I'm from SF and spent a lot of time in Berlin. My observation was that when you go into a shop in SF, you'll get greeted to a lesser degree, but more cheerfull

I'm from SF and spent a lot of time in Berlin. My observation was that when you go into a shop in SF, you'll get greeted to a lesser degree, but more cheerfully. In Berlin, you were greeted almost every single time, but more perfunctorily. In that regard, I preferred the Berlin approach, even though it required me to respond more often. But I could simple acknowledge the greeting and keep going. It was more intrusive, but less demanding.