Open Post: Hosted By A 0% Tip From Pastor Bell
Chelsea Welch of St. Louis, Missouri is out of a job today after Applebee's pink-slipped her and gave her a one way ticket to the unemployment office for going on Reddit and posting a note on a credit card receipt from a pastor who left a server a not-so-Christian message instead of a tip. Pastor Alois Bell of The Truth of the World Ministries church crossed out the automatic 18% tip for parties of 8 or more and wrote: "I Give God 10% Why Do You Get 18." Somewhere God is wondering where his 10% is, because his PayPal account is empty and he knows those Sunday morning donuts and cups of coffee weren't donated from Dunkin' Donut and he knows they didn't pay for themselves.
Chelsea tells The Consumerist that she wasn't even the one who served Pastor Bell at Applebee's on January 25th. The server showed Chelsea the receipt and she thought it was funny so she took a picture of it and posted it on Reddit for laughs. The server claims that Pastor Bell and her party of 20 didn't have a problem with the service and didn't complain once during the entire meal. But when it came time to get the check, Pastor Bell tried to work around the whole "18% tip for parties of 8 or more" rule by asking for separate checks even though she's the one who was going to pay each check. It's a shady, shady move, but my abuelita approves! Pastor Bell's shady move didn't work and an 18% gratuity was still added to each check. The server said the computer automatically did it.
When Pastor Bell and her party paid up and left, the server found the bitchy note waiting for them. After the served showed it to Chelsea, she posted it on Reddit with Pastor Bell's signature in full view. Chelsea said that she didn't block out the pastor's signature, because she didn't think anybody would be able to make it out. The receipt went viral in a quick minute and ended up on Yahoo!. That's when Pastor Bell found out about it, called Applebee's and demanded that not only Chelsea get fired, but she also asked for the heads of every single person who works at that location. Pastor Bell wanted all of them fired.
Applebee's didn't clean house for Pastor Bell, but they did tell Chelsea to get the fuck out, because they say she violated policy by sharing a customer's private information. Chelsea says that she looked in the policy book and as far as she knows, she did nothing wrong. After a bunch of people jumped on Applebee's Facebook page and demanded that Chelsea get her job back, they said this:
"Our Guests’ personal information – including their meal check – is private, and neither Applebee’s nor its franchisees have a right to share this information publicly. We value our Guests’ trust above all else. Our franchisee has apologized to the Guest and has taken disciplinary action with the Team Member for violating their Guest’s right to privacy. This individual is no longer employed by the franchisee."
Pastor Bell wah-wah-wah-ed to The Smoking Gun and said that it was a "lapse in judgement" and this whole mess has "brought embarrassment to my church and ministry.” Pastor Bell says that she left a $6 cash tip and that Applebee's charged the 18% to her credit card anyway. Chelsea isn't moved:
“Whether or not she left a tip, the note was still offensive. It wasn’t my table, it wasn’t my tip. I’m not sure who ended up with what money at the end of the night. But you can’t really argue with what’s plainly written, and what was written was insulting. Insulted or not, I’ve lost my job over this mess, and that’s what I’m concerned with now. The six dollars one way or another wouldn’t really affect that situation.”
WWJCS: What would Jesus Christ say? Or What would Joan Collins say, depending on what your religion is.
Posting a customer's receipt on Reddit maybe isn't the smartest thing to do, but getting fired over it? Isn't waiting on non-tippers at Applebee's punishment enough? And you know, this makes me feel not so bad about the time my abuelita dragged me to church and when the donation basket came around, I put in $5 and took four ones. No, I didn't do that. Okay yes, I did.
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VOB, did you peek in and leave again? Good to see you as well! ;)
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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Submitted by idiots drive me loco on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 11:39pm.
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Exactly! Well said.
@GG, Foxxy, who else is still awake? HI!
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"CAUTION: Delusion ahead." MK
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I expect nothing more from her kind! How tacky and uncouth is she! I like your Christ, but not your Christians!
