Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Publication
    Price Framing and Choice Order Effects in Bundle Customization Decision
    (Association for Consumer Research, 2015-10-02) ;
    This research demonstrates that consumers' satisfaction with a customizable bundle depends on (1) whether the choice options for the bundle components are presented simultaneously or sequentially and (2) whether (or not) detailed segregated prices for all choice options are provided in addition to the total price of the bundle configuration.
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  • Publication
    Price Framing and Choice Order Effects in Bundle Customization Decisions
    (Academy of Marketing Science, 2015-07-17) ;
    One-to-one marketing has become increasingly popular in the consumer product and service industry. Customization emerged as a marketing trend and allows consumers to proactively participate in the configuration or production process by choosing one or more elements of the marketing mix (Arora et al. 2008). Today, consumers can customize a wide variety of products and services. For example, Dell Computers allows customers to choose the hardware components (e.g., processor, RAM, hard drive, etc.) which best fits their needs when buying a new laptop. By offering consumers the opportunity to tailor products and services to their individual preferences, needs, and budgets, firms aim to differentiate themselves from competitors, increase customer satisfaction, and generate loyalty (Arora et al. 2008). During the customization process of a service bundle (e.g., smartphone plan), consumers typically have to make a series of choices, one for each bundle component (e.g., a choice for minutes, SMS, and data). In this research, we will provide evidence that consumers' satisfaction with the final bundle configuration, bundle price perceptions, and overall spending amounts are determined by (1) whether the choice options for the bundle components are presented all at the same time and decision are made simultaneously versus sequentially (i.e., only the options of one bundle component are presented and choices for each component are made step-by-step) and (2) the price framing used in the configuration process (aggregate bundle price as a running total versus aggregate bundle price together with the detailed option prices). The results of two online experiments show that consumers' are more satisfied with the outcome of the customization process and less price sensitive if only the aggregate bundle price (i.e., the running total) is advertised in simultaneous (versus sequential) customization processes. In contrast, when decisions for each bundle component were made step-by-step, consumers' are more satisfied and less price sensitive if detailed option prices are provided in addition to the aggregate bundle price. Our two studies also shed some light into the psychological process that underlies consumers' different reactions. Besides contributing to consumer decision making and behavioral pricing research, our findings have important implications for service providers on how to design a bundle configuration process that increases both customer satisfaction and spending at the same time.
  • Publication
    Price Framing Effects in Consumers' Choices of Customizable Product and Service Bundles
    (European Marketing Academy (EMAC), 2015-05-27) ;
    Many retailers and service providers offer consumers the opportunity to tailor products and services to their individual preferences. During the customization process of a service bundle (e.g., smartphone), consumers typically have to make a choice for each bundle component (e.g., a choice for minutes, SMS, and data). In this research, we will provide evidence that customers' satisfaction with the final bundle configuration is determined by (1) whether the choice options for the bundle components are presented and decision are made simultaneously (all at the same time) versus sequentially (once at a time) and (2) the price communication tactics used in the configuration process (aggregate bundle price vs. aggregate bundle price and segregated prices for the choice options). The experiment presented in this paper provides evidence for the psychological process involved and discusses directions for future research.
  • Publication
    Price Framing and Choice Order Effects in Bundle Customization Decisions
    (Society of Consumer Psychology, 2016-02-26) ;
    This research demonstrates that consumers’ satisfaction with a customizable bundle depends on (1) whether the choice options for the bundle components are presented simultaneously or sequentially and (2) whether (or not) detailed segregated prices for all choice options are provided in addition to the total price of the bundle configuration.