Do pop-ups cause more cart abandonment than they prevent?

As an e-commerce store owner, I've been wrestling with a persistent nightmare: pop-ups. Every time I see another abandoned cart, I wonder if those well-intentioned interruptions are actually killing my sales. I've tried multiple strategies—welcome discounts, exit-intent offers, time-limited promotions—but something always feels off. My team keeps pushing for more 'engagement tools', but I'm seeing more bounces than conversions. The metrics are frustrating: high traffic, decent product interest, but cart completion rates that make me want to pull my hair out. I know pop-ups can work when done right, but most feel intrusive, spammy, and completely disconnected from what the individual shopper actually wants. It's like throwing darts blindfolded, hoping something sticks. I need a solution that understands visitor intent, doesn't interrupt the shopping experience, and genuinely helps undecided customers make a purchase—not just another generic, site-wide discount that trains customers to wait for a deal.