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  • 8/8/2019 Al Bachio, Consumer Behavior

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    VidarHalvorsen

    2010

    AlBacio

    ;aconsumerexperience

    A restaurant is not a restaurant without customers.

    This report gives a picture of the restaurant Al Bacio in

    Angeles City; an Italian restaurant build, owned and

    run by an Italian, famous for his keen eye on the

    details. Through use of the Consumer behavior

    matrixes of black box and Consumer decision-making

    model, the report aim to uncover some of the reasons

    behind the clienteles reasons for coming, reason for

    returning and reasons for referrals.

    Vidar Halvorsen

    Student # 10992766

    In partial fulfillmentsof therequirements

    Of the Marketing Management Course

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    1.1 BACKGR UNDLate October 2010, we (the writer and friends) took a trip to Angeles to pay a visit to a friend of ours.

    He is an Italian who owns a small restaurant off Perimeter road in Angeles City. Thou the city has

    some well deserved bad reputation, this restaurant, Al Bacio, has a reputation for unrivalled quality

    of food, great atmosphere and service quality which can match the best of international restaurants.

    Being a marketer at heart, I wanted to analyze the customer experience through empirical methods,

    to see if these held in a scenario like Al Bacio.

    1.2 THE RESTAURANTThe restaurant has a distinct Italian feeling even as one enters

    it, with white concrete walls, arched windows and a wall of

    wine set strategically as a focal point. The interior is simple

    and gave my friends a feeling of being in an Italian winery

    (Co

    n

    d b

    on

    o

    h

    nd

    ). Floors were tiled with

    terracotta brown tiles, seemingly imported from Italy, along

    with distinct character giving items like genuine wine barrels,

    an Italian bodega style bar and Italian espresso machine.

    All the windows have white, thin drapes, to douse the strong

    daylight, and give guests the break they need to relax and

    concentrate onenjoying the setting, the company and, as we will

    later see, the food. A special feature which the owner has

    invested in is the wall

    image visibly in the image

    to the left. Most guests are

    impressed by the quality of a digital image, and the scenery

    it shows. When, as we were, presented with the fact that

    this is not digital, but hand painted scenery from a local artist,

    it adds to our understanding that the owner of this restaurant

    invested much in the

    p

    n

    he wants his customers to have, opposed to other restaurants

    nearby which seemed to have adopted a fast in, fast out approach, a well known business idea in

    this area of Angeles.

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    1.3 THE GR UPThis day we were 6 individuals from 4 different nations; one of them being an Italian himself, which

    would give us ample opportunities for a varied and complete customer feedback.The demographics

    of the group were as follows:

    1. Norwegian, 37 years, Male2. Filipino, 35 Years, Female3. Italian, 42 years, Male4. German, 29 years, Female5. Caribbean, 27 years, Female6. Nigerian, 39 years, Male

    1.4

    ENU

    The menu in Al Bacio is focused on Italian. Ranging from the starters to main courses, desserts,

    snacks and even coffee, everythingbut a very few pinoy adapted courses wereItalian.

    Starters had some 15 choices, with dishes like Ho

    -

    ad

    p

    nah and

    h

    av

    o

    !

    " B

    #

    Ca

    pa

    o ! which were highly recommended by the waiter.

    The Main courses were varied with fish and meat, pasta and naturally pizza. The selection on pasta

    and pizza were naturally the majority, but we noticed a few alternatives for the local palate. The

    reason for this was, as our waiter explained: We hav $

    hp

    ob

    o#

    b

    ng

    n a n a

    a

    %h

    $h

    a

    n

    ndu

    $

    &

    adu

    $ n $

    $ a

    n

    n $ ' ( o a $

    $ o $ ho

    nd

    v

    dua

    % ho b

    ng

    n n % - o

    " a

    d

    #

    o

    ou

    oa

    )

    pa$

    o

    $

    &

    "

    %

    a% $

    h

    n

    d$o hav

    o

    a

    $ha

    $a

    o

    #

    ou

    d on

    oa

    $a

    $ 'W

    p

    n

    $

    $ 0 $a

    an

    $

    &

    oo1

    ng" bu$

    $

    a

    &

    a

    an

    $o an

    nd

    '

    2

    #

    $

    $h

    #

    $v

    $

    "

    $ho

    gu

    $

    b

    ough$

    b&

    oa

    ndu

    $

    &

    "

    $h

    n$

    na$

    ona

    gu

    $

    u

    ua

    &

    o

    ba

    1

    on$h

    o%

    n a

    o

    d' !

