I don't think corporate realizes that most customers do not care about talking. They just want their stuff and to leave quickly. And they probably know we really don't care how their day is so far. And if you ask ME that question, I will tell you all about my day because I like to talk.

I was told this once and asked what was more important, my smile, or my drive thru times? They can get it done fast or i can sweet talk at the window 5 mins a custie but dont dare expect both

i never ever speak to them tbh. i just can’t :/

Sometimes I straight tell the customers if I don't make conversation with them, I'll get written up. They seem to always understand we need our jobs. I'll explain about the surveys and connection scores and they think it's wild. Usually then my dto saves me with whatever the thing was I need to pass out to get the car moving.

This this this. And half of the customers don’t care to/want to connect at the window, so then it’s very awkward when you’re standing there not doing anything and trying to look busy since they won’t talk but you can’t move. If a customer is on a phone call and doesn’t say a word to me, obviously they don’t want to connect, so what am I to do? This is the primary reason why I dislike being on window, especially during peak.

I have been on window my whole shift for the last oh idk two weeks. Today I just was so over it. Threw me in there when I clocked in, I thought maybe after my 10 I’d be moved but no, came back from break and was put back in the window. It’s terrible for my self esteem, I feel like I’m not good enough to be anywhere else even though I know that I am. I am faster than several people that get put on bar or CS but the leads I’ve been working with lately just put me in the window. If I’m lucky I’ll get to DTO sometimes but damn let me make a FREAKIN DRINK. It is this that makes me dread going to work and want to quit but I need the benefits so I’m hoping something changes soon.

And yeah, that awkward moment when you’re just standing there because you aren’t “connecting” but you still have to look busy… it’s like psychological torture. I wouldn’t mind if it was a position I was in every so often, it’s the fact that it’s all day every day. Idk why it depresses me so much but I come home and sleep because I just feel useless and unfulfilled and the fake conversations and fake smiles from customers are kind of damaging to my perception of what real human connection looks like.

most customers don’t want small talk anyways, it makes it awkward because they know it’s (sometimes) fake. and the whole thing about making them feel welcome is so bs. i am already more welcoming than most other restaurants are at a drive thru, by just not slamming the door in their face i’m being more welcoming tbh. so right, i don’t need to tell them my mothers maiden name for them to feel like they want to come back. if they like the drink and we’re nice and friendly, they’ll come back

I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE THIS POST

This happened to me too, except with just one customer. I had just finished connecting with them when my manager told me to connect with my customer. I thought to myself, 'I just did.' What, are we supposed to prattle unceasingly until the exact moment the customer's drink is ready? It makes no sense. Not to mention is way too much mental effort if expected to do it with *every customer*.

One of my breaking points when I initially quit Starbucks was getting consistently ragged on by my managers for not connecting when I was working DTR, DTO, AND warming- not just during late shifts when drive was slow, but during afternoons and peaks. So demoralizing. When the hell am I supposed to speak to them when I’m doing a job that’s supposed to be distributed among three people?

I’m very polite on Window but I don’t try and make conversation unless the customer wants to. I give a smile, say “Hey, your total is $$!”, say thank you, then leave them be until I have their stuff fully handed out to say “Thank you for waiting I hope you (guys) have a great rest of the day”

I don’t think anyone would ever complain that I don’t make them feel welcome on window. I just seem like a socially anxious teenager who doesn’t like small talk. Good! Nobody really likes small talk. I appreciate our customers regardless

I’ve been told to ALWAYS get the names of the people who come through the drive-thru. Like, not only is that forced as hell, but also just weird … “Hi what’s your name?” 😐