A customer left a whopping $10,000 tip on a $32 bill at The Mason Jar Cafe in Michigan. This generous act happened during breakfast at the Benton Harbor eatery, known for its scenic beaches and rivers.
The cafe's Facebook post about the event went viral, capturing emotions with "I'M CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING, WE'RE ALL CRYING." The receipt, shared online, had the tipper's name, Mark, partially hidden. Instead of the suggested $5.95 to $7.44 tip, Mark added $10,000 to his bill.
The restaurant, unable to verify the receipt's authenticity independently, expressed gratitude for this life-changing gesture on Facebook. Manager Tim Sweeney revealed the tip was in honor of Mark's friend who had recently passed away. Such an enormous tip is unprecedented at The Mason Jar Cafe, according to Sweeney.
Shared among nine staff members, the tip was a significant boon, especially for Paige Mulick, a recent university graduate. It helped towards paying off her student loans, highlighting the hard work and variable earnings in the service industry.
This isn't the first instance of large tips on small bills in the U.S., where the average tipping rate is around 16%, according to Forbes. Similar acts of generosity were reported in Utah and Pennsylvania, with customers leaving thousands in tips on modest bills.
The Mason Jar Cafe's story of unexpected kindness underscores the profound impact of generosity, especially during challenging times.
