The Second Mint Trick That Boosted Tips by 23% #shorts

23 Oct 2026 · 1 min

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In this short, Robert Cialdini explains a behavioral experiment on restaurant tipping. The study compared three server behaviors. In the highlighted third condition, the server initially presented a mint to each diner, thanked them, then deliberately returned to the table, leaned in, looked toward the manager, and announced a special gesture: “For you nice people… because you have been such good guests,” before placing a second mint in front of each diner. This extra, framed as a special, personalized act triggered a 23% increase in tips compared to the baseline. Cialdini emphasizes his enthusiasm for the finding, noting how a simple, scripted gesture can dramatically boost generosity.

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23% increase. Actually, I love this study because there was yet a third condition. In this case, the server was trained to go to the table with one mint on the tray for each diner, put it down, give his usual thanks— thank you very much for your patronage, please return— and turn to walk away. And then he stopped himself and he came back to the table. He leaned down so everyone could hear. He looked over his shoulder for the manager and he said, Thank you very much for your patronage. He said, you know what? For you nice people, because you have been such good guests. And he reached into his apron and put the second mint down in front of each diner. And tips went through the roof. 23% increase.