Johannes Bauer

Across various disciplines, research has analyzed the effectiveness of self-focused vs. other-focused (prosocial) bonuses in influencing individual behavior. The effectiveness of prosocial bonuses has been linked to the “warm glow” of giving, which suggests that people experience positive feelings from the act of “doing good”. We propose an additional motivation for why prosocial bonuses might influence behaviors, suggesting that peoples’ value perceptions differ depending on whether an equivalent bonus is spent on others or on oneself. Two laboratory experiments show that individuals overvalue other-focused compared to self-focused bonuses. These results have implications for the design of incentive schemes.

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.

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.

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.

This research contributes to the psychology of money by showing that merely thinking of money can influence peoples' health risk perceptions. We provide an emotional account for why thoughts of money make people feel more optimistic about health risks and identify boundary conditions for the effects of money priming.

Slogans such as "Buy Now, Pay Later" or "Same as Cash Financing" are found at many retailers and for a wide variety of products (cars, furniture, toys, jewelry, consumer electronics etc.). Despite the popularity of interest-free promotional tools, academic research on them is lacking. Therefore, this research investigates consumers' reactions to interest-free financing deals and shows that evaluative judgments, emotions, behavioral intentions (purchase and financing intentions), and product choices depend on (1) consumers' personal financial situation, (2) how the interest-free deal is framed, and (3) consumers' impulsivity.

Slogans such as "Buy Now, Pay Later" or "Same as Cash Financing" are found at many retailers and for a wide variety of products (cars, furniture, toys, jewelry, consumer electronics etc.). Despite the popularity of interest-free promotional tools, academic research on them is lacking. Therefore, this research investigates consumers' reactions to interest-free financing deals and shows that evaluative judgments, emotions, behavioral intentions (purchase and financing intentions), and product choices depend on (1) consumers' personal financial situation, (2) how the interest-free deal is framed, and (3) consumers' impulsivity.

Slogans such as "Buy Now, Pay Later" or "Same as Cash Financing" are found at many retailers and for a wide variety of products (cars, furniture, toys, jewelry, consumer electronics etc.). For example, Apple offers interest-free financing for 12 (6) months on purchases of US$999 and above (