Diners Write “LOL” on Receipt Instead of Tip

Tip your waiters, everybody! Seriously, don’t be a dick.

Rutgers student and D’Jais Bar and Grill waitress Jess Jones from Belmar, New Jersey got a lovely surprise when she collected the check from a party of eight for their $112 meal – the group had left her no tip, instead writing “LOL” in the space provided because they had waited an hour for their meal to arrive.

Because when the kitchen is extra busy, taking your frustration out on the waitress fixes things right up.

Jones retaliated by sending the receipt to her local Asbury Park Press, where it quickly became a national story. She told the Press:

“I would have preferred a ‘$0’ tip than a ‘LOL’ tip, but as a waitress, bad tips and harsh notes are all part of the job. Even though they did wait an hour to eat, they remained satisfied with filled drinks and proper notice that the kitchen was a bit busier than normal. I’ve worked in the service industry for five years and I take pride in providing great service to my customers.”

Jones also wrote that servers in New Jersey earn $2.50 an hour (minimum wage for non-tipped workers is $8.38).

“Most of my paychecks are less than pocket change because I have to pay taxes on the tips I make,” she wrote. “I need tips to pay my bills. All waiters do. We spend an hour or more of our time befriending you, making you laugh, getting to know you, and making your dining experience the best it can be. We work hard, and we really do care.”

Stories of people being rude to waitstaff have a tendency to go viral – like that classic story of a pastor saying “I give God 10%, why do you get 18?” as he screwed someone over, or Floyd Mayweather not leaving any tip at Rehab at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas after spending $25,300.