Restaurant sues customer over $3,000 waitress tip: The controversy behind “Tips for Jesus”
A Generous Gesture Gone Wrong
In June 2022, a seemingly heartwarming act of generosity at Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe in Scranton, Pennsylvania, took a dramatic turn.
Eric Smith, a customer, ordered a stromboli for just $13.25 but left a staggering $3,000 tip for waitress Mariana Lambert.
The gesture, tied to the “Tips for Jesus” social media trend, initially brought joy to the restaurant staff.
However, weeks later, Smith disputed the tip with his credit card company, leaving the restaurant out of pocket and prompting a civil lawsuit.
The Incident Unfolds
On a typical day in June 2022, Eric Smith visited Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe, a local eatery famous for its mention in the TV show “The Office.”
After ordering a $13.25 stromboli, Smith left a $3,000 tip on his credit card, shocking waitress Mariana Lambert.
“It really meant a lot to me because everyone’s going through stuff. It really touched my heart. I still can’t believe it. I’m still in shock,” Lambert shared with local media.
To ensure the tip wasn’t a mistake, manager Matt Martini verified the amount with Smith, who confirmed it was intentional and part of the “Tips for Jesus” movement.
The restaurant processed the payment and paid Lambert the full amount, believing the transaction was legitimate.
The Lawsuit Emerges
The story took a sour turn weeks later when Alfredo’s received a notice from Smith’s credit card company. Smith had disputed the $3,000 tip, claiming it was unauthorized.
Since the restaurant had already paid Lambert, they were forced to cover the loss, leaving them $3,000 out of pocket.
“We thought somebody was actually trying to do a good thing,” said manager Zachary Jacobson. “But now, we’re the ones left holding the bag”.
After failed attempts to contact Smith via social media, Alfredo’s filed a civil lawsuit in September 2022 through the local magistrate’s office to recover the disputed amount.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 2022 | Eric Smith leaves $3,000 tip at Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe |
| July 2022 | Restaurant pays waitress Mariana Lambert the tip |
| September 2022 | Restaurant sues Eric Smith after he disputes the tip |
The “Tips for Jesus” Movement
The “Tips for Jesus” movement, which inspired Smith’s tip, began around 2013, led by Jack Selby, a former PayPal executive.
Selby gained fame for leaving thousands of dollars in tips at restaurants and bars, signing receipts with “Tips for Jesus” and posting photos on Instagram.
Despite the religious name, Selby clarified in a 2014 interview that the movement was “agnostic” and focused on spreading kindness, not promoting faith.
“It’s just about helping people out,” he told San Francisco Magazine. The trend inspired others to leave large tips, creating a wave of generosity across the U.S. and Mexico.
However, Smith’s disputed tip has cast a shadow over the movement’s legacy, raising questions about the sincerity of such acts.
Impact on the Waitress and Restaurant
For Mariana Lambert, the $3,000 tip was a lifeline. As a waitress relying on tips to make ends meet, the gesture was a rare moment of financial relief.
“It really touched my heart,” she said. However, when Smith disputed the charge, the restaurant had to absorb the loss, leaving Lambert without the windfall.
The incident also took a toll on Alfredo’s, a small business already navigating economic challenges.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the restaurant but was later shut down, and the cafe refused cash donations, insisting on resolving the matter through legal channels.
The situation left both Lambert and the restaurant staff disheartened, turning a moment of joy into a financial and emotional setback.
Public Reaction and Social Media
When news of the $3,000 tip broke, it spread rapidly on social media, with many praising Smith’s generosity.
Posts on X and Reddit celebrated the “Tips for Jesus” spirit, with users sharing similar stories of large tips.
However, once the dispute came to light, public sentiment shifted. “It’s one thing to be generous, but to take it back is just cruel,” one X user wrote Threads.
Others speculated that Smith, reportedly involved in cryptocurrency, might have faced financial difficulties or acted impulsively.
The debate highlighted the complexities of social media-driven generosity, where public praise can quickly turn to criticism.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Legally, a tip is considered a gift once given and accepted, making it difficult for a customer to retract it.
However, when a tip is disputed through a credit card company, the merchant often bears the financial burden, as seen in this case.
Alfredo’s had no choice but to repay the disputed amount, prompting their lawsuit against Smith.
Ethically, the situation is murkier. Leaving a large tip and then retracting it can be seen as deceptive, especially when the recipient has already been paid and may have spent the money.
The case raises broader questions about the responsibilities of customers and businesses in the digital payment era, where disputes can have significant financial consequences.
Broader Context: Tipping Culture in the U.S.
Tipping is a cornerstone of the U.S. service industry, where servers like Lambert rely on gratuities to supplement low wages.
The average tip is typically 15-20% of the bill, making Smith’s $3,000 tip on a $13.25 meal extraordinary—over 22,000% of the bill. Such large tips, while rare, are not unheard of.
In 2021, a Nebraska bakery received a $2,000 tip, and in 2020, an Ohio restaurant split a $5,600 tip among 28 staff members.
However, Smith’s case is unique due to the dispute, highlighting the risks businesses face when processing large tips via credit cards.
The Role of Social Media
Social media amplified both the initial excitement and the subsequent controversy. The “Tips for Jesus” movement thrived on platforms like Instagram, where photos of large-tip receipts went viral.
Smith’s tip was initially celebrated in this context, but the dispute turned it into a cautionary tale.
Social media also fueled public debate, with some users questioning whether Smith’s actions were a publicity stunt or a genuine mistake.
The incident underscores how social media can both inspire and complicate acts of generosity, creating a public stage for private transactions.
The case highlights the challenges of navigating tipping culture in the digital age, where large gestures can lead to unexpected consequences.
For Mariana Lambert and Alfredo’s, the incident was a harsh lesson in the risks of extraordinary tips.
For the public, it’s a reminder to approach social media-driven trends with caution, as the line between kindness and controversy can be thin.
