perky clerky

Was doing a little back-to-school shopping tonight with Juli and it's been awhile since I've been in a mall (3 whole months possibly!!) so I forgot one of the most annoying things about it.  I don't mean to complain and I swore this was not going to be a 'whining' blog, and I consider myself a very social person who truly enjoys chatting with strangers anytime, anywhere, as my daughter will annoyingly confirm, but I have to ask if I'm the only one who finds the perky sales clerks who are compelled (obviously trained by their store manager) to greet me immediately upon entering a store with an over-the-top bubbly voice:  "Hi How are you?" as though they really care??  If I'm just a grouchy shopper, please tell me so, but honestly, when I am moving from store to store just to browse, this continuous onslaught of hi-how-are-you-business becomes VERY ANNOYING!!  I try to be nice forcing myself in a pleasant voice to respond, "Hi I'm fine thank you"... of course they immediately ask if they can help you find something to which I nicely respond "no thank you, just looking" and then some of them continue to lurk around you and ask if they can help you find a size, etc, etc... and then, if I actually decide to buy something (meaning if I don't get too annoyed and finally walk out... hint to store manager, this causes a LOSS in sales, not a gain) and I am finally at the register paying.. it's hard for me to believe that the same perky sales clerk is often right there and guess what she says when I approach the register?  yup:  "Hi How are you?" as though she cares... and/or "Did you find everything you needed?" and it is only my solid upbringing that stops me (thanks mom) from saying what I really want to say:  "I'm fine, the same as when you asked me 10 minutes ago when I walked in" and "Yes, obviously I found what I needed because I'm standing here paying for it!".  SIGH.
"Leave Me Alone" The Veronicas