Who cares if the Degenerate Manager isn’t happy. We already don’t get paid enough as it is, all a high customer connection score will get you even more impossible standards from corporate.

I would say the first thing that helps is making sure partners know what actually drives the customer connection score. The only survey answer that plays into it is “My barista made an attempt to get to know me.”

Things like getting to know their name, where they work, etc. are easy starts but once that has been established with customers, it starts to require more.

My store puts questions of the day in DT like “what is your favorite animal?” Or “do you wet your toothbrush before or after toothpaste?” each day and makes sure the bar partners know it as well so they can bring customers in lobby into the conversion as well. It makes for learning something new about customers each day and allows for it to be easier than having to think of something for each person.

Our dm hates our store because we have the lowest cc store in our district but we are also making the most money and severely understaffed so at that point why stress out about something out of your control. Our dm also gets mad because they get bonuses based off of how well their customer connection scores in their district are. Just do your best and if it’s not something that’s changing but youre trying your best then don’t stress over it…

don’t worry about it. CC score is based on a flawed system and honestly in all the ways that matter the cc score does not matter. Just do your job fam. Don’t worry about the white noise.

Don’t overthink it. I choose something they’re wearing to compliment them on and ask where they got it.

-“oh i love the color of your car! Is that a Mitsubishi?”

-“i love your tie! I want to get my boyfriend one, where did you get it?”

-your Apple Watch band is so cool, where did you get it?”

-“oh i love your shirt! It’s hard to find pink shirts that aren’t too bright pink. Where is it from?”

-“oooh an impossible sandwich? Are you a vegetarian?”

-“i love your nails! Where do you get them done?”

and a really really easy one, since so many people pay with the app, is to compliment their phone case.

Also, asking if they have plans for the day/weekend/summer/fall/holidays/whatever is always a good one.

If you honestly want a higher customer connection score, go against corporates rules. It's very ironic. If you actually slow down and take the time to chat with your regulars and other customers, have a small conversation with them, don't worry about drive times or anything, you'll see your customer connection score go up. Why? Because instead of shoveling coffee down their throat at a breakneck pace like corporate wants you to do, you're actually being a person, and getting to know your customers. It's the kind of job for people who truly do like to serve coffee, and get to know others and what they've been up to.

Unless you’re a store manager who will feel the pressure from the DM I don’t know why you care. We’re not rewarded for our efforts. I have and will never care about the stupid scores.

[deleted]

If we have time we also write notes on warming/pastry bags and cups! We usually do this near close for the next morning if they have extra time!

complementing the shit out of ppl and being as bubbly as Bubbles from the powerpuff girls

We? Don’t get anything? For good cc scores? So who cares? As a barista, we don’t get a bonus or even a pat on the back for good customer connection scores so I literally could not care less; there is no incentive or reward for going above and beyond to have a good score so don’t stress yourself. It’s a managers job, so don’t worry about it because they only care because they want the bonus and that’s it. Besides, a bad cc score never stopped anyone from going to Starbucks.

CC will improve when working conditions/ pay for partners improve first. It’s that simple. Let upper management scramble to figure it out, it’s on them.

My store just used to ask customers if they had/have any fun plans for the day! Puts the ball in the customer's court to decide if they want to engage in conversation or not. Some will give you a one-word answer and you can kinda roll with that, others will go into detail... Otherwise, just be friendly! Smile, make eye contact.

I don’t give a fuck about customer connection scores especially when people are breathing down my neck about drive times

I feel you. Our score is at 28 and my DM is pushing us for 40. I’m the least social person at my store and I’m always stuck on goddamned DTW/DTO by myself. I’m fast and our numbers look awesome during peak but you can’t have good times and good connection scores, so pick your battles. Besides most of our customers are rude as fuck for absolutely no reason so we prefer not to get yelled at. If we compliment the customers at my store they just get mad about it

I don’t care about CC scores or DTW times for that matter. I make it known, too. I think that as long as the wait times aren’t absolutely ridiculous, we shouldn’t be pushing to get drinks out in under 30 seconds.

Be polite and courteous to everyone, but save most of your charm for the people that have the app. They're the ones that end up getting the survey; the only other times they'll do it is if they go out of their way for it (asking for a receipt is a red/green flag for this). I've found that being quick but polite is a good way to boost your connection, especially if you use your time waiting to make conversation.

we went from a 19 to a 29 in the matter of two weeks and they don’t care at all /:

My store has a prompt list of conversation topics for our drive thru window! It has really helped a few of our baristas feel more comfortable connecting with the customers.

i always ask how a customers day is going and if they have plans for the rest of the day and the conversation usually starts there, people love to share and feel heard. As long as you show interest and continue the conversation it should go well, they’ll deff remember you ! (:

Honestly, i just try to be nice to everyone who comes in and just ask them about how their day is going. Especially people who use the app. If you talk to anyone talk to them.

do whatever your sm tells you to do (within your job description). it's their job to figure this out. they get the bonus for a good cc score, not you.

we don't prioritize speed at my store over having a conversation (we are not a drive thru tho!!) and we also use the message board feature of mydaily for each partner to write down a way they can connect with customers that day or contribute to enhancing our customer experience! we try not to focus so much on the numbers but more the interactions we see happening in the moment if that makes sense. I also ask my partners what it means to them to have someone go above and beyond for them and they often feel inspired to do the same for others which can help! At the end of the day tho do what feels good on your shifts, and just focus on creating an environment that feels good to you, numbers are just numbers!