Why did I buy this? Consumers' post‐impulse‐consumption experience and its impact on the propensity for future impulse buying behaviour

This paper advances research into impulse buying by examining how this behaviour is reinforced/curtailed, highlighting the primary role of the post‐purchase experience in encouraging future impulse buying behaviour. Extant research emphasizes the role of the purchase experience, that is, psychological benefits attained from the impulse purchase experience itself, as a reinforcer of impulse buying. Conversely, this paper uses experiments to demonstrate that it is the post‐purchase experience, not the purchase experience, that reinforces or curtails future impulse buying. Indeed, irrespective of the valence of the purchase experience, a negative post‐purchase experience (whereby a product or service is found to have limited use/does not deliver expected benefits) results in post‐purchase regret, which in turn curtails future impulse buying. In contrast, a positive post‐purchase experience reinforces impulse buying. This research also demonstrates that consumers utilize three types of coping mechanisms to mitigate post‐purchase regret, that is, planful problem solving, positive reinterpretation, or mental disengagement. However, although the use of planful problem solving curtails future impulse buying, use of the other two mechanisms results in behaviour reinforcement. These findings have several important implications for both marketers and consumers, which the authors discuss in detail.     

网络环境下第三方评论对冲动购买意愿的影响机制：以产品类别和评论员级别为调节变量

采用问卷调查和实验研究的方法, 构建了以情感为中介的第三方正面评论与网络消费者冲动购买意愿的关系模型, 并检验了产品类别和评论员级别对该模型的调节效应。研究结果表明：第三方评论的好评度、好评数、时效性直接正向影响冲动购买意愿; 好评度以快乐和唤起情感为中介、好评数以快乐情感为中介间接正向影响冲动购买意愿; 消费者购买低涉入度(VS：高涉入度)产品和阅读高级(VS：初级)评论员发布的评论时, 第三方正面评论对冲动购买意愿的影响更强。     

Exploring the inhibitory effect of maximising mindset on impulse buying

Although impulse buying could temporarily increase sales, it is essential to explore how to curb impulse buying because impulse buying leads to negative consequences for both consumers and enterprises in the long run. Previous research investigated the negative correlation between impulse buying and situational factors or personal traits. However, these factors were complicated for marketers or consumers to manipulate, so the research gap was that a lack of research focused on how to curb impulse buying through external intervention. This study aimed to find an effective external intervention to curb impulse buying and thus fill the blanket. This study introduced maximising mindset, a mindset that could be manipulated externally and used effectively by consumers and marketers to curb impulse buying. Data were collected online from 1106 participants in China through the research platform Sojump. The results demonstrated that maximising mindset negatively correlated with impulse buying, and future-oriented thinking played a role as a mediator. This study contained theoretical for future research on impulse buying and practical value in helping consumers achieve better decisions and helping companies achieve long-term growth.     

产品类型对购物冲量效应的调节作用分析

基于享乐品-实用品有关研究及购物冲量效应, 考察产品类型对购物冲量效应的调节作用及其内在机制。实验一通过现场研究验证购买实用品提高后续购买概率, 购买享乐品降低其概率; 实验二为实验室实验, 再次验证该调节作用, 并验证内在原因：购买享乐品更可能激发内疚感、花钱的痛苦甚至负面自我形象和高层次目标, 导致理由性思维占主导, 前次购买引发的应用思维定式受到削弱。相比于实用品, 购买享乐品引发购物冲量效应的可能性更低。     

Buying cars online: the adoption of the web for high‐involvement,high‐cost purchases

This research explores the adoption of the Web throughout the buying process within high‐value, high‐involvement product categories (the car sector). Diffusion of innovations (Rogers, 1983) and innovation resistance Ram and Sheth (1989) theories are utilised and found to be useful. The research is exploratory, based on eight qualitative, semi‐structured individual interviews with potential car buyers. Findings indicate that there is resistance to adopting online car purchase overall, but relative advantage is recognised at the early, information seeking stages. Consumers use the Web to improve the balance of power between themselves and car salespeople. Innovation resistance during later stages, result from the need for personal experience of the product prior to purchase, ie test driving, as well as the uncertainty regarding after‐sales support. Further resistance comes from a reluctance to give up the social aspects of car buying and a perceived inability to negotiate with websites. It is suggested that organisations operating in these markets should focus Web activities on information provision, or opt for a hybrid strategy using both online and offline channels. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications.     

