As a European I visited US last December for the first time in 11 years.
What was shocking how many places I would say 80-90% have the "tip before service" payment terminals.
Many of these type of places were those I would not associate with classical service tipping - food counters, bagel, donut, coffee places where you pick up the order from counter.
Then there were some serious restaurant style places with this same type of payment system.
My American friends informed that technically you can skip tipping in these places.
Still this "tip ahead"" seemed really a bit of dark pattern - you feel like if you do not tip you get Tyler Durden clam chowder treatment.
What was shocking how many places I would say 80-90% have the "tip before service" payment terminals.
Many of these type of places were those I would not associate with classical service tipping - food counters, bagel, donut, coffee places where you pick up the order from counter.
Then there were some serious restaurant style places with this same type of payment system.
My American friends informed that technically you can skip tipping in these places.
Still this "tip ahead"" seemed really a bit of dark pattern - you feel like if you do not tip you get Tyler Durden clam chowder treatment.