Retailers tell me all the time, "We just want to get our customers in and out quickly." When somebody asked me directly whether fast in-and-out is better, I said no. Lingering is where the money is.
Here's what's actually behind the speed obsession: it's how the owner or the employee likes to shop. Grab my stuff, get out.
So they project it onto every customer and build a store around escaping it. But the shopper who wants pure speed already has a phone that delivers to their porch. The one standing in your store came for something more, and rushing them to the register throws it away. Often at the cost of margin.
The move that changes this is small. When you're waiting on somebody and they've chosen an item, don't carry it behind the counter.
Stay on the shopper's side and set it on the counter from the front: "Let me just put these up here while we keep looking around."
If they say "I'm done," fine: "You know, there's something over here I think you'd like," and the dialogue continues toward the add-on.
Because the moment you step behind the counter, you've announced the sale is over. We're done with you. Every item they might have added stays on the shelf, and you rang one unit when two were available.
Now their brains switch from enjoying purchasing to their next to do: pick up the kids, walk the dog, return a call, you get the idea.
The standard I want you to hold: the customer should be the one who ends the sale, practically begging, "Please ring me up."
Until then, you're still selling. Speed matters when the store is slammed, and there's a time to hustle. But as a philosophy, in-and-out is a discount you're giving on every single transaction, paid in the items nobody showed them.