Heart strings and purse strings: Carryover effects of emotions on economic decisions

Abstract— We examined the impact of specific emotions on the endowment effect, the tendency for selling prices to exceed buying or "choice" prices for the same object. As predicted by appraisal-tendency theory, disgust induced by a prior, irrelevant situation carried over to normatively unrelated economic decisions, reducing selling and choice prices and eliminating the endowment effect. Sadness also carried over, reducing selling prices but increasing choice prices—producing a "reverse endowment effect" in which choice prices exceeded selling prices. The results demonstrate that incidental emotions can influence decisions even when real money is at stake, and that emotions of the same valence can have opposing effects on such decisions.     

移动支付对大学生冲动性消费行为的影响——来自ERP的实验证据

为寻找移动支付影响冲动性消费的电生理证据,实验采用两难选择的虚拟购物任务,通过2(支付方式)×2(产品类型)被试内实验设计,结合ERP技术比较移动支付和现金支付下的冲动消费及相关电生理指标。实验数据显示:(1)移动支付下参与者的购买意愿高于现金条件;(2)对享乐品的购买,移动支付下的购买意愿、购买率高于现金支付,而对实用品两种支付下无差异;(3)决策阶段头皮左侧发现,移动支付下享乐品的LPP波幅正于实用品,而现金支付下二者LPP波幅无差异;(4)N2波幅上存在Buy/No Buy效应。结果表明:移动支付促进了享乐品的冲动性消费,决策阶段左侧脑区的LPP波幅可作为其电生理指标,N2波幅表征买与不买。     

A Selective Hypothesis Testing Perspective on Price‐Quality Inference and Inference‐Based Choice

Consumers often rely heavily on price as a predictor of quality and typically overestimate the strength of this relation. Furthermore, the inferences of quality they make on the basis of price can influence their actual purchase decisions. Selective hypothesis testing appears to underlie the effects of information load and format on price–quality inferences. Results of 5 experiments converge on the conclusion that quality inferences are more heavily influenced by price when individuals have a high need for cognitive closure, when the amount of information presented is high (vs. low), and when the information presented is rank ordered in terms of quality rather than presented randomly. Furthermore, because consumers are willing to purchase more expensive brands when they perceive a high price–quality correlation, these variables can also influence their purchase decisions.     

Consumption experience of impulse buying in Indonesia: Emotional arousal and hedonistic considerations

Two studies focused on impulsive purchase experiences. Feelings, considerations and ratings of purchase impulsiveness were measured with respect to a recent purchase by means of interviews immediately after the purchase in the shopping environment (Study 1) and through shopping diaries (Study 2). Feelings and considerations were measured by open-ended questions, which yielded a wide range of responses in each category. These responses were subjected to multidimensional scaling. The results demonstrated a high versus low arousal dimension of positive emotions and a hedonic versus utilitarian dimension of considerations. Emotions and considerations were predicted by general impulse-buying tendency, and were related to the experience of impulsive purchases. In Study 2, impulse buying tendency was measured 2 months earlier. Structural equation modelling confirmed a model in which general impulse buying tendency predicts the feelings and considerations in the purchase environment, which in turn, determine the experience of making an impulsive purchase.     

