What action should be taken after swiping a credit card?

After swiping a credit card, the appropriate action is to enter the transaction total and wait for payment confirmation. This step ensures that the total amount charged aligns with the customer's purchase, providing an opportunity to promptly address any discrepancies before finalizing the transaction. Waiting for payment confirmation is crucial, as it verifies that the payment has been approved and helps prevent issues such as accidental double charges or processing errors.

Handing the card back immediately without performing the necessary steps can lead to confusion or errors in the transaction process. Asking the customer if they want a receipt is important but comes after the transaction has been processed to confirm that payment was successful. Manually inputting the total again for accuracy may introduce additional errors and is typically not necessary if the system is already configured to correctly calculate the total based on the items purchased.