Zac Posen has some large disco shoes to fill.
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
Haaahaaaaaa haaa haaa, I am watching last weeks PR and am ENJOYING that bish Emily crash and burn. Suck it bitch.
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
THis cunt needs to die in a fire. That poor server had the prividlge of paying to wait on her.
Server in nearly all states make 2.13 an hour. They are taxed a minimum of 10% on total sales. They NEVER get paycheck as it is always taxed. In addition, what you tip doesn't stay with the server. They have to tip out. At a minimum, it's to the bartenders and busboys. Most restaurants to save money have made hosts and dishwashers tipped employees...so servers have to help the restaurant pay them too. I fucking hate cheap assholes who use the system to lord over others because they have no power in their pathetic little lives. I'm hoping this cunt (the pastor is a woman) enjoys dick cheese and pubes in every meal in her future.
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What was Pimp Mama Kris going to say? That Daniel Craig worked to get the career he has while the Kardashians' fame was handed to them on a glove that didn't fit?--MK
Jitness, unless the management gives you a hard time and doesn't rectify it, I would chalk it up to innocent error. As a former cashier I never intentionally overcharged someone but I have made entry mistakes.
Oddly enough BF just got home from work and the first thing out of his mouth was "6 old people, bill was 75.60. They left me 4.50 and had me giving them water every 5 minutes because they wanted the EXTRA HOT SALSA"
Apparently these folks were there for 2 hours.
$4.50? C'mon.
(they do the 8+ auto gratuity policy)
Cookie Monster-
I don't believe for a minute you've waited tables in the States. Or you'd get it.
Listen up. Here is why we get tipped- and this is beyond refilling water and taking your order. This is:
-Knowing and communicating every allergy to the kitchen so you don't get sick. Have you ever had met a person with a garlic or pepper allergy? Understanding the components of every sauce or tapenade to make sure that guest doesn't get sick.
-Understanding the origin of the foods. How it's prepared. Is the salmon farm raised or wild caught? Is the lamb from New Zealand or Australia? Knowing how long the cheeses are aged, if they're pasteurized, and if they're safe for pregnant women. I work in a fine dining restaurant and could tell you everything from the origin of the fruits to the spices used in every dish
-knowledge of liquor, wine, spirits. Knowledge of all the wine regions. Ex. Chablis is Chardonnay/Sancerre is a region in the Loire valley. Shiraz and Syrah are the same grape. Understanding mixology, and being able to speak at length about regions. Soil. Years. Why Bordeaux wines are lighter than California Cabs.
-Making sure you get all your food in a timely manner. No easy feat, I can assure you.
-Re-stocking every blessed wine bottle. Lighting every candle. Moving around tables to accommodate parties, sometimes up and down the stairs. Dealing with cranky guests who've had to wait for a table because "campers" have way overstayed their welcome
-Charming you with anecdotes and providing you with an experience
-Dealing with situations that you have no clue about.. and making sure it stays that way. Ie. kitchen guy slipped and hit his head and has to be taken to the hospital; there are no clean xxxxx (insert plates/spoons/etc) in the restaurant, so we're running out between tables and polishing our own stuff in addition to running the show
-Being lovely to you in spite of your ignorance and rudeness
-we deal with the chefs who HATE substitutions, and have already written you off. So, we to go to bat for you when you asked your for your veggies to be steamed rather than sauteed. We may get written up for asking the kitchen to change a dish. I'm not even joking.
You tip for the knowledge. You tip because you don't know WHAT the server has had to do to get your food to you in a timely manner, exactly what you ordered. If you don't want that type of experience, eat at McDonald's, or cook your own darn food.
There you go.
Nite Deb!
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
@ Deb -- swordfish, smashed taters, braised chard ;-)
watchin Justin Bateman and Jon Stewart. Bateman is so freakin' hilarious in his interviews, and so cute. love him!