    The choices in desserts were a selection of what can best be described as a Christmas for food lovers.

    All the most well known and tastiest Italian desserts were present. From C

    B

    u

    , (

    a

    u"

    B

    o

    $ $

    and G

    a$o, it was all there. Me, being a former restaurant chef knew I would have to take

    myself out of the customer experience model as I was already bias, and would hardly give a

    representative feedback. I addition, being a former chef I knew what to expect both from

    presentation, content and expected flavours.

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    1.5 BEHAVIOR MODELSIn this report we will first present the general Aida

    3

    od4

    5

    6

    1which is closely linked to the bu

    7

    4

    8

    D4 9 ision p

    8

    o9 4 ss

    2. This model is closely linked with the AIDA Model which will then lead focus on th 4

    B5

    a9

    @

    BoA 3

    od4

    5 3, a more comprehensive consumer decision making model.

    This, combined with the general marketing process we assume Al Bacio have gone through to grow

    to where they are, will give us a good image of what behavioural models the restaurant plays on to

    attract, service and retain customers.

    1.5.1 THE DECISION MAKINGPROCESS INCHOOSING STARTERSThe AIDA shows us the basics of customer decision making; Attention, Interest, Desire, Action.

    For the starters my friends (I took myself out off this process as mentioned above) had excellent help

    from the staff who acted more as advisors and ambassadors than the average waiter. As the waiter

    approached us, we were asked if we were ready to order or if we nB B

    dBdso

    C

    Bh

    B

    D

    p to dB E

    idB F

    . In

    terms of the AIDA process this action worked as a catalyst in the attention level. Instead of simply

    pointing out the bestsellers, our waiter asked us if we had any preferences in terms of flavour. For

    the meat lovers, this being 2 of our friends and myself, we were advised to consider the Carpaccio.

    Its meatsushistyle! See-thG

    ough-thinslicedfrozen meat,paintedwith extravirginolive oil,

    flavouredwithonlysaltandpepper. We thenaddalittleArugulasaladinthe middle foracrispy

    complementarytaste,andconclusivelywe addfreshgratedParmesanDelParma F overitanda few

    capers foracontrastingsourtwist. All 3 of us ordered this instantly. In terms of process we see the

    following:

    Theory framework:

    EnH

    iIon

    P Qntal FactoI s BuyersBlackBox Buyers

    ResponseMarketinR

    Sti P uli

    Environ.Stimuli Buyers

    Characteristics

    DecisionProcess

    Product Economic Attitudes Problem

    Recognition

    Price Technological Motivation Information Productchoice

    1http://changingminds.org/disciplines/sales/methods/aida.htm

    2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyer_decision_processes#Models_of_buyer_decision_making

    3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_behaviour

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    search

    Place Political Perception Alternative

    evaluation

    BrandChoice

    ProSotion Cultural Personality Purchase

    Decision

    DealerChoice

    Demographic Lifestyle Post-purchase

    behavior

    PurchaseTiming

    Natural Knowledge PurchaseAmount

    Inpracticetheframeworkemployedlookslikethis:

    Practical Framework: - generaluntilDecisionprocess,indiT

    idual (theAfrican)fromDecision

    processtillResponse.

    EnT

    ironmental Factors BuyersBlackBox Buyers

    ResponseMarketing

    Stimuli

    EnT

    iron. Stimuli Buyers

    Characteristics

    DecisionProcess

    Product:

    Starter;Carpaccio

    Economic:

    Highpriced,but

    valueformoney.

    Attitudes:

    Opentonew

    experiences,and

    familiarwith

    ItalianCuisine.

    Positiveattitude

    totherestaurant.

    Problem

    Recognition

    Price:

    215Peso

    Technological

    N/A

    MotiT

    ation

    Lookingfora

    culinary

    experience,and

    hungry.

    Information

    search

    Productchoice:

    BeefCarpaccio

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    Natural

    N/A

    Knowledge:

    Familiarwith

    Italianfood,but

    mostlyfromthe

    Makati

    restaurants.Only

    onehasbeento

    Italy,andassuch

    Onlyonecan

    actuallyfunction

    asabenchmark

    forthe

    experience.

