How to I avoid smalltalk from cashiers without looking rude?

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Just nod your head and say yes to everything he/she says.

I used to *be* a cashier... I struggled mightily until I came up with a 'script' to follow. I finally had a coworker ask why I said exactly the same thing to every customer....

Find a script. We're all acting, right? Play the role of 'shopper ' for a minute, and let your own mind take a well-deserved break...

What? No way!

You need at least three maybe 4 scripts. Otherwise the next people in line will, like your coworker, clue in to your being on auto pilot. I'd have started with two then work up to three.

I hate small talk with people like cashiers or door greeters. I just want to go in, get my stuff, pay, and leave. I don't go to stores to talk to people.

'Used to' be a cashier....

In the home delivery business, your customers never see each other. I can let my script run on autopilot and let my mind focus on my work.

Until the customer Won't. Shut. Up...

<shudder>

Great answers on this thread. Here are some of my scripts:

1) Just nod and smile.

2) Say, "yes, it's great!" or "how wonderful!"

3) Talk about the weather.

4) TO END A CONVERSATION: "Thank you, I enjoyed talking with you, have a great day!"

i've noticed that i usually don't have to say much. i usually just smile and nod. (it reminds me of that part in The Penquins of Madagascar - smile and wave, boys). it can still be exhausting listening to them but i don't have to worry about talking. it's amazing how long people will talk when i just smile and nod.

There was a line at the Starbucks and a psychiatrist was standing right behind me in line and ask me why I was nervous about talking to her and everything else is history.

LupaLuna, that's certainly an unusual way to find out about AS! Very nice of her to take the time out of her lunch break to tell you.

I also dislike the small-talk cashiers make, but I've gotten better at it over time. It depends on my mood, really. If I'm feeling pretty good (especially after a successful social interaction) I might actually give an NT-like answer. If I don't really have the energy for it I'll just give some short and vague answer like "hmm, yeah, dunno, maybe". If I'm in a bad mood or deep in thought then I'd be in full aspie mode and mumble something like "huh? yeah, yeah..." or, in the worst case, ignore them completely!

Yes, I hate that much more than small-talk and usually will object to it, but again it depends on how much energy I have and how social I'm feeling. Usually it'll go something like:

- And your post code?
- No.

Surprisingly, they usually don't bat an eyelid at such a response. I guess they just ask because they have to and really don't care about the answer! In other cases I'll ask for the reason. For instance, I had this conversation at an outdoor equipment shop:

- And what's your email address?
- Why do you need that?
- Oh, I'm not sure why we have to ask that. We're not really going to email you or anything.
- Great! Then you won't need my email address.
- No, I guess not.

I fail to see why you'd care about what random people think of you due to not talking to them.

Post codes, email addresses, telephone numbers....

I give those of the store's competitors in most cases.

I give the number and postal code of the local police depot. I sometimes wonder just how much junkmail and unsolicited phones calls they deal with.

I also sometimes wonder how many people do the same thing I do...

english is not my native language, so might be spelling errors.

I am diagnosed AS, i recomend you talk to cashier about things you are buying, talk about taco if you buy taco etc, but avoid talk about toiletpaper, etc.
As about if the cashier have tryed that taco variety, When i worked as a cashier i praticed alot of smalltalk, if there is gum in front of pay desk, ask about if they any new gums on the market, Most of it is not that hard now, only needs pratice.

I don't remember them ever asking for my phone number. I wouldn't give it if they did. If they ask for my e-mail address I'd say I don't have one. Zip code would be for demographics I suppose and couldn't identify me. I only pay cash and I don't do reward cards.

Yeah, that would seem to be the obvious solution. Every time I come across this thread I'm just sitting here wondering why people are having so much trouble saying "no, I do not wish to give you that information." It's a supermarket clerk, not the secret police.

There are some stores that require a phone number to be entered at the end of a transaction. I've had cashiers tell me they'll get in trouble if they enter a fake number (all 9's, etc) so in order to avoid an even longer conversation I started giving numbers other than my own.