BELMAR, N.J. (USA TODAY) — The story of the waitress who received a taunting message instead of a tip has gone international, and prompted more than a dozen people from across the United States to come forward to offer to pay her the gratuity instead.
Jess Jones, 20, a Rutgers University student who is waiting tables at D'Jais Bar & Grill this summer to help pay her way through school, had first taken to Facebook to recount the indignity she suffered. Over the weekend, Jones agreed to allow the Asbury Park(N.J.) Press to share her post.
By Monday night, it was trending on Facebook — and people nationwide were sharing Jones' outrage.
"I eat out about six days per week and come into contact with many servers," wrote Jack Bass of Colorado. "I find that almost all of them are working (hard) to earn enough money to either pay their rent or go to school. People who blame the messenger are just nasty patrons that she is better off without. My kids go to college and have had server jobs. I know how something like this would really get them down. I'm sure she had quite a time handling that group and to stiff her is really low-class. … The bill was $112.03, let's make that her tip."
On Aug. 17, Jones was waiting on a party of eight people at D'Jais. After the bill was paid by credit card, Jones discovered that her customers had left her no tip. Instead, "LOL" — for "laughing out loud" — was written on the tip line of the receipt next to, "1 hour for food."
"Why do people have to be so awful?" asked the celebrity gossip blogPerezHilton.com.
Jones has avoided additional media attention at the request of her employer. Despite its philanthropic reputation in Belmar, the landmark restaurant and night club shuns media attention, even when the news coverage is positive.
Copies of emails sent to the newspaper have been forwarded to Jones.
"I'd like the address where I can send a tip to the young lady who was 'stiffed,' " wrote Ryan P. White of Tennessee. "I humbly waited tables in college, and it helped shape me. … Sincerely, a Tennessean who is thankful for humble times that have led to more success than he deserves."
