A San Diego waitress, Aislin Parker, has shared a clever trick she uses to earn more tips during her shifts. She recently posted a video on TikTok explaining how she includes a baby photo in her server’s book, suggesting it is her daughter.
In the video, Parker shared a little backstory, saying, “She’s six. I had her when I was 19,” creating an engaging narrative for her customers. According to her, this technique seems to work, as patrons feel she is working hard for her kids and often leave extra cash.
Parker doesn’t shy away from admitting she embellishes the truth. In a follow-up video, she stated, “Yeah, I’m totally lying, but you have to do what you have to do.” She expressed her enjoyment in transforming into a different persona at work, sometimes even adopting a southern accent. There’s a light-heartedness to her approach, which has resonated with viewers.
Interestingly, Parker’s routine might raise some eyebrows, but it’s her comment section that reveals an even wider phenomenon. Many other servers shared similar experiences, revealing they also resort to white lies to increase their tips. For instance, one server noted how, lately, people seem fatigued with tipping culture, given that the average tip in restaurants has dropped slightly to 18.8% in 2024.
One fellow server humorously shared, “The other day I had to pick up my child, so I left, but, well, I lied to the table. No kids.” Another added their own twist, recalling a time when they might have made a crayon card for customers on Mother’s Day, leaving it in view while taking orders.
While some comments reflected sympathy toward workers, others pointed out the lengths servers go to for a better tip. “I had Robert Pattinson earrings and told an elderly customer he was my husband during the war,” remarked one. Others shared their own long-standing tactics—claiming to be new at their job or even using college-related props to pull heartstrings about student loans.
This sparked a debate among commenters about whether customers really notice these fabrications. Surprisingly, many seemed unconcerned. “People have choices. If they don’t want to tip, that’s on them,” one supporter noted.
The discussion around tipping continues to be contentious in America, especially with evolving rules regarding mandatory gratuity and what constitutes a “living wage.” Despite mixed sentiments, servers like Parker insist that these little tricks are often necessary.
