Business
Business

Touching customers earns servers better tips?

By Matt Kempner
Dec 3, 2015

Dining out any time soon? If so, pay attention to whether servers touch you or squat beside your table.

It could convince you to leave a better tip, according to a hospitality researcher.

Waiters and waitresses also can boost gratuities by writing “Thank you” on the check or drawing on it, according to Cornell University professor Michael Lynn’s research.

Click here to find out what else works and how the world of gratuities is undergoing a revolution (finally), in the latest Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

Follow Matt Kempner on facebookFollow Matt Kempner on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

"Mexican Coke," as the Mexico-produced Coca-Cola product is often called, uses cane sugar and is sold in many stores in the U.S. (Nam Y. Huh/AP 2025)

Credit: AP

Coca-Cola launches Trump-approved cane sugar soda in the U.S.

Coca-Cola is rolling out a new version of its classic soda made with U.S. cane sugar.

Atlanta’s Stitch project is a go, despite federal cuts. It’ll look like this.

The leaders of an effort to cap the Downtown Connector with a park say their project remains in motion, and they released their clearest vision yet of what they aim to build.

Here’s where Mercedes-Benz plans to put its new Atlanta tech center

Mercedes-Benz announced Wednesday it finalized plans for a large research and development facility as part of the automaker’s Atlanta expansion efforts.

The Latest

Stellantis plans to open a 422,000-square-foot Mopar Parts Distribution Center in Forsyth, about 60 miles south of Atlanta. (Courtesy of Stellantis)

Credit: Courtesy of Stellantis

Stellantis car parts facility planned for Georgia could mean quicker repairs

Why are Subarus so popular?

OPINION

Is this the Corvette of the future?

Featured

(Photo Illustration: Philip Robibero | Sources: Hyosub Shin for the AJC, Unsplash)

Credit: Philip Robibero / AJC

THE FUTURE OF MARTA

MARTA was meant to go more places. Here’s why it doesn’t.

MARTA is searching for new leadership while it works toward completion of the largest capital investments made to the system in more than a decade.

Ex-PSC candidate took notebook of Georgia Power trade secrets, police say

A warrant alleges former Public Service Commission candidate Patty Durand placed a booklet of Georgia Power trade secret information into her purse and left a hearing room.

Buckhead HOA can’t keep neglecting historic Black cemetery, judge says

An Atlanta judge has forced a luxury Buckhead townhome HOA to refurbish and maintain one of the most historically significant African American cemeteries in the metro.