A person claiming to be a pastor apparently tried to stiff a waiter on a tip, explaining that their work for God absolved them of having to leave one.

A photo of the receipt, posted to Reddit.com, shows a bill for $34.93 that included an automatic 18 percent gratuity ($6.29) above a blank space for an additional tip.

"I give God 10%," the diner wrote on the receipt, scratching out the automatic tip. "Why do you get 18?" The person then wrote "Pastor" above their signature, and an emphatic "0" where the additional tip would be.

The Reddit user who submitted the image explained in the comments section that the receipt was part of a total bill of over $200 for a party of 20, which is why the gratuity was automatically added.

“Parties up to eight ... may tip whatever they’d like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity," the server wrote. "It’s in the computer, it’s not something I do.”

An Applebee's waitress who posted a receipt with a note from a pastor complaining about the automatic gratuity added to the bill on the Internet was fired on Wednesday after the pastor complained to her manager.

Chelsea Welch, the waitress, wrote in an email to Yahoo News that the pastor (who has since been identified as Alois Bell) told Welch's manager at the St. Louis-area Applebee's that the ensuing firestorm had "ruined" her reputation.

The "Pastor" and the Applebees

This, but I picked Applebees. They should've just let the shit go instead of firing the server.

Im not saying they HAD to fire her, but it would set a pretty bad precedent to allow posting of stuff like that.

The person that did that is a complete DB and asshole.

But the whole idea of groups of people automatically getting charged a certain % tip is ridiculous, and it is usually leads to terrible service because they know they are getting a tip already.

Also, by the way, that "Mandatory gratuity" is not enforceable, from what I've read and what I remember my sister telling me about a decade ago. It can still be "refused", and the restaurant can legally only charge what the customer writes in and signs for.

Secondly, its neccessary because people like this pastor will come in with a party of 40, stay and make a mess for 4 hours and stiff the server.

But the whole idea of groups of people automatically getting charged a certain % tip is ridiculous, and it is usually leads to terrible service because they know they are getting a tip already.

Also, by the way, that "Mandatory gratuity" is not enforceable, from what I've read and what I remember my sister telling me about a decade ago. It can still be "refused", and the restaurant can legally only charge what the customer writes in and signs for.

Yes. They will figure $50 on a $500 bill is "good enough."

I disagree.

First of all, I dont think its MOST of the time that the service is bad (although that does exist)


Secondly, its neccessary because people like this pastor will come in with a party of 40, stay and make a mess for 4 hours and stiff the server.

Really? Had no idea that was the case.

Somebody is gettin' short changed TONITE!

I literally got up and refilled our drinks myself, and then I had to go up to cashier when done and get the bill there because the lady never brought it to me. I left no tip on the table. And as I was paying at the cashier she walked by and glared at me. Fuck you bitch, if you cannot at least come back and check on us one time and refill our drinks then you get no tip.

Do you ever bag your own groceries?

You'll get the cops called on you if you decline the mandatory gratuity. A plausible case is made that you are stealing and charges will be brought. You'd probably win in court but it's kind of a hassle.

The better course of action would be to complain to the manager who would likely lower the amount.

Really? Had no idea that was the case.

Somebody is gettin' short changed TONITE!

Yes, bad service is spreading

I blame social networking. Were lowering the bar on everything. and there's a network of people to tell you how great you are and how its not your fault.

Im amazed at the amount of wine every mom in the country apparently drinks.

Mom posts "these kids are kiling me"

immediate comments from other moms saying "take a break, have a glass of wine you deserve it!!"


meanwhile the kids killing her are just hungry because she was on facebook instead of giving them lunch

But I digress

I guess my main point is social networking, mostly facebook, has thrown a gas can on the fire of "everybody gets a trophy"

Completely different situations.

God.

The Wiff' and I ate at Applebee's yesterday. The sirloin and parmesan shrimp was surprisingly decent, actually.

Their "Perfect Margarita" tasted like clown ass, though.