The Impact of “Display‐Set” Options on Decision‐Making

The way a choice set is constructed can have a significant influence on how individuals perceive and evaluate their options, and make decisions between them. Here, I examine whether a “display set” of visible but unavailable options can exert these same types of influences on whether or not to choose a single (target) item. Across a series of experiments, purchase intent is increased when the display set and target are drawn from the same category, but decreased when the display and target items are mismatched. This effect is shown to depend on perceived similarity, such that increasing display‐target similarity increases purchase intent towards the target. Furthermore, contrary to the predictions made by previous neural and behavioral research on choice sets, the relative value and/or number of display‐only items have no significant impact on these decisions. These findings reveal a novel choice behavior in commonly encountered settings such as online marketplaces. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hyteresis and Uncertainty: The Effect of Uncertainty on Delays to Exit Decisions

The effects of feedback variability and the availability of information on exit decisions in a nonprofitable venture were investigated in a computer simulated marketing scenario. Half of subjects received feedback relatively low in variability and half of subjects received feedback substantially higher in variability. Half of subjects in each variability condition had the opportunity to purchase additional information regarding their investment. Subjects receiving feedback higher in variability delayed exit decisions longer, invested more often, and invested more resources than subjects receiving feedback lower in variability. Subjects with no opportunity to purchase information delayed exit decisions longer, invested more often, and invested more resources than subjects with the opportunity to purchase information. The results are consistent with Dixit's (1992) theory of uncertainty and hysteresis and indicate that an uncertain environment can affect whether a decision maker continues to invest when costs are higher than profits.     

The direct and interactive effects of store‐level promotions on impulse purchase: Moderating impact of category familiarity and normative influences

Marketing literature conceptually and empirically establishes the direct effects of different variables on impulse purchase. However, the simultaneous interactions between variables influencing impulse purchase are yet to be studied. This paper measures the direct effects of store‐level promotions, brand equity, and price consciousness and also examines the interactive effects of store‐level promotions and the moderating influence of category familiarity and normative influences. The results demonstrate the importance of simultaneous examination of interplay between different consumer and store‐level variables. Collectively, the results provide substantial segmentation opportunities for manufacturers of branded goods and retailers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Are humans rational? Exploring factors influencing impulse buying intention and continuous impulse buying intention

This study investigates the effects of consumers' impulsivity traits, option framing, product type, and cash refund promotion on consumers' online impulse buying intention. This study follows two stages to investigate factors influencing impulse buying intention and continuous impulse buying intention. In Stage 1, this study investigates the influence of impulsivity traits (high/low), option framing (+OF/−OF), and product type (hedonic product/utilitarian product) in online shopping on impulse buying intention. In Stage 2, this study explores factors moderating the continuous impulse buying intention. Cash refund promotion (high/low) serves as the moderator. The experiment results demonstrated that subjects with high impulsivity traits, “subtractive option framing (−OF), and hedonic products” are more likely to engage in impulse buying intention. In addition, cash refund promotion at a higher level increases consumers' continuous impulse buying intention. The findings provide guidance for designing appropriate online promotion situation to induce consumers' impulse buying intention that favors online retailers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

When success breeds failure: history,hysteresis, and delayed exit decisions

The effects of feedback equivocality, information availability, and prior decision-making history on escalation and persistence were investigated. Replicating the findings of J.L. Bragger, D.H. Bragger, D.A. Hantula, and J.P. Kirnan (1998), this study found that participants receiving equivocal feedback on their decisions invested more money and invested across more opportunities; those who could purchase information invested fewer resources than did participants who did not have the opportunity to purchase information. There was an inverse linear relationship between the percentage of opportunities in which participants purchased information and the delay to exit decisions and total resources invested. Six weeks earlier, some participants took part in a more profitable investment scenario, and prior experience led to later increased investing when participants were faced with failure, even above that invested in a preceding, succeeding scenario. These results are consistent with an equivocality theory account of escalation.     

体验活动对冲动性购买行为的影响:情感反应视角

冲动性购买在商场和超市的零售中占有相当的比例,本研究以旅游者和旅游购物为实证研究对象,在323份调查问卷的基础上,采用方差分析和回归分析的方法探讨了体验活动对冲动性购买行为的影响及其情感反应机制。结果表明：在激发消费者冲动性购买行为方面,顾客参与的效果最好,其次是顾客学习,再次是顾客娱乐;顾客参与会导致更多的快乐的情感反应,而快乐的情感反应对冲动性购买意愿的影响最为显著;顾客学习会导致更多的支配的情感反应,而支配的情感反应对冲动性购买意愿的影响较为显著。     

Antecedents of consumer relative preference for interpersonal information sources in pre‐purchase search

