Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTDaniel KlineTue, August 4, 2026 at 2:37 AM GMT+2 4 min readWhen I walk into a restaurant or store, I don't want a canned greeting. Having workers yell "welcome to Moe's," or watching Texas Roadhouse waiters have to stop waiting on people to do a line dance makes me want to leave.I like Jordan, the drive-through guy at my Starbucks, who does funny voices, but also actually has a real human interaction with me. I don't, however, need him to write a message on my cup because it's a corporate rule.These forced sayings, routines, and interactions aim to boost brand consistency and create a distinctive and memorable experience, but that's not always a positive."When they create scripts they're essentially trying to mandate behavior — but it backfires more often than it doesn't," Experience Investigators CEO Jeannie Walters told Restaurant Dive. "It's pretty obvious when somebody is not talking like a human would talk."It's easy to understand why chains want friendly workers and shareable moments, but there's a better way to make them happen, and Trader Joe's may have found a better way.Trader Joe's doesn't have to fake itRetailers spend millions each year training associates on customer interactions because repeat shoppers are heavily influenced by service quality.Many chains try to force their workers to be happy, or at least act like they're happy, while Trader Joe's workers seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. The grocery store chain topped