    PurchaseAmount

    Whatweseeinthismodelishowthedecisionmakingismadeincombinationwiththecustomers

    AIDA Attentiontothemenusofferings;interestFuelledbytheWaitersadvice,Desirefor

    CarpacciofromtheWaitersdescription,andactionintermsoforderingCarpaccio.

    Weseehowthedecisionmakingprocessintheblackboxishighlyinfluencedbytheactionsofthe

    waiter,whointermsactsasasalesmanandadvisor.Playingonthebasicneedsofsustenance,

    combinedwiththedesiresofthecustomerswantformeat,thewaiterusedadescriptive approach

    tointerestthecustomer(intermsofmentalpresentationandflavours),whichleadstoall3males

    orderingtheCarpaccio.Postpurchasebehaviourisequalwiththeguest(theAfrican)aswiththe

    otherindividualsofthegroup.Wewereallinhighspiritsasthewaiterentertaineduswith

    descriptionsofthewineherecommended;althoughHouse-red,agenuineItalianwine,whichhe

    presentedthestoryoftheregionfor.

    Inpost-purchasewealsolookatthedishofchoiceitself;howitwaspresented,howtheflavours

    were,andhowtheexperienceofthemalegroupwas.

    TheCarpacciowerepresentedonasquareplatter, withahealthy

    redcolouronthemeat,driedoffsotherewerelittlebloodto

    discouragetheguests,brushedwith Extra Virginoliveoil,drizzled

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    withfreshParmesanandseasonedwithcoarsesalt,groundpepperandafewcapersmadeitagreat

    andappetizingview.

    Oneofthefemalesinthegroupraisedquestionsabouttheflavourofrawmeat,fearingthetaste

    ofbloodbeingthedominant.OurAfricanfriendquicklyeasedherqualmsasheexplainedthe

    thinnessoftheslicestookawaytherawmeatflavour,givingitmorethetasteofamediumcookedbeef,whiletheoilandparmesanandcapersaddedcontrastswhichmadehismouthwater.Thispost

    purchasebehaviourledtothefemalesofthegroupaskingforsamples,whereallbutoneagreedthe

    Carpacciobeingasurprisinglytastydish. TheWinerecommendedbythewaitergavearich,flowery

    complimentingtastetoitall,whichthegroupwerehighlyappreciatetothewaiterfor.

    Theother(notdetailedinthispart)startersthatwereorderedwere1CesarSalad,1Spinachand

    CheeseRavioliandoneMinestronesoup.

    MainCourses:

    Thegroupweremorefragmentedinthedecision

    makingprocessintermsofMainCourse.Themenuwas

    richwithchoices,Pasta,Pizza,Beef,Fish,Chickenanda

    fewPinoyrelateddishes(nonechosen).

    ThebasicDecisionmakingmodelapplieshereaswellas

    itdidwiththeDecisionmakingprocessinthestarters.

    However-nowthatthegrouprealizedtheyhada

    knowledgeablesourceofinformation(andintermsadvertising;unknowntothemajorityofthe

    group);theprocesschangedabitinmarketingterms.Fromthebasicmodelofdecisionmaking,the

    waiternowtakeontheroleofinformationandadvertising,asthegroupconsciouslyseekshimoutto

    getadvise(andintermsadvertising).

    Marketingmakeuseofadecisionmakingmodelincludingadvertising,especiallyonline/interactive

    advertisingandinfluences.Therefore,weincorporatetheModelfor RationalDecision maV

    ing for

    online (interactive) Purchases.4

    ThisModelincorporatesknowledgeandbeliefs

    onthesideofpre-purchasebeliefsandpurchase

    beliefs,andbehaviour/action influencesonthe

    4http://jiad.org/article65

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    pre-purchasesearchleadingtothepurchaseitself.

    Thelinks(betweenboxesH)indicatevariousinformationthatgivesweighttothenextchainof

    eventsleadingtopurchase.

    Inthiscasethecatalystofinteractive(online)influenceisthewaiter.Bynowthegroupknowheisa

    sourceofinteractiveknowledge(resource),andisactivelyusinghimintheirdecisionmakingprocess.

