Panic at every swipe payment processing meme
Overview
This is a 4-panel relatable webcomic that depicts the common shared anxiety people feel while waiting for credit/debit card payment to process at checkout. In the first panel, the customer stands anxiously at the checkout with clenched fists as the terminal displays "PAYMENT PROCESSING...". In the second panel, the customer becomes increasingly stressed, sweating and panicking while the cashier also grows tense as everyone waits. The third panel zooms in on the payment terminal showing it has finally processed and displays "APPROVED!". In the fourth panel, both the customer and cashier celebrate wildly in relief that the payment went through, exaggerating the relatable stress of slow payment processing.
Origin notes
This comic was created by webcomic artist puddlemunch (puddlemunch.com), and was reposted as a viral meme on Reddit with the original title "Panic at every swipe.. credit: puddlemunch". It captures a widely relatable everyday experience common in modern retail shopping.