I’ve heard that the banks are shipping the credit card terminals with tipping enabled by default, so it is up to vendors to disable it and most are not doing it. There are all sorts traditionally non tipping business across Canada that now ask for tips on the terminal. There is almost always an option for either no tip or custom where you can enter 0.

For takeout, it's ok and totally normal not to tip, by machine or tip jar. If it's a local joint you like, feel free to add 50c, in my head I will cover part of the credit card transaction fee for them sometimes.

Sit down restaurant with table service and waiters has had tipping culture as the norm.

Don't let the POS machines anchor what is considered reasonable... I will always take the extra effort to do 10% because their suggestions always start at something gross like 20%+. And only for dine in too...

If eating at a cafe or restaurant I generally tip, but only if these is table service.

If I am purchasing and leaving then I consider that "shopping" and I don't tip at grocery stores as a example, so I am not tipping.

You will find most small businesses program their POS (Point of Sale) systems one way for all their checkouts. So if they need the option for tipping on one POS, it's their default for all their POS.

It's a hold over from days when restaurant service staff were paid a lower than normal wage and customers were expected to supplement their earnings with a tip. Wage laws have changed and they now earn as much as any other service worker. So no reason to tip for simply moving a plate from the kitchen to your table. This will cover 90% of what they do.

It's common in restaurants and the like, over the last decade it's been creeping into more and more places.

Minimum wage for servers used to be lower to reflect this but they were brought up to everyone else a few years ago.

I'll tip for table service but not takeout.

@ComradeMiao Yes, and it's annoying AF!

Yes it's ok not to tip on takeout. I generally do 0 or 10%. If there is a cup I'll throw a dollar or two in there.

AFAIK "the norm" is...

1. 15% for table service. But some places changed the default options to start at 18%. IMO anything above 15 requires genuinely good service.

2. Flat amount for beer / barista counter service. I usually tip $1 per beverage. 0.25 for drip coffee if they roast their own beans.

3. Takeout you don't have to tip but people often do tip their favorite mom & pop restaurants.

POS machines have tips enabled by default these days. Generally if you care about tipping retail workers you should leave cash. Outside of barista/bar environments it's almost certain POS tips don't go to the person who served you.

No, it's an American thing.

I only tip for the wait staff at a restaurant, I never tip for orders I am picking up for myself. But generally speaking tipping is the norm in Canada.

I'm surprised how varied the responses are. I'm not living in toronto but I always feel guilty not tipping when it prompts. I usually only tip the older typical tippimg establishments.

I think tipping is the norm across Canada.

The 10/20/30% is most likely pre-set on the system and can't be changed based on take-out or dine-in.

Most times a tip is not expected on take-out (depending on what kind of service of course) , but it is still appreciated by the person who served you, or the kitchen who made your food, again, depending on the type of service.