“Bonjour”   “Good day”   “Góðan dag”

French, English or Icelandic, no matter the language, it is expected that when a shopper enters a store in Europe they will greet the shopkeeper.  And of course, the shopkeeper will respond in kind.

The reason for this is a matter of perspective.  In the United States, customers view stores as a public place.  But in Europe, stores are viewed as private property.  Just as you would never enter someone else’s private home without greeting them, you would likewise never enter a “private” store without a greeting.