Have you ever noticed how credit card machines seem to have a sneaky way of making us tip more? It’s like they’ve cracked the code to our generosity — or maybe it’s just a dark pattern at play.

Back in the day, tipping used to be a straightforward act of showing appreciation for good service. Credit card machines would offer tip options as low as 10% or 12%, giving us the flexibility to reflect our satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the service we received. It made sense, right?

But as time went on, those low-tip options became not-so-low anymore. Nowadays, you’ll often find yourself facing tip options that kick off at a whopping 18%. The pressure is definitely on you to dig deeper into your pockets.

Social desirability bias

This thing called social desirability bias plays a significant role in tipping culture. It’s that little voice in our heads that whispers, “Don’t be cheap! The server is watching you!” And it’s true, isn’t it?

Think about it — when the server is standing right there, looking at us, it’s hard not to feel that pressure to appear generous and avoid the dreaded label of being cheap. We want to be seen as appreciative and fair, so we tend to lean towards the higher tip options presented to us.

Whether you’re at a fancy restaurant or your local coffee shop, those servers have a way of making eye contact right when you’re deciding how much to tip. It’s like they’ve mastered the art of making you feel like a Scrooge if you don’t go for the higher options.

Dark patterns

But here’s where it gets interesting. Credit card machines have taken advantage of this social dynamic and employed a dark pattern — a devious design trick to manipulate our behavior.

They understand that we’re often in a rush, standing in long lines at coffee shops or busy restaurants, and we don’t want to be the cause of delays. So, these machines conveniently start the tip options at higher percentages, making it tempting for us to simply go along with the default choice.

They know we don’t want to be seen as the person holding up the line, fussing over customizing our tip amount, so they capitalize on that urgency and make it easy for us to give in to the higher tip.

Picture this: You’re standing in a long line at your favorite coffee shop, and there’s a queue of caffeine-deprived folks behind you. The pressure is on, and you don’t want to be that person holding up the line.

So what do you do? You quickly glance at the tip options on the credit card machine, and boom! They’ve conveniently started at a jaw-dropping 18%.

It’s like they know we don’t want to spend extra time customizing our tip amount, so they make it tempting to just go with the flow.

Business strategy = Bad UX

Let’s be real here. The credit card machine’s dark pattern isn’t just a coincidence — it’s a strategic move.

Businesses know that by nudging us towards higher tip options, they can boost their employees’ earnings without necessarily having to increase their base wages. It’s a win-win for them.

But what about us, the customers? Well, our satisfaction might take a backseat in this situation.

Sure, it’s a practical business strategy to get people to tip more, but perhaps the responsibility should fall on the employers instead. Imagine a society where businesses eliminate tipping altogether and simply pay their employees a higher wage. Oh, wait…

It would take the guesswork out of tipping and ensure fair compensation for everyone. No more awkward moments at the credit card machine, no more social pressure — it’s a practical and fair solution.

Final thoughts

Credit card machines have mastered the art of manipulation, nudging us towards higher tips with their dark patterns. While it may be a clever business strategy, the ethics behind it are questionable. But no matter how long the line is, I’m not going to tip you 20% for handing me a water bottle at the club.