"Can We Pay Here?"

I was restocking when a man standing near the register got my attention and asked, "Excuse me, miss. Can we pay here?"

I said, "Sure!" and walked over. When I got to the register he had his wallet out and was looking for money, so I picked up the item he had sitting on the counter and asked, "You ready to go?"

He said: "No, we're still looking around."

Now, I had thought my question was a mere formality -- practically rhetorical! -- because he had his money out. But apparently not!