Last Friday, after evening services, Bell and her congregation headed to Applebee's for dinner as they did on many nights.
But a disagreement over the establishment's auto-gratuity of 18% for parties of 8 or more would soon propel the pastor to the heights of Internet infamy.
"I give God 10% why do you get 18," Bell wrote on her credit card receipt after crossing out the tip amount she was obliged to pay.
Though Bell was denied her request to have a brand new staff awaiting her the next time she dined at her neighborhood Applebee's, she did succeed in getting at least one person fired: The waitress who posted the receipt online.
"I originally posted the note as a lighthearted joke," Chelsea Welch told Consumerist. "I thought the note was insulting, but it was also comical. I posted it to Reddit because I thought other users would find it entertaining."
They did — but Bell did not.
The pastor called it a "lapse in my character and judgment" that "has been blown out of proportion." Somewhat an ironic statement coming from someone who ordered Applebee's to fire everyone who came into contact with the receipt.
For her part, Welch did what she could to avoid having Bell's identity exposed, asking Reddit to stop posting the personal information of potential culprits.
In fact, Welch still isn't sure what exactly she did wrong.
"I didn't break any specific guidelines in the company handbook - I checked," said Welch, who had no complaints about her service prior to this week. "Because this person got embarrassed that their selfishness was made public, Applebee's has made it clear that they would rather lose a dedicated employee than lose an angry customer. That's a policy I can't understand."
Neither will Reddit, which is no longer being kept at bay by Welch, and has already put out a call to "grab them pitchforks."
the thing that I still find hilarious about this story is that when you have a party of that size (usually 8 or more), the gratuity is ALREADY INCLUDED in your bill. It's not something a server adds, the computer system does it automatically. It's the server's obligation to tell parties of that size before they order that the gratituity is automatically included in their bill. So this "pastor" is not only an asshole, but she's an idiot too. Technically if she paid attention she would have realized that the $6.29 was in addition to the $28.64 she owed. Maybe if she gave God 18% instead of just 10%, God will give her more intelligence and compassion
When I was waiting tables, I remember people making stupid comments on automatic gratuity (like, "I didn't order no gratuity!"). If you don't want gratuity added to your check, don't come in with a party of 6 or more. Places that add automatic gratuity most often have it clearly stated on the menu that this is their policy.
It is terrible that the server got fired. Maybe if she had posted the receipt without the person's signature, it wouldn't have had to be that way. I can see how Applebee's would have to terminate her after publicly sharing "personal information." But, if the "pastor" hadn't made a stink, no one would have lost their job most likely.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
the thing that I still find hilarious about this story is that when you have a party of that size (usually 8 or more), the gratuity is ALREADY INCLUDED in your bill. It's not something a server adds, the computer system does it automatically. It's the server's obligation to tell parties of that size before they order that the gratituity is automatically included in their bill. So this "pastor" is not only an asshole, but she's an idiot too. Technically if she paid attention she would have realized that the $6.29 was in addition to the $28.64 she owed. Maybe if she gave God 18% instead of just 10%, God will give her more intelligence and compassion
$6.29 is 18% of $34.93. The food/drink total was $34.93, and the $6.29 was the next number to be added to the overall total.
I read that her "congregation" has like 15 people. Lol. She's a charlatan.
This is kind of where I'm at. Perhaps she was ordained online for a nominal fee.
And I had to LOL that she added "pastor" in there obviously as a 2nd thought, to give her more credibility. Like, she could have had a little carrot editorial note. Well, "pastor," it doesn't make you more credible in your little protest, it just makes you more of a jerk. And now she got the waitress fired because she's embarrassed that she was called out. I bet she gives just wonderful sermons about forgiveness, repentance, and humility.
It is not necessarily an obligation of the server to tell the patrons that there will be an automatic gratuity. It it's printed on the menus. And usually posted somewhere else as well. The server doesn't have to tell you again.
We used to go out with a group of people for dinner every month. We always had at least 10 people so we always have an automatic gratuity added.
