll appreciate it. Don't try to make jokes, because more likely than not, they've heard it before about 1000 times and they will hate you for re-telling it.

If I don't feel like making small talk I won't. I'll literally just stay silent, they get the idea and know not to start up a convo :)

Yes, auto-responses suck.

Shop online. Without much effort you can just about avoid all social contact.
- don't think the person at the register really gives a crap about your day - they are just doing their job and are told to say that

I could talk for Britain, and as I love people, I talk to them all to brighten up their day. We always talk about; the weather, the weekend just past or the one coming up, I ask if they've been on their shift for a long time or if they're due a break, etc. I find that the sales staff often hold up the queue to get me a better deal or product that's on offer off the shelves so they must appreciate people taking the time to recognise that they are bored and human.

My son used to get embarrassed until I explained that it helps them to get their day in quicker.

Why is it awkward? It would be more awkward if they said nothing as they want to. They say that all day. Be more understanding.

I find it tedious and boring, they must find it boring too, you hardly have enough time to have a decent conversation, and you're repeating the same question, getting the same answer everyday continiously. But its part of like a routine of being friendly to the customer or something- I read it once on the back of one of their tills

aw i hate that too :C so awkward. i mostly try to avoid those situations.

Same conversation happens with people at work that I dont care for as well. I think I'll try master the art of small talk and the advanced art of small talk: Small talking with ugly strangers.

I'm pretty good at talking to random strangers but I do often find myself thinking, "There should be an aisle that allows you to conduct this transaction in total silence".

Of the store employees, some of them like to chat but there will some of them that prefer the "silence aisle" too. Just put people together in a way that benefits everyone!

It's not rocket science.

They are only asking how you are to be polite...99.9999% of the time they really don't give a shit how you're doing, so don't feel obligated to carry on a conversation with them. Just respond with the customary "Good, how are you?" and be done with it...they really aren't looking for anything else, trying to carry on a fake convo with them might actually piss them off, just like it would piss you off if you were them.

Stop being such a dumbass and get over it.