This Just Took A Downward Slide

(A customer walks up to my register and tries sliding his card.)

Me: “Oh, actually, your card won’t work until the very end of the transaction.”

Customer: “Oh, okay.”

Me: “Do you have a [store loyalty card] with us?”

Customer: “Yes. Under my phone number.”

Me: “Okay.”

Customer: “It’s [number].”

(I type in the phone number.)

Me: “Under [Name]?”

Customer: “Yes.”

Me: “Okay, so then just hit ‘correct’ over there for me.”

(I gesture to the screen. The customer slides his card again.)

Me: “Oh no, first you’ll need to hit ‘correct’ for me.”

Customer: “Okay.”

(The customer slides his card again.)

Me: “No, hit correct first.”

Customer: “Okay.”

(The customer slides his card AGAIN.)

Me: “Hit the button.”

Customer: “Oh.”

(The customer slides his card again. I give up and just hit the ‘total’ button.)

Me: “Okay, you can slide your card now.”

Customer: “I thought I slid it already.”

Me: “You did, but I wasn’t ready for you yet.”

Customer: “Oh, slide now?”

Me: “Yes.”

(The customer slides his card. The PIN number prompt comes up. The customer just sits there, staring at nothing in particular.)

Me: “It’s asking you to put in your PIN number.”

Customer: “Oh, okay.”

(The customer types in his PIN, and then stares off into space again.)

Me: “Now it’s asking you to approve the total.”

(The customer hits the ‘no’ button.)

Me: “Is something wrong?”

Customer: “No, why?”

Me: “Well, you hit the ‘no’ button.”

Customer: “Oh, I thought it was asking me if I wanted cash back.”

Me: “No. We don’t offer cash back. It was asking you to approve the total. No worries, I can re-run it and it’ll just ask you to put in your PIN again.”

Customer: “I have to put in my PIN AGAIN?”

Me: “Yes, you do.”

Customer: “Ugh. This is so FRUSTRATING!”

Me: “Okay, so now just hit ‘yes.'”

(The customer finally hits ‘yes,’ and we are able to go on our merry way!)