Hacker News Reader

> I've noticed a recent trend of gas stations here in the US starting to have upscale convenience stores attached to them, with more upscale products, clean bathrooms, actual quality food, made to order sandwich counters, etc.

In rural areas, these serve the purpose of the general store of days of yore.

Consider https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60082-d101743...

It's small grocery/hardware store with a gas station attached. Where the footprint permits, city folks appreciate being able to go one now that the corner stores are less common (and arguably less reputable) and they don't need to go all the way across town to get to a grocery store to buy some fresh fruit and some eggs.

That greeting is traditional in Japan regardless of whatever type of store, restaurant, hotel, anything you walk into.

I fully recognized it as my problem, not theirs. Just culture shock, really.

The greetings are partly intended to prevent shoplifting. "We are aware you entered our store, we are watching you."

Well, it's fair to say the "unison" part is a Japanese thing...