After a meal at Applebee’s, one of the receipts was altered. One of the diners had scratched out the automated 18 percent gratuity and wrote, “I give God 10 percent. Why do you get 18?” The note was signed “Pastor” and a big fat “0” was written in the additional tip column. “Pastor” was later revealed to be Alois Bell, a pastor at the Truth in the World Deliverance Ministries Church. Chelsea Welch, a waitress at Applebee’s, took a picture of the receipt and uploaded it to Reddit. Welch told Consumerist.com, “I thought the note was insulting, but comical, and I thought other users would find it entertaining.”
Yahoo! News reported that according to the Reddit post, “The receipt was part of a total bill of over $200 for a party of 20.” “Parties up to eight … may tip whatever they’d like, but larger parties receive an automatic gratuity,” Welch told Yahoo! News. The individual receipt in question was for $34.93 with an 18 percent gratuity equaling $6.29. That would bring the total to a little over $41.
I have heard of people doing good deeds in the name of God, like feeding the homeless or healing the sick, but using God as an excuse not to tip your waitress is terrible. I am not sure if Bell forgot or does not know, but she is not the only one who has to tip waiters. Many people lose money from taxes and other expenses. Just because Bell gives 10 percent of her money to God does not exempt her from paying the tip. Waiters are also dependent on the tips they receive from their diners.
The story does not end there. After Welch uploaded the picture of the receipt onto Reddit, many commented in support of Welch and expressed anger toward Applebee’s and Bell. Commenter adam75643, who claims to be a Christian pastor, wrote, “The way you (Welch) were treated is despicable, and not a reflection of the teachings of Jesus or the grace he offers.” Raverchild commented, “Get this picture blown up to poster size, and start posting it ALL over his church and around the local area. I’m sure this guy’s congregation would LOVE, to see their pastor acting like a dick.”
After a friend of Bell’s told her the Internet’s reaction to stiffing Welch on the tip, Bell complained to Welch’s manager. Yahoo! News reported, “A spokesperson for Applebee’s said it apologized to Bell for violating her ‘right to privacy’ and confirmed that Welch ‘is no longer employed by the franchise.'” Not only did Bell get away with not tipping Welch, but she also got Welch fired.
I had no idea someone could get fired for what Welch did and neither did she. “There was nothing specific in the employee handbook admonishing this behavior,” Welch told Yahoo! News. I thought this was a good way of venting frustration. Welch took her case to the people of the Internet and gained support from them. There were some harsh words for Bell, but Internet commenters are not known for mincing words. I am happy that people called out Bell for her poor behavior.
Applebee’s may have done some damage to their reputation according to some of the comments I have read on Reddit. NoTimeForInfinity commented, “Applebee’s will NEVER see a dollar from me again.” LostInTheMaze wrote, “Unfortunately, Applebee’s is already a crappy restaurant that I already pledged not to ever go there again, otherwise I would start boycotting them now.” I am not sure why Applebee’s decided to fire Welch. I know the customer is always right, but they forget that Bell wronged Welch.
If it is any consolation for Welch, though I doubt it is, Bell did tell The Smoking Gun that stiffing Welch on the tip was, “a lapse in my character and judgment.” I agree that Bell did have a lapse of character. However, this lapse of character caused Welch to lose her job. Bell used God as an excuse for not paying the full bill. By using God as an excuse, she has damaged not only the reputation of those who believe in God, but the ideals for which her God stands for.
The pastor didn’t get the girl fired, her own actions did. When are we going to start expecting people to take responsibility for their own actions again? The pastor took responsibility for her actions (though insincere), now Welch must take hers. I am sure she will be fine. Just remember: what happens on the internet doesn’t always stay on the internet.
It used to be up to the customer whether he/she wanted to leave a tip, and if so, the amount. I’ve left many sizable tips, some more than 20%. But a restaurant shouldn’t be able to add a tip to your bill. I’d rather pay a little more for food and drinks and have the business pay their waitresses more than to see a mandatory tip added to my bill. I agree with Pastor Bell. As for the Pastor getting Welch fired, I’ve not read anywhere that she was fired, and fired because of this incident. The restaurant simply said she no longer works for the company. This incident just gives me one more reason to not eat at Applebee’s.
Pastor Bell’s church is “Truth in the Word Deliverance Ministries.” It is or was located at 2600 North Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.