Someone would bitch about it every month. And so I would argue with them every time. I had that same stupid argument with 4 different people.
Post by chalupabatman on Feb 1, 2013 10:08:58 GMT -5
DH used to manage a corporate restaurant. If someone failed to tip, he would ask them if they were unhappy with the service. (some people had legitimate complaints and the restaurant wanted to rectify it) If they indicated they liked the service but couldn't afford to tip, didn't like tipping, etc. he would politely tell them that the server deserved to be compensated for their work and if the guest didn't feel they could provide adequate compensation for good service then they were no longer welcome. It was company policy. This server is right in her interview: if you want good services from good servers you need to pay for it. DH's restaurant felt that keeping good servers was worth more than keeping a cheap ass customer. Granted, Applebee's tends to attract some really trashy clientele from what I've seen.
DarkRaven, that's my bad...I worded it all wrong...rough morning.
What I meant to say was, the total included the tip but instead of realizing that, she didn't substract the $6.29 from her original total when she wrote in $34.93 as her total. If she didn't want to give the 18% gratuity, she should have written $28.64 on the total line to "prove her point"...but she still wrote $34.93... regardless, she still would have been charged the $34.93.
It is not necessarily an obligation of the server to tell the patrons that there will be an automatic gratuity. It it's printed on the menus. And usually posted somewhere else as well. The server doesn't have to tell you again.
This.
Also, lol to congregation of 15.
Also, how do you feed a party of 6 or more for 38 bucks anywhere? I'm guessing they were the sort that order water with extra lemons and sugar packets. Ugh.
Also, she's a bitch. I'm hoping the restaurant fired the servers and then quietly hired them back on.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
DH used to manage a corporate restaurant. If someone failed to tip, he would ask them if they were unhappy with the service. (some people had legitimate complaints and the restaurant wanted to rectify it) If they indicated they liked the service but couldn't afford to tip, didn't like tipping, etc. he would politely tell them that the server deserved to be compensated for their work and if the guest didn't feel they could provide adequate compensation for good service then they were no longer welcome. It was company policy. This server is right in her interview: if you want good services from good servers you need to pay for it. DH's restaurant felt that keeping good servers was worth more than keeping a cheap ass customer. Granted, Applebee's tends to attract some really trashy clientele from what I've seen.
oh fucking hell no. A tip is a tip. It is not required. The server is compensated. hello hourly, even if measly, wage. Tipping is customary, not law. Viva france! Hahahah jk
When this story was first posted, I thought the pastor was a grumpy old man.
I think her behavior is pretty atrocious and she needs to learn a lesson in humility and admit when she is wrong. And if she had an issue with the policy, why not speak to the manager rather than leave a snotty note to the waitress who is just doing her job.
DH used to manage a corporate restaurant. If someone failed to tip, he would ask them if they were unhappy with the service. (some people had legitimate complaints and the restaurant wanted to rectify it) If they indicated they liked the service but couldn't afford to tip, didn't like tipping, etc. he would politely tell them that the server deserved to be compensated for their work and if the guest didn't feel they could provide adequate compensation for good service then they were no longer welcome. It was company policy. This server is right in her interview: if you want good services from good servers you need to pay for it. DH's restaurant felt that keeping good servers was worth more than keeping a cheap ass customer. Granted, Applebee's tends to attract some really trashy clientele from what I've seen.
oh fucking hell no. A tip is a tip. It is not required. The server is compensated. hello hourly, even if measly, wage. Tipping is customary, not law. Viva france! Hahahah jk
No, it's not law, but if you don't want to tip, don't go out to eat where someone serves you.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
What irked me the most (besides the entirely assholish behavior) was that she didn't cross out the added gratuity then add what she thought the server should have gotten but she crossed it out and then added a 0% on the tip line. So, she thought that the server didn't deserve a tip at all? I mean, way to make your point that you're a total shitfuck.
In the article, she says that she left a cash tip, as did most of the people at the table. I don't buy it.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg