Until now, I’ve always been happy to leave a tip for good service. Usually, I’d just round up to the next 5 or 10 euro amount. Somewhere in the 10% range. For very good service, I’d be a bit more generous.

But last week, in two different restaurants, I was handed card terminals that prompted for a tip on the display. You’re given a choice of percentages; at the first restaurant, it was 8%, 12%, and 15%. At the second, it was 5%, 10%, and 15%. And in small print at the very bottom, there was a “No Tip” button.

So now you have to make this choice while the server is holding the terminal right under your nose. The first time, I was so taken aback that I just pressed the middle button and ended up paying a much larger tip than I actually would have. The second time, I was better prepared, but I probably would have tipped less if a suggestion hadn’t been made.

I don’t know, but I don’t like this development. It pressures you into tipping, and the percentages guide you toward leaving higher amounts. And in the end, I don’t think this is what the employees want. If they even see any of the tip at all.

Have you ever had one of these terminals in front of you? What do you think of them?