>Germany I never encountered cashiers to comment on the goods I bought (I don't mind much, but it still felt a bit like an intrusion in privacy. I once bought a glass of Ghee - a common ingredient in southern german cuisine - and the cashier went on and on about how unusual it was that a white guy would buy it)

In the US service employees are required to be fake "friendly." This was an attempt at that. I hate it myself.

I always associated ghee with India, I had no idea it was used in Germany too.