Per the waitress, only the - to her - ‘illegible’ signature was visible. Unfortunately that was enough to get people running with it.
It’s just jackasses all the way up.
If you’re embarrassed to let the world know you use religion as an excuse not to tip, then maybe you should think harder about why you’re religious in the first place.
What private information? She left her note on the receipt on the table for anyone to see as they walked past the table, in a public place. As far as I know your signature does not count as private information and is not protected. Nor is bad behaviour associated with your signature protected. The Pastor in question tried to treat other people poorly when she thought she could not be held accountable.
I don’t see how that’s bad press for the restaurant - it’s bad press for the faux Christian.
Firing the waitress on the other hand is really bad press for the restaurant.
It’s bad press for the restaurant because when you google, “Applebee’s” the first news result is this story talking about how a former employee of theirs deliberately shamed a customer on the internet. No business wants their potential customers to think their actions will be subject to public scrutiny and ridicule based on the whims of the employees. Did the person deserve to be shamed? Yes, but as a professional, you have to realize that what this girl did is completely unacceptable in a work setting for a number of reasons. It’s just the same as if she told the lady she was a cheapskate to her face, or if she had shown the receipt to other customers to garner sympathy. A certain level of privacy, discretion, and professionalism is called for, not only because you are handling people’s food, but also because they are entrusting you with credit cards. Anything an waiter does to erode that trust should result in immediate termination.
Plus, it’s a clear, and well-established rule that such things are fire-able offenses. Every waiter knows that. And I say that as someone who has waited tables before, been stiffed, and had people write jerky notes. I get the motivation to do it, but she knew she was risking her job. To be stupid enough to not even block the signature leads me to think she is an idiot who cared more about getting internet lolz than being a good employee. That said, clearly the pastor is the only complete asshole in this situation.
As an aside, how is this woman claiming credit for tithing to a ministry that she runs? Even leaving aside the tax implications, why should you think subsidizing your own hobby makes you any better a person than some guy who spends his money coaching his own softball team.
The most amazing thing about the story is this:
There were 10 people in the party (5 adults, 5 kids) and their bill only came to $34? Did they all order sodas and a single all-you-can-eat chips and salsa appetizer?
I believe there were separate checks (yet there was still an 18% gratuity since if not, then every party of 8 would request separate checks in order to get out of the mandatory gratuity.)
Waitresses are not a dime a dozen. Not good ones, anyway.
Exactly.
To be honest, I saw the story and shrugged it all off as media sensationalism … I figured I didn’t know the whole story, and if I did, it wouldn’t seem so bad.
But now that people have provided links first of all verifying that this did go down, and then including quotes and a video interview with the pastor, I’m appalled. The woman comes across as completely self-righteous and not a bit remorseful or even aware of the world beyond herself.
Also, I love the Bible quote, Thudlow Boink.
Be that as it may, I hardly think that “if you come to our restaurant, we’ll publicly humiliate you if you step out of line, 'cause you deserve it!” is the kind of rep a national chain wants to have. (Perhaps) unfortunately, assholes’ money spends as well as everyone else’s.
I stay the hell away from restaurants that welcome assholes, Leaper, you should try it sometime.
Why do you think I generally skip national chains? 
If I skipped every restaurant that welcomed assholes, I’d never eat out again.
Wait, that didn’t come out right.
eew.
Look I’ve got nothing against Applebee’s offering a fig leaf to the upset pastor by reprimanding the waitress in some way, but firing her sends a strong message to me that says, “We value asshole customers who don’t want to tip over our team members.”
I already don’t eat at Applebee’s often but this just adds another reason never to go there.
You’d never eat out of welcomed assholes again if you skipped every restaurant? :eek:
I totally agree. The way that this should have played out would be for the original waitress to show the receipt to the manager and the manager to tell Pastor Cheapskate that she’s banned from his Applebee’s for life.
There have been two times in my life where I have been chased down in the parking lot by angry managers who thought that I didn’t tip and demanded to know why. Both times were misunderstandings and I got apologies afterwards but I appreciated that they were standing up for their staff. (Once they didn’t realize that one person in our party had a paid with a gift certificate and the other is a longer, boring story).
There was one time that I did stiff a waitress whose service was beyond bad. It was flat out insulting. My ex-wife, a former waitress and one of the most generous tippers I know, even agreed to stiff her. I left the exact change for the bill in one pile and eleven cents in a separate pile so she was sure to know what I did. I was hoping to get chased out that time so that I could explain myself but it didn’t happen.
Hey, pastor! Did god bring your food out to the table? No? Then shut the fuck up and tip your server.
Hey Applebees! I hope your former server sues the hell out of you.
I am somehow pleased at how unanimous the board is in hating on this cuntlapper of a patron.