That's not just old guys over 50, that is all negative people that have to find a reason to complain. I witness people of all ages that react that way.
__________________
Get to your department, get off your phone, and do your job!
OP: May I ask how old you are? I can understand your irritation, but I am an employee of Kroger, and I am a male, age 57. I get ALL KINDS of reactions to my saying "HI" or "HELLO" or "GOOD MORNING" to a customer as they stroll or stop by my immediate working area.
I get quite a few "cold" reactions from young people, so I think that generational thing is working both ways......lots of younger customers don't want to give the time of day to any "older" employees.
There are ALL KINDS of people that come in Kroger, and I can often judge which "type" they fall into, by the way they respond to my "pleasantry".
Some older men will completely ignore me. And if they do, I am never 100% sure if they are partially deaf, or are preoccupied with something on their mind, or just daydreaming, or if they are just plain snotty and stuck-up. Or maybe they suffer from extreme shyness.
Other older men will immediately respond with a hello and act friendly and casual, just like they have known me for many years.
Same way with older women........some are just plain cold and unfriendly, and others you can just tell immediately they are kind, friendly and sociable, and don't "look down" on you because they think you have a "low grade" job.
Same here, I work as a grocery clerk, and I might be jinxing myself, but I really havent had a bad customer yet, sure I've had those people who dont answer me when I say "hello ma'am / sir ..." etc but I just shrug it off and tell myself that if they wanted my help, they would ask for it and move on with what i was doing. I am also female so maybe that might have something to do with it? IDK, but that being said, I have never gotten a rude reaction from any female customers, either.
Still, some people are just sourpusses who are determined to be in a bad mood, I just shrug it off and go on with my day.