Past research has demonstrated clearly the importance of pre‐purchase information search within the buying process. Scholars have identified several sources used by consumers in order to obtain information relevant to their purchase situation. Among the various information sources, interpersonal non‐commercial sources seem to play an important role in consumers' choice decisions. The present study examines potential antecedents of consumer relative preference for interpersonal information search. The proposed antecedents include personality traits such as individuals' susceptibility to interpersonal influence, their need for cognition and their self‐confidence, as well as individual differences in product knowledge and perceived risk associated with the purchase of a specific product. Using structural equation modelling on survey data (419 respondents), seven hypotheses — describing relationships between the diverse variables of the model — were tested. The results indicate that consumer relative preference for interpersonal information search was significantly influenced by consumers' susceptibility to interpersonal influence, their need for cognition, their self‐confidence and their product knowledge. Consumers' product knowledge also influenced their perceived risk, which did not affect their preference for interpersonal search significantly. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

消费者购买决定与前额叶脑活动的不对称性——来自EEG的证据

摘要：目前营销科学界对消费者购买决策阶段的神经运作机制仍然缺乏准确的理解,本研究探索了大脑前额叶不对称性是否与消费者购买决策有关。采用田野实验方法,21名受试者在真实的在线购物中,分别对自己购物车里5件物品做出真实的购买决策,他们的EEG脑电图被完整记录了下来,共观察到104次购买决策过程。结果表明,在产品页面观看过程中,受试者的gamma频带前额叶不对称,与随后真实购买行为显著相关。alpha、beta频带额叶不对称与购买决策无关。结果还发现与商品的售价对beta和gamma不对称指数的调节效应,且调节效果正好相反。本研究发现了消费者在购买决策过程中一种独特的EEG成分——前额叶gamma波不对称指数（PAIγ）与肯定的购买意愿和实际购买行为相关性最强。     

The Illusion of Double‐Discount: Using Reference Points in Promotion Framing

Double‐discount is an effective format for promoting purchase decisions. However, extant literature has overlooked how temporal order of discounts applied affects consumers’ purchase decisions. In this paper, we show that the sequence of discount magnitude (e.g., 10% followed by 40% vs. 40% followed by 10%) leads to biases in consumer judgment and influences the perceived appeal and purchase intention of the deal. We term this the double‐discount sequence effect. Using four experiments, we showed that double‐discount in an ascending sequence (e.g., taking 10% off, then an additional 40% off) is preferable over that in a descending sequence. We also found that discount application sequence—but not the presentation order—matters to consumers. Consumers anchor on the first discount they encounter and evaluate the second discount with respect to this first one.     

“We” are Different: Exploring the Diverse Effects of Friend and Family Accessibility on Consumers' Product Preferences

Prior research suggests that close friends and family members exert similar effects on consumer behavior because both represent strong social ties and are subject to communal norms. However, drawing on regulatory focus theory, we postulate that accessibility of friend and family can have divergent impacts on consumers' subsequent purchase decisions. Across four experiments, as well as a pilot study, we demonstrate that accessibility of friend (vs. family) is more likely to activate a promotion focus, which results in more favorable consumer responses toward products with promotion‐focused appeals, whereas accessibility of family (vs. friend) is more likely to activate a prevention focus, which leads to more positive consumer responses toward products with prevention‐focused appeals.     

利用无意识目标启动降低个体的冲动购买行为：个体目标状态的调节作用

冲动购买会给个体和社会带来诸多不良影响,而探讨如何降低冲动购买的研究报道却很少。此外,仅有的少数研究都是从提升自我控制能力的角度来开展,其干预方法具有一定的局限性。本研究从提升自我控制的动机角度出发,考察利用无意识目标启动能否降低冲动购买,并考察其适用条件。研究发现,无意识目标启动可以显著降低有省钱目标个体的冲动购买行为,而对无省钱目标个体的冲动购买行为没有显著影响。本研究结果提示,无意识目标启动有希望成为一种简单、便捷的降低冲动购买行为的有效干预方式,特别是对有省钱目标的个体而言。