"Voodoo is forgetting who's the john and who's the whore." MK, 3/20/12
@lachaylo & CIJ - Thanks for the movie recommendation. Will put in my queue. Night Deb!
Submitted by que cochina on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 11:02pm.
That sounds good. NPR did a story several years ago about how "average" income folks are the ones responsible for contributing the lion's share to charities and basically keeping them afloat.
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I'm no Bible thumper, but even Jesus said that the heart of a rich man is on his possessions:
"How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Rich dude didn't want to give his shit to the poor. Hmmm... I wonder who that sounds like?
But I digress. Craigslist Joe was an interesting watch.
VOB, take care, hon, as well as the rest of you sweeties. I need to take my over-manhattan served ass upstairs. Always enjoy snarking with you all!
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Submitted by veryoldbat on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 11:04pm.
Peeks into thread::: Hi all.:)
Hey! Were your ears burnin'? How're you feeling?
Hey foxxy! Whatcha makin' for dins?
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
@ GG, yep and i should watch to refresh myself re names. i did not watch when i was recording so we'll both be watching "fresh". ok i'm really leaving to go cook now -- see ya at start time!
"Voodoo is forgetting who's the john and who's the whore." MK, 3/20/12
Have a good night all.
Now is the time. You're not promised tomorrow. -PR
Gorsh...thanks Deb.
VOB, how have you been?
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
You can do it Foxxy! Are they showing last weeks where you are at?
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
GG, you are a sweetie.
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
VOB! VOB! VOB! yay, how are you? running off now but hope to chat when i return
"Voodoo is forgetting who's the john and who's the whore." MK, 3/20/12
evening ladies! GG, i'm counting the minutes!!! trying to get dinner done and ass on couch in 48 min
"Voodoo is forgetting who's the john and who's the whore." MK, 3/20/12
Peeks into thread::: Hi all.:)
Now is the time. You're not promised tomorrow. -PR
it should be the law, to tip or else! :-D I know when someone doesn't tip, it infuriates me all day long! Especially if I take their order, cook it, and serve it to them! :O
~O..+~
"Have you met Howard?"
princesspoppy - yes, that's even worse! Sounds like a server nightmare come true! The management is to blame for booking/allowing so many loiterers. *shudders*
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Submitted by RandéSleepover on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 9:04pm.
OK, some alternative resolutions for the Big Applebee's Tipping Affair:
1. Server swallows loss of $6.29 tip, considers job options, return to school, etc.
2. Server explains politely to pastor in parking lot why service charge was included and her reliance on tips.
3. Server posts receipt but redacts all identifying info, trusts in karma or public opinion to set things right.
4. Applebee's reprimands server re disclosure, contacts pastor to apologize and explain service charge, brings pastor back for delicious-yet-calorie-dense meal on the house, perhaps in another section of dining room.
1. how do you know she is not already in school, or took this job because she could not find employment in her field post-graduation?
2. who is supposed to cover her tables and/or doing her back of the house work while she's yakking it up with a former customer in the parking lot?
3. what she should have done -- although i see pastors as public figures whose names are heavily publicized as church figureheads so i don't see much of an legal invasion of privacy. that bitch just got exposed for being a cheap nasty hypocrite
4. fuck that pastor. let her sue if she has the balls to do it.
from your #2 i'm guessing you're one of the dlisters who has not worked as a server, hmmm Rande'? lol ;-)
"Voodoo is forgetting who's the john and who's the whore." MK, 3/20/12
You can do it Deb. I may not know you personally but you sound like a solid person. You'll get through this caca. I am fine, no omplaints...well no big ones.
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
Submitted by crazyinjapan on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 10:37pm.
I recently watched a movie on Netflix called "Craigslist Joe." He lived an entire month off the goodness of people on Craigslist. None of the givers he featured were wealthy. Hippies, people whose cars barely ran, a Muslim family, a Jewish family, people who were nearly homeless themselves, a kid who let him borrow his bicycle. But nobody in a fancy car or who lived in an expensive house. I'm sure there are people who are wealthy who are not stingy assholes, but let's face it, how else do they get rich?
