June 16, 2026 — 5:00am
Political types like to blame the iPhone – the ubiquitous conduit for social media – for upending America’s politics, ushering in the era of Donald Trump. By my reckoning, though, there’s a second handheld digital device that has left an indelible mark on the United States: the humble EPOS terminal.
Admittedly, you aren’t going to be seeing anyone adding an EPOS terminal to their Christmas list. But that doesn’t mean that these ubiquitous items haven’t made their mark on the American economy, in particular when it comes to tipping. They ensure that every time you tap your card to pay for the simplest of services, you’re asked to add a tip.
And these machines aren’t just in bars and restaurants. You can find them everywhere from museums to convenience stores, and even in tiny independent retailers. On my last trip to the States, I visited an artisan moonshine distillery in rural Missouri. Sure enough, the EPOS terminal insisted that I consider tipping 20 per cent with my purchase.
If you’ve travelled in the US recently, you’ve almost certainly had the same experience. The terminals that are designed as a cheaper way for small businesses to process digital payments have had the inadvertent effect of ensuring that no purchase can occur without the vendor having the chance to request an extra gratuity.
