I don't know... I think that goes a bit beyond annoying.

They don't have to make small talk.
I find it highly annoying when going through a check-out line when they comment on each little purchase I'm making. Ugh.
I've been a cashier before, it's not a requirement, nor does it make your day go by faster. Shut up and scan.
This is particularly bad at New Seasons.

I like the small talk at New Seasons. One of the reasons I prefer to go there. But yeah, it's all preference. Customers should know what they prefer and stick to it.

The customer is always right. Cashier was micro-managing the customer and it pissed them off. Not saying what the customer did was cool; but cashier might want to re-think what they think they know about human nature.

There is a cashier at Whole Foods in the Pearl who likes to tell me about his puppy but when I express interest and laugh at whatever he says he stares off into space and doesn't respond.

In short, I think he has aspergers.

1: The situation above sounds annoying.

2: I remember working behind a cash register, having to make smalltalk. It was either troublesome or nice depending on how my day was going/what mood I was in.

3: Cashiers who ask me about my purchases annoy me. Particularly if I'm buying shameful guilty pleasure junk food, like Kraft mac 'n cheese.

4: Here we say the customer is always right. When I worked in Japan, the boss said that the customer was God. I do not like either of these philosophies. Not at all.

5: New Seasons is a nice place, and fills me with less dread than Fred Meyer or Safeway. Trader Joe's is great, too. Even Whole Foods is alright. Winco, however, makes the happiness go away and the bad feelings come.

6: I like almonds.

Eating your bulk purchases before you buy them is indeed a jerk customer move. But I really don't think you should feel bad about eating something like a chocolate bar, they can scan the wrapper.

Or if you want to be really classy, drink an entire bottle of vanilla extract (which often has a pretty high alcohol content) before purchasing. (I have seen this happen before) (the lady later passed out nearby)

This is why I love those self-checkout machines, grocery clerks are just awful. STOP JUDGING ME, LOVE ME FOR WHO I AM.

That's just nuts.

Todd, even though I chuckled, that pun was awful.

You might even say it was
Chock awful o'Nuts.

I always give the checker one of my donuts to save myself from the extra 300 calories. So you bet they like to talk to me.