Tip Trick: Server Asks ChatGPT for Advice, Gets Surprising Solution

Should one tip or refrain from tipping? The question remains. debate keeps haunting social media and appears unlikely to cease. Customers are fed up When they're prompted to tip even for the simplest services, theservershavehadenoughofit. people stiffing them Regardless of your stance in the discussion, it's clear that employees in the service sector have had to think outside the box to boost their gratuities.

In a popular TikTok video, server @tinycatrave revealed the tips she got to boost her gratuities. However, these suggestions did not originate from a reliable friend or colleague but rather from her newly appointed 'life coach': ChatGPT .

Utilizing AI to boost your gratuities

@tinycatrave mentioned in the text overlay that they have been wondering if utilizing AI could boost their tips at their restaurant. She elaborates on her journey of working alongside ChatGPT to "realize and optimize my greatest potential."

One of her assignments was to upload her restaurant’s menu into the AI chatbot and request suggestions for upselling patrons as well as ways to increase earnings. However, she did not anticipate receiving such a reply.

"One of the intriguing points it highlighted was that women wearing pink or red lipstick tend to receive 10 to 20 percent higher tips compared to those who do not wear lipstick or opt for unusually artificial colors," she explains.

So @tinycatrave chose to put the theory into practice. In her video, which garnered 19,000 views, she applies vivid red lipstick and smiles at the camera. Nonetheless, she wasn't able to demonstrate whether the theory was correct since she offered to leave when things slowed down.

I stepped in and instantly went for the initial spot," the TikToker chuckles. "There wasn’t even a single table.

She playfully remarks that the AI bot fails to grasp the human tendency to want to leave their job at the earliest opportunity.

Was ChatGPT correct about this?

The theory that wearing red lipstick is nothing new, and in fact has been proven more than a decade ago before ChatGPT was created. In a 2012 report, studies showed that lipstick, and “particularly red lipstick, was associated with greater male patrons (but not female patrons’) tipping behavior,” a ResearchGate The experiment showed that "the boost in attractiveness and femineity observed among waitresses wearing lipstick and red lips was utilized to interpret the findings."

In a Reddit A post on the r/MakeupAddiction subreddit mentioned that one server saw an increase in tips after applying a bold lipstick. Multiple commenters chimed in to say that using eyeliner and eyeshadow notably boosted their income as well. The Mary Sue even covered In a popular TikTok video, a server took followers along on a shopping expedition at Ross to find items that could boost her tip earnings. During this trip, she bought hair bows, highlighters, lip glosses, false eyelashes, and acrylic nails.

The ‘pigtail theory’

Cosmetics aren't the sole method servers have discovered to influence their tips. In 2023, the ‘pigtail theory’ grabbed attention following reports from waitstaff who said they earned higher tips when sporting pigtails. Although many women initially reacted with disgust upon hearing about this phenomenon, numerous servers decided to test the claim themselves and discovered it was true. Apparently, male patrons tended to tip better for those wearing braids or pigtails compared to when serving in regular hairstyles.

In addition to looks, several viewers in @tinycatrave’s comment section shared their own suggestions.

A suggestion was made utilizing fundamental psychology: "Use mirroring. Simply mimic each distinct behavior as it arises."

Someone chose traditional comic relief with this line: "When I began introducing myself as 'Hey y'all, welcome! My name is... Can I get you all something to drink, or are we aiming to stay sober?' They usually chuckle at that point. After serving drinks, I attempt to push more appetizers."

Another writer mentioned, "Include images of baby photos in your notebook and you'll receive additional tips."

The Mary Sue contacted the creator through a TikTok message.