This Payment Method Is Riddikulus

I’ve just finished checking out a customer’s items and they’re paying by card. I see them take their card out and just… flick it in the direction of the card reader.

Me: “You have to tap it.”

They bring the card closer but just ever-so-slightly tap the corner of the card reader and spring the card back again, as if recoiling from something nasty.

Me: “No, you have to hold it there longer.”

Customer: “You said to tap it, so I tapped it! Why isn’t it working!” *Starts trying to flick her ‘payment’ towards the card reader again.,*

Me: “Because that’s a credit card, not a magic wand. Your payment isn’t a spell you can just flick into the machine. Here, let me…”

I take their card and hold it on to the card reader until we both hear the approval beep.

Customer: *Realization dawns.* “Oooooooh!”