    WewillillustratethisthroughthedecisionmakingprocessoftheCaribbean29yearoldFemale.This

    individualisfamiliarwithCaribbean,CreoleandAsianfoodingeneral,Italianfoodinperipheral.She

    hastastedthestandardsofSpaghettiandLasagne,butnotinagenuineItalianrestaurantbefore.Her

    choiceinstarterswasRavioli,adishshehaspreviouslytastedinotherrestaurants,butwhichgave

    heraneye-openingexperiencehere.ThewaiterwasaheavyinfluenceonherchoiceofStartersand

    shewasrelyingonhisexplanationsindecidingherMainCourse.Westartbyacknowledgingher

    newfoundknowledgeandbeliefsongenuineItalianfoodbeingfartastierandenjoyableasshes

    beenusedto.Sheappliescertainweighsofimportanceofwhatsheknows;combinedwiththe

    informationthewaitersuppliesher. Inotedthewaiterdidnotdirectlyrecommendanycourse,but

    guidingthefemalethroughherstatedchickenpreferences.In VerticalboxH1athefemales

    preferencescombinedwiththeinformationsuppliedbythewaiter,leadshertoadeeperbeliefand

    expectationonwhatalternativesshewillendupchoosingfrom.H1c Establishesapurchase

    preference,whichaddstofinaldecision..H1btellsusherinitialpreferencesforChickenwillassigna

    heaverweightothatsectionofthemenuthanothers.H2aandH2bisinfluencedbytheinteractive

    advertisingmadebythewaiter,thementalimagesheseedsinhermind,andcausehertofocuson

    Chickensectionofthemenu,whilefilteringoutareaslikepizzaandpasta.Thereare3itemsonthe

    Chickenmenu,onebeingthepinoyalternative,2beingpureItalianchoice.Concentratingnowon

    thepre-purchaseSEARCH(pre-purchasesearchbeliefsandpurchasebeliefsbeingfulfilled,The

    Behaviournowislinkedtowhatchoiceshehasaccumulatedthemostweightsto(h3),whichleads

    toherPurchase/decision.

    InthissettingshechosethePolloItaliano,chickenbreastmarinatedinItalianherbs, grilledover

    woodcoalandservedwithasautedtomatoesandvegetables.

    The flavouris justamazing! The meatisstilljuicyanddripping,yetfullofherbalflavoursandahint

    ofsmoW

    e from the charcoal. Combinedwiththe tomatotaste inthe sautedvegetables,itmaW

    es my

    taste buds euphoric!

    Bynowthegrouphasalsobeenservedtheirrespectivemaindishes.2Pizzas(CalzoneandPizza

    Parma)1Fish,and2Pasta(ArrabiataandPastaCarbonara).Thegroupisverysatisfiedwiththeir

    choices,thespeedofthedeliveryandtheflavours.Theonlycomplaintwehavesofarisfromthe

    Germanfemalewhofeelsshechosethewrongdish.Sheexplainstheresnothingwrongwiththe

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    dish,butsherealizesherchoiceoffishleftherwantingfortheChickenorderedbytheCaribbean

    female.Thewaiterofferstohavethechefmakehalfaportionofthedish,forhalftheprice,butthe

    Germanfemaledecidestostaywithherdish.

    FortheDessertpartofthemealweturntotheconsumerdecision-makingprocess,weusethe

    matrixexplainedbyTheDecisionmakingmodel.Stillthisiscontainedwithintheblackbox

    framework,butnowwiththeadditionalsituationalvariableofthegroupessentialbeingfull.

    Decidingondessertonthisstageholdslessweighthatstarterandmaincourse.Combiningthe

    DecisionmakingmodelandtheRationalDecisionModel,,weseehowNeedisnowfarlower,butstill

    apparentasthereisaneedforasweetround-offtotheexperience,combined(onadvicefromthe

    waiter)withalittleliquortotopofftheflavourandsettlethestomach.

    TheNeedsrecognitionpartissettledwithonly4of6individualsoptingforadessert,and2of6

    optingfor

    liquor

    and

    coffee,

    and

    2

    with

    only

    an

    espresso

    as

    an

    end

    to

    the

    meal.

    In

    terms

    we

    see

    the

    needforinformationontermsofespressobeingveryshort.Theeconsumersherehadsubstantial

    priorknowledgeandthereforehadlittleuseforfurtherinformation/advertising fromthewaiter.

    Intermswethenseeastrongrelationbetweenpre-purchasebelies,andthepurchasebeliefs,but

    lessemphasisontheprepurchasesearch

    leadingtoapurchase.

