I think one reason we don’t use those PoS terminals too often in the US is because of tipping culture. There is this insane expectation to tip at least 18%, and in fact most receipts have suggestions for 18, 20, and 22%. Any time a server has brought me one of those portable PoS terminals, it felt really awkward, as they stare at me thinking about how much tip I should give for the half-ass snooty service. I imagine many others feel this way, which is probably why it’s not popular. I spend quite a bit of time in Europe and have seen more of the PoS terminals used there, but it makes way more sense because there’s no expectation of a tip.
Flipping that iPad with 20, 22, and 25% tip presets for a takeout really grinds my gears. But even for non-tip services, people tend to use iPhone attachements to scan the card rather than using a POS machine in the US.
Canada has the same tipping culture as the US and we've had portable PoS systems in restaurants for like 10-15 years now (and I feel like I'm being conservative there).
The machine just asks for a tip and lets you put a % or $ amount in, usually with a suggested amount. I'm not sure what difference you perceive here between writing it on a piece of paper and entering it on a terminal.
This just seems really paranoid to me? They can't see what you're entering and sure they can scan the receipt for what you put in after if they want but I've almost never seen them do more than shove the receipt in their pocket and quickly move on. If it's not busy half the time they just leave the machine and come back to get it after taking someone else's order or something.
Here we both tip, and use the portable POS. First the check arrives (on paper) and you can check that. At that point you write in the tip amount. 10% is normal.
Then the waiter returns with the machine, enters the total (including tip) - you touch your card to the machine (and if the amount is high enough enter a pin.)
The waiter does not handle the card.
There is no awkwardness at all.
I recently joined a newly-arrived US friend at a restaurant, and he paid, but clearly didn't understand the edit-the-bill process, so we tipped in cash then gave quick education.
It's a system that works well, is effecient and secure. Overall you stay in control of your card and your card is only processed once.
