Hoping It’s Suddenly Un-Declined

(I ring up a customer’s items and tell him that the total is $7.78. The customer proceeds to swipe his debit card and enter the PIN. The card is declined.)

Me: “Your card was declined, sir.”

Customer: “Let me try again.” *swipes the same card and enters PIN*

Me: “It was declined, sir.”

Customer: “One more time. Third time’s a charm, right?”

(He once again swipes the card and enters the PIN… Surprise! Declined again.)

Me: “It has been declined.”

Customer: “I don’t know what the problem is. Did I enter the wrong PIN number?”

Me: “No, sir. It would tell me if the PIN was incorrect. You’ll have to take it up with your bank. I have a line now.”

(The customer leaves and one of my regulars comes up next.)

Regular: “Did he think it would suddenly not decline if he tried it enough?”