Checkout comparison
Self-checkout versus counter service: what the reports show
A source-linked comparison of tip prompts at self-checkouts, kiosks, and staffed counter-service settings.
How this was calculated
Reports are grouped from the recorded checkout or service label. “Other known setting” is retained rather than forcing every prompt into one of two groups, and missing timing is not counted as after service.
Only approved, non-demo reports with a known city and state are included. Placeholder locations such as “Location not reported,” “Online,” and “N/A” are excluded. Duplicates and pending submissions are excluded. This is descriptive archive data, not a survey of all U.S. businesses.
What stands out
The archive currently has 32 self-checkout or kiosk reports and 13 counter-service reports with known locations. The difference reflects submissions and source coverage, not a national market share.
This is an editorial reading of the current archive, not a causal claim. As more reports arrive or corrections are made, the takeaway can change.
| checkout setting | reports | before service reports | average highest suggested tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-checkout and kiosk | 32 | 18 | 20 |
| Other known setting | 29 | 5 | 22 |
| Counter service | 13 | 6 | 21.9 |
What this page can and cannot tell you
It can show how the published archive is distributed by place, time, setting, and prompt details. It cannot estimate the true rate of tipping requests across all businesses, prove that a business-wide policy exists, or replace the original source. Use the links above to inspect individual reports before repeating a statistic.
See the underlying reports. Browse the archive or add a documented report.