The person who wrote the note came across an article about it, called the Applebee’s location, and demanded everyone be fired — me, the server who allowed me to take the picture, the manager on duty at the time, the manager not on duty at the time, everyone. It seems I was fired not because Applebee’s was represented poorly, not because I did anything illegal or against company policy, but because I embarrassed this person.
Incredible. How much money does this customer want to stiff this waitress out of? Isn't paying nothing on a mandatory tip bad enough?
The 18% tip was already billed to the customer, so they ended up paying the automatic 18% tip (even though they crossed it out) in addition to a $6 cash tip they left on the table. The receipt was for about $40, if I recall correctly.
While I wholeheartedly agree that the actions of the customer are absurd, I would like to point out that in the US, courts have held that a tip is not "mandatory."
Restraunts should just charge the amount that is needed to pay their waitstaff properly, instead of relying on a tip and make their prices look cheaper! A tip is supposed to be extra money given the the waitstaff for services above and beyond the call of duty.
At least for me. Waiting was the easiest job with the most reward for the least amount of work. Tax free in some cases because it was cash.
Our job was to essentially walk from one side of the restaurant to the other side of the restaurant and meet drunk hot chicks. And they give you typically 10-30 dollars cash for doing so.
Hard work is standing behind a hot grill for $5-8 a hour, 10 hours a day without the tips.
That's fine in an ideal world, but in the United States that's not how eating out is handled. A tip is the payment to the waitress for her services while occupying a chair in her or his section in the restaurant. If you find this unacceptable, there are McDonalds Restaurants down most streets.
Except, in this case, the person actually paid the 18% tip directly to the serving person, and didn't want the restaurant taking an additional "service fee".
"Another detail she got wrong was claiming the customer left no tip. The customer left the tip as cash on the table, as most people in the US do, and something that most servers prefer, rather than pay it as part of the bill. "
The tip in question was really a service charge for serving larger groups. While leaving a tip is not mandatory, businesses have a lot more leeway in adding on extra fees and whatnot, especially if it is already outlined somewhere (e.g. on the menu).
That being said, making it a mandatory charge usually means that it's separate from being considered a tip for tax purposes.
Apparently there have been high level court cases about this (last discussion had a guy posting the case). The 18% extra if portrayed as a "automatic gratuity" is not technically legally required.
It was some case about people getting arrested for theft for refusing to pay.
Incredible. How much money does this customer want to stiff this waitress out of? Isn't paying nothing on a mandatory tip bad enough?