    Forthosewhooptedfordessert,therewasan

    interactiveinformationsearchbetweenthe

    infointhemenuandthatofthewaiter,

    (mediumweightintermsoftherational

    decisionmakingprocess),whiletheevaluation

    weighsvs.theneedsalsowereweak.Infact

    therewassignificantdiscussionthroughoutthedecisionprocesswhetherornottooptfordessertat

    all.Inhereweseetheevaluationbeingheavilyinfluencedbyadvertising(thewaiter),who

    influencedwithoutpressuringthegroupmembers.TheGermanFemalewerestillnotfullafterher

    fishmeal,soconsideringherinformationtothewaiteraboutenjoyingcreamyflavours,headvised

    heronTiramisu;acreamycakeandamaretto/coffeeflavoureddessert.Theothermemberchose

    ItalianGelato,realicecream,withberriesoftheseason.Thischoicewasinfluencedbythewaiteras

    theGermaninformedhimshewantedsomethinglightincomparison,butstillauniquelyItalian

    experience.

    GoingbacktotheModel,analyzingthepost-purchaseevaluation,feedbackswereuniformlypositive.

    Whenaskedaboutunhappycustomers,thewaiterconfessedtherewouldalwaysbecustomerswho

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    werenotentirelysatisfied.Mostly,heexplained,thiscameaboutwhenpriorexperienceswerethat

    oftheindustrialrestaurantslikeSbarros, Jolibeepastaandalike.Customerswhocametothe

    restaurantexpectingthesameflavours,andpreferringthe same flavoursaswith pinoypastatypes,

    andSbarroItaliandishes,usuallyweredissatisfied.Intermsthisthencamedowntoopposing

    concepts,wherethecustomerhadlearnedtobelieveindustrialItalianfoodbeingthenorm,andassuch,specialityrestaurantbeingtheabnormal.Wefoundnoreasontocontradictthatstatement.

    1.6 THEORETIC FRAMEWORKDecisionmaking Process/model

    5:

    Figure4.1Blackboxmodelofconsumerbuyingbehavior

    Source: Keeganetal.(1992,p.193)

    Theessenceofthemodelisthatitsuggestsconsumerswillrespondinparticularwaystodifferent

    stimuliaftertheyhave 'processed' thosestimuliintheirminds.Inmoredetail,themodelsuggests

    thatfactorsexternaltotheconsumerwillactasastimulusforbehavior,butthattheconsumer's

    personalcharacteristicsanddecision-makingprocesswillinteractwiththestimulusbeforea

    particularbehavioralresponseisgenerated.

    Itiscalledthe 'blackbox' modelbecausewestillknowsolittleabouthowthehumanmindworks.

    Wecannotsee whatgoesoninthemindandwedon'treallyknowmuchaboutwhatgoesonin

    there,soit'slikeablackbox.Asfarasconsumerbehaviorgoes,weknowenoughtobeableto

    identifymajorinternalinfluencesandthemajorstepsinthedecision-makingprocesswhich

    consumersuse,butwedon'treallyknowhowconsumerstransformallthesedata,togetherwiththe

    stimuli,togenerateparticularresponses.

    5http://www.marcbowles.com/courses/adv_dip/module12/chapter4/amc12_ch4_two.htm

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    GeneralDecisionmaking model6:

    Researchsuggeststhatcustomersgothroughafive-stagedecision-makingprocessinany

    purchase.Thisissummarizedinthediagrambelow:

    Thismodelisimportantforanyonemakingmarketingdecisions.It forcesthemarketerto

    considerthewholebuyingprocessratherthanjustthepurchasedecision(whenitmaybe

    toolateforabusinesstoinfluencethechoice!)

    Themodelimpliesthatcustomerspassthroughallstagesineverypurchase.However,in

    moreroutinepurchases,customersoftenskiporreversesomeofthestages.

    Forexample,astudentbuyingafavoritehamburgerwouldrecognizetheneed(hunger)and

    gorighttothepurchasedecision,skippinginformationsearchandevaluation.However,the

    6http://tutor2u.net/business/marketing/buying_decision_process.asp

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    modelisveryusefulwhenitcomestounderstandinganypurchasethatrequiressome

    thoughtanddeliberation.

    Thebuyingprocessstartswithneedrecognition.Atthisstage,thebuyer recognizesa

    problemorneed(e.g.Iamhungry,weneedanewsofa,Ihavea headache)orrespondstoa

    marketingstimulus(e.