This shit is contagious. It started spreading beyond US.
Square POS terminals come with tip values already preset. And recently they became popular in Spain. Especially in touristy places, shops leave them with default values hoping to pressure people in paying more.
pro tip: 7-11 has self serve coffee
Don't just complain here, start leaving 1-star reviews for companies that ask for tips for no reason.
It's the quickest way to hurt their business and show that it's unacceptable
I think part of the issue is digital POS systems like Square draw more attention to the possibility of tipping, which in itself is nothing new, but feels more intrusive and like a demand. And ofc it is in Square's (the payment processor) interest to increase the total sale.
Tip jars have always been a thing tho. Some stores with old fashioned POS systems still use jars.
I've never seen someone watch as I selected a tip. That's just considered bad manners. They will walk away or look away, so I feel like the pressure to tip is more of an internal guilt or something.
The only thing that really bothers me is asking for a tip before I've received service.