How American Coffee Machine Features Shape the Starbucks Card Tipping Rollout
Starbucks has introduced a card tipping feature in the North American market, letting customers who pay by card leave a gratuity for baristas at checkout. After a card is inserted for a drink or baked good, the terminal screen shows options of $1, $2, other amount or no tip. The rollout has drawn discontent from baristas, who say asking face-to-face is awkward.
Starbucks had already launched electronic tipping through its mobile app in 2014, so this terminal rollout pushes tipping culture back into view. Customers are split on whether to tip, and some employees argue the company should raise wages instead of relying on customer gratuities. Online commenters describe the moment the cost and tipping prompts appear on the card reader.
Starbucks recently introduced a new tipping feature in the North American market, allowing customers who pay by card to tip baristas at checkout. However, this move has sparked widespread discontent among baristas, who find it awkward to ask customers whether they want to leave a tip. Back in 2014, Starbucks had already launched an electronic tipping feature through its mobile app, but this rollout on in-store card terminals has once again pushed tipping culture into the spotlight. Customers are torn over whether to tip, and employees question why the company doesn't simply raise wages instead of relying on customer gratuities. This article will outline how the tipping system works, the reactions from all sides, and Starbucks' official response and rollout plans, while also taking you through the history of its mobile payment tipping.
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Multiple media outlets have reported that Starbucks recently launched a brand-new tipping mechanism in North America, allowing customers paying by bank card to tip baristas directly. However, this system has left Starbucks baristas feeling quite unhappy.
Specifically, after customers insert their card to purchase a beverage or baked good, the screen pops up with options for $1, $2, "other amount," or "no tip." Baristas report that asking customers face-to-face whether they'd like to leave a tip is extremely awkward.
Some on social media said outright that Starbucks should just give employees a raise rather than putting tipping pressure on customers. Even Starbucks' own employees have complaints about the practice, saying it adds a layer of awkwardness to the checkout process.
Another user shared their own experience: not sure whether others tip, but they themselves never had before. Now after swiping the card, the machine pops up a question, and when you take it and see it's asking whether to tip, it's really embarrassing to choose "no tip" right in front of the staff.
Of course, some netizens take a different view: you can absolutely choose not to tip, the staff are just following procedure, and as long as you don't feel awkward yourself, whether to tip is entirely up to personal preference.
According to an earlier Fox News report, Starbucks said in a statement: "We are launching a new feature that makes it easy for customers to tip on credit card transactions at the register in cafés and drive-thrus."
The statement also mentioned that the feature was first rolled out at select U.S. stores in September 2022 and would gradually expand to all eligible stores by the end of the year. "Our goal is to make it so customers recognize our baristas no matter which payment method they choose, and we're excited to bring this enhanced feature to our stores."
According to an earlier report by Business Wire, Starbucks updated its mobile app in 2014, adding not only mobile ordering but also an electronic tipping feature and a "shake to pay" function. After opening the app, shaking your phone would instantly bring up the barcode linked to your Starbucks membership card to complete payment. After payment, the screen would prompt customers to choose a tip amount for the server among $0.50, $1, and $2, with a digital receipt generated after each tip payment.
In the report, Starbucks said: "As more and more customers use their phones to pay, this update not only makes the app easier to use but also aims to enhance the consumer shopping experience through richer features. After the update, the 10 million active users of the Starbucks app will find it more convenient to tip, and we're excited to make the digital experience simpler. This move will also expand the company's leadership in mobile payments."
It should be noted, however, that the digital tipping feature currently only applies in the United States and can only be used at about 7,000 Starbucks company-operated stores. For franchised stores, usually only cash tips are accepted.
So, what do you think of the tipping system Starbucks has rolled out?
Image source: Internet
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
