Overview

• Tipping prompts on card payment terminals, now common in Germany, suggest percentages starting at 10%, exceeding the usual 5–10% tipping range.
• Psychological effects like anchoring and social norms influence customers to choose higher tip amounts, often selecting middle options to avoid extremes.
• Some customers feel pressured by these prompts, leading to potential reaktance, such as withholding tips or avoiding certain establishments in the future.
• Experts and consumer advocates stress the importance of pre-deciding tips, resisting time pressure, and ensuring access to a 'no tip' option to maintain self-determination.
• While legally permissible, merchants must ensure that card terminals always offer the option to decline tipping, as there is no legal entitlement to gratuities.