Summary: if I didn't tip in a situation 10 years ago, I'm not going to start now.
That's it. I cut my own hair.
you're standing at a checkout with someone watching, a line forming behind you, and the default tip is pre-selected at 25%. the "trick" isn't the UI, it's that calculating a custom amount requires more effort than just tapping accept.
same principle applies in mobile game monetization. the IAP prompt doesn't convert because the button is cleverly placed, it converts because you just failed a level, you're emotionally invested, and the "fix" is one tap away. the real pattern is always: create urgency, minimize friction for the desired action, maximize friction for the alternative.
0% is easy to calculate.
Or maybe it's not, who knows? It's sometimes hard to tell with comments.
It's just the times we live in, uncertainty is a given, most of the time we don't know. I guess we'll have to make do.
Mobile offers a speed boost for taps but heavy nerf to text entry tasks.
"Just the tip"
Having the knowledge which dark patterns even work well for technically affine users while still being "socially acceptable" can be worth a lot of money to specific companies.
Then when you spend down the credit to $2 any attempt to buy something that costs more refills the credit.
Starbucks app btw. You have to specifically pay with card on the payment screen to avoid buying credit and paying as above.
randycupertino•2h ago