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Let me change that a bit: "it's pretty ubiquitous in the US". It's not common everywhere. My personal observation (in NL) is that with the transition from cash to contactless payment it seems to be becoming less common over time. Payment terminals here are not setup to ask for a tip (with very rare exceptions) - you just pay the amount on the receipt directly.



In North America the growth of Square has pushed things the other way; tips are front and center for the most limited of "tippable service" - starting at 18% and up from there. Tipping on fast food or something like a latte were the extra labour is already priced in is ridiculous.


I went to pick up my dog from the groomer and they asked me for a tip as soon as I said I was there to pick him up.

I replied "Can I see my dog first?"

It just shows that there's an expectation, and at that point it should simply be built into the advertised price.


The drive through coffee shack that I get coffee from asks for a tip on its payment terminals.

I typically do tip because I'm never buying just drip coffee and I'd like to reward the person who took the time to make my drink.

In exchange there's typically some latte art which takes some skill to build up.


At a coffee shop I'm sort of a regular at, I hate how they spin around the Square tablet whatever thing and it starts at $1, $2, or $3 for a 2.50 Americano. I usually tip a dollar but honestly, an americano is just two shots and hot water. Basically drip coffee. Sometimes I wonder why I go there at all when I could just make crappy instant coffee at work that more or less tastes same.


I'm glad you feel supported in your payment of the extra socially expected tax that should be included in item prices.


As someone also living in NL (Amsterdam though, may be different in other parts of NL), I have to partially disagree with you. It's not at the US level yet, but, my experience is that many if not most cafes/restaurants I go to now display a "Choose your tip %" screen on the payment terminal before paying, and anecdotally it feels like this is becoming more common over time with the newer payment terminals.


I'm in the UK and we have this system too, although half the time the servers will just press 0% for you before they even hand over the terminal just because tipping isn't really a big cultural thing over here (at least compared to the states).


Uks a bit odd since Service charge is a thing as well and sometimes it's always added (at bill calculation) and other places only add it when it's a large group.


Is Square popular and/or growing? This is the biggest change I've seen in Canada and the US


Same. But I always just chose 0%


In Paris, the menu prices include tip and tax and—somewhat miraculously. it felt—the prices are generally less than a comparable meal in the U.S.


I feel tipping is still very common in Austria as well. Wife gives me a hard time when I don't tip a lot or at all but they're still very cash only here.


10%+ "service charge" added to the bill is almost ubiquitous in London now




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