That sounds good. NPR did a story several years ago about how "average" income folks are the ones responsible for contributing the lion's share to charities and basically keeping them afloat.
crazyinjapan - I agree. I just hope MK drops the "catch the roach" moving ad. *gags*
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Submitted by Deb on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 10:34pm.
I gotta say, having read more of the post, I'm shocked that 8 people only spent $35! They probably held up the tables for 2-3 hours bore-assing for more lemons for their water, coffee and iced tea refills, and keeping that poor server from getting seated more guests.
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From what I understand, there were 20 people in the party. Bell had the waitress divide all the orders into different tickets, hoping she could trick the restaurant into not charging her the 18% tip for groups of 8 or more. Yes. How cheap is that.
You guys make me feel bad...it was 45 degrees this morning and I was miserable! I feel like a proper ass.
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
GG, many people do suck! But I have more people in my life that don't. I'm trying to concentrate on them, and positive things. This D-word has been and will be holy hell. But if I get through it, I'm good to go!
I hope all is well with you!
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
The Bitchy Waiter used to hang out here sometimes. That's how I found out about his website. I liked his serving Katy Perry french fries story. I also really liked his Linda Lavin story. Dude hates little kids, though.
I agree with whoever commented about the chick with the ad on the right. Ho needs to step up her game.
There are a lot of blogs I visit, but this one is my favorite. The posts and the comments are almost always really funny. It's even worth putting up with all the damn trolls running around, making racist/homophobic comments and personal potshots.
Hey Twatty! Freezing your name off? I am!
Yeah, I'm sure that there are decent people in Hinsdale, but I worked for some creepos.
Most of my clientele is in Elmhurst, where there's certainly money - which is essential to my biz, but people are more down-to-earth.
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
People just suck Deb. You should have wiped your boots on their Welcome mat. :D
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
GG, cosign about stepping on bombs. How about unknowingly dragging a hose through them and then getting the shit all over you as you reel in the hose? Good times!
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Deb -- the fuckers from Hinsdale didn't offer you water, why am I not surprised? Though I live just down the road from there, I try to go there as little as possible; the people are the worst!!!
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"I'm from Chicago, bitch!"
"Two eyes, two eyebrows."
Deb, I HATE stepping on bombs. When my son comes home after an incident he is in a world of hurt.
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
GG, not only that, but hey'd leave their evil dogs' (I love 99% of dogs) shit all over the yard for me to discover.
Ugh! I was so happy when sending the 3rd kid to an Ivy League school prompted them to take care of their gardens themselves. The Hinsdale Hillbillies.
They had a sprinkler system, but would neglect to water, and even abuse their plants. I was so happy to stop working for them.
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
I am sorry to hear that those effers didnt offer you water Deb. I HATE good God fearing people like that!
"Let them all boil in their own hotdog juice." Deb 7/2012
I recently watched a movie on Netflix called "Craigslist Joe." He lived an entire month off the goodness of people on Craigslist. None of the givers he featured were wealthy. Hippies, people whose cars barely ran, a Muslim family, a Jewish family, people who were nearly homeless themselves, a kid who let him borrow his bicycle. But nobody in a fancy car or who lived in an expensive house. I'm sure there are people who are wealthy who are not stingy assholes, but let's face it, how else do they get rich? By being stingy assholes. I'm betting this pastor is a wealthy, stingy asshole. What would Jesus do, indeed. Bitch.
I gotta say, having read more of the post, I'm shocked that 8 people only spent $35! They probably held up the tables for 2-3 hours bore-assing for more lemons for their water, coffee and iced tea refills, and keeping that poor server from getting seated more guests.
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Submitted by ThreeWolf4Life on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 10:11pm.
I have seen well off relatives and friends not tip worth a damn too.
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Oh, the wealthy and well-off folks are the worst tippers around! Give me a lunch-pail, hardscrabble, month-to-month-paycheck-living customer any day--the ones that have the least somehow manage to give the most.
They get the quickest, most efficient service, too. ;)
Submitted by ThreeWolf4Life on Thu, 01/31/2013 - 10:11pm.
Thank you for the link to the bitchy waiter. I am in lurve! No ppl can get but hurt all they want, but it is true. I had a roommate that worked at Folks and Sunday rush was the worst. Church people will run you ragged and not think twice. I have seen well off relatives and friends not tip worth a damn too.
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These are the same people who will cut you off in traffic without a second thought. Like somehow in their little minds, how you treat people in everyday life is different from church activities, and not part of being a good christian.
I did landscaping/gardening for 4 or 5 years for people "heavily involved with their church" who were always (at least the mom) yelling at the spoiled late teen kids, and never once offered me a glass of water on a hot summer day.
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
Thank you for the link to the bitchy waiter. I am in lurve! No ppl can get butt hurt all they want, but it is true. I had a roommate that worked at Folks and Sunday rush was the worst. Church people will run you ragged and not think twice. I have seen well off relatives and friends not tip worth a damn too.
@UBF it probably is, I know it took me going on strike for my hubby to finally realize he needs to contribute more than financially to the house, I didn't do anything for him, no laundry, no home cooked meals, no nookie, I told him I was only going to focus on myself and the kids since he thought it was ok to only focus on himself, thankfully within a week he realized all I have to do to keep our ship afloat and he does try more but it's like I have a teenager, I have to remind him and trying to get him to do more than the bare minimum is like pulling teeth, I'll be so happy when he retires soon a d maybe we can get back to the balance we had before all of these deployments
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I wish I had multiple Alts, that way I won't be so lonely when I'm talking to myself
Puppy & Within - Yes, working for tips should be mandatory (like National Service) for at least 6 months!
And yeah, people who proclaim that they are good tippers are in the same bullshit boat with people who say that they are smart or nice. It you have to say it, you ain't it! ;)
"JUST SMILE LIKE A NORMAL FUCKED UP PERSON."
Charles Manson
There are so many terrible things about this story but the three things that chap my ass are 1. This CHRISTIAN used to be homeless and if she didn't depend on the charity of strangers I'll eat everything on Uncle Moe's Family-Style Feedbag's menu; 2. This CHRISTIAN demanded that EVERYONE at the Applebee's in question be fired; 3. This CHRISTIAN thinks we're gullible enough to believe that she actually left $6 in cash. Pastor, i 'm going to speak to you on a level you can easily understand and say you speak with the same forked tongue as Satan.
What a cheap, hypocritical, vindictive, lying hag.
I think the server didn't use the best judgment but as someone who use to waitress, I know what a thankless job it is and it takes a special temperament to be a truly good server. The girl didn't deserve to be fired.
@bambam - the cashier at the grocery store tried to stiff me a dollar tonight and then got all huffy when I pointed out to her I had given her $15, not $14. When her manager came over she acted like she was all confused. She then said 'FINE. I'll GIVE you a dollar.' I pointed out that the only thing she was giving me was the correct change she neglected to give me out of the gate. Keep in mind, I brought the error to her attention before she even shut the register; so basically instantly. The attitude she gave me makes me think she did it intentionally and was mad she got caught. The only reason I think this is because I've had it happen before at other places and this is the first time the cashier got angry. Surprise cockbag! I'm a statistician and I can add and subtract in my head on the fly.
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It hurts because you let your black heart beat for an asshole who can't even send you a "P.S. I'm about to fuck a hole that doesn't belong to you" text before fucking said hole that doesn't belong to you.
TEAM CHELSEA...thumbs up girl! Yeah she's fired...but consider it taking "one for the team" to expose this crusty cretin.I feel certain "god" has bigger better things in store for Chelsea for delivering the backhand from hell.