'I Was Very Rude': Man Sends Apology Note and $100 Tip to Restaurant Staff for His Behavior The letter referred to an incident that occurred on July 5 at around 5–6 p.m. The man yelled at Ramsey and her colleague Michelle Kender at the podium and left because the wait was longer than he expected.

By The Epoch Times

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A manager and hostess at a restaurant in York Beach, Maine, was really touched after she received an apology letter enclosed with a $100 tip from an anonymous customer who had been rude to her while he visited the restaurant she works at on the Fourth of July weekend.

"It's very heartwarming, it's a very nice thing to do," Tammy Stirk Ramsey, 50, who works at Union Bluff told The Epoch Times. "It's the first time that's happened. And it was really touching. It made me feel good."

The letter referred to an incident that occurred on July 5 at around 5–6 p.m. The man—who was with a large party who were having difficulty being seated—yelled at Ramsey and her colleague Michelle Kender at the podium and left because the wait was longer than he expected.

Ramsey, who has been working with the restaurant for the last almost-25 years, has gotten accustomed to dealing with some tough customers from time to time, owing to the nature of her profession, and says that she doesn't let their behavior affect her as she doesn't get hurt easily.

"There've been so many people who have said almost the same thing who have been kind of rude, so I'm not 100 percent sure I remember who exactly he was," Ramsey said.

However, Ramsey, who continued with her day unfazed, was touched to receive the letter.

"I was very rude to her—which is out of character for me—I have way more respect for people than I showed that day," the man wrote. "I feel bad. This is coming from a guy who tells people to be kind to service staff and tip big, post-pandemic— how hypocritical."

The man even explained that the pre-dinner cocktails could have contributed to his misdemeanor, adding, however, that it should be "no excuse."

Along with the heartfelt apology, the man, who signed off as an "embarrassed customer," also added that he would apologize to the staff at Union Bluff in person the next time, as he has been a regular visitor of York for the last 25 years.

Ramsey told The Epoch Times that she believes the man was genuinely apologetic for his mistake.

"[It] goes a long way, with people owning up to having a fault and making a mistake," Ramsey said. "Everybody makes mistakes … [but] not everybody apologizes for them or owns up to it. So [it's] commendable."

Touched by his gesture, Ramsey decided to share the letter on a Facebook group called Seacoast Eats, which includes people such as restaurant workers, restaurant owners, and even customers, and the post went viral, amassing over 2,000 reactions and over 300 shares.

Ramsey wrote: "Sometimes good people just make bad decisions, but he was man enough to admit it and correct it."

A lot of people have reacted to the post, said Ramsey, with some people sharing that they themselves have felt the need to write a letter to somebody. However, none have received a letter of this kind.

"Everybody had a little story to share about an incident," Ramsey told The Epoch Times. "People being angry at them, and apologizing, but not writing a nice letter and tipping."

Ramsey's boss, Elena, shared the tip equally with both Ramsey and Michelle.

Owing to the pandemic, in the last 1 1/2 years, Ramsey believes it has been especially challenging for the restaurant and hotel industry to deal with manpower issues; whilst also trying to keep the customers as happy as possible along with abiding by Covid restrictions.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter

By Daksha Devnani

Daksha Devnani writes stories about life, traditions, and people with uncompromising courage that inspire hope and goodness among humanity

The Epoch Times, founded in 2000, is headquartered in Manhattan, New York, with a mission to provide independent and accurate information free of political bias or corporate influence. The organization was established in response to censorship within China and a lack of global awareness regarding the Chinese regime's repression of the spiritual practice Falun Gong.

The Epoch Times is a widely read newspaper that is distributed in 33 countries and is available in 21 languages. The publication has been critical in providing balanced and detailed reporting on major global events such as the 2003 SARS pandemic and the 2008 financial crisis. Notably, the organization has played a key role in exposing corruption inside China.

Aside from its human rights coverage, The Epoch Times has made significant contributions in a variety of fields. It has received praise for its in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on business, the economy and U.S. politics. The newspaper has also received praise for its broad coverage of these topics.

A series of editorials titled "Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party" appeared in The Epoch Times in 2004. It asserts that freedom and prosperity in China can only be achieved by eliminating the Communist Party, which violated China's cultural and spiritual values. In addition, the organization led the Tuidang movement, which resulted in over 400 million Chinese citizens quitting the Communist Party. In spite of this, 90% of websites referring to the "Nine Commentaries" were blocked by the Chinese regime.

The Epoch Times has been at the forefront of investigating high-level corruption cases within the Chinese regime, with its reporters taking significant risks to uncover these stories. The organization has received several awards for its investigative journalism.

The organization has received several awards for its investigative journalism. For more, visit www.theepochtimes.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Side Hustle

I Started a Semi-Passive Side Hustle That Earns $33,000 a Week on Amazon: 'Selling There Is a No-Brainer'

Dr. Jenny Woo wanted to create a product that would help people connect, and it turned out to be a lucrative one.

Business News

Compass Agrees to Pay $57.5 Million to Settle Real Estate Commissions Lawsuits

The class action lawsuits accused Compass of violating antitrust law and conspiring to overcharge U.S. home sellers.

Business News

Jerry Seinfeld Is Now Reportedly a Billionaire — Here's Where His Wealth Comes From

Seinfeld also boasts an impressive real estate portfolio.

Business News

X Is Losing Users and Struggling to Attract Creators, According to New Data

The company, which is owned by Elon Musk, says that 1.7 million people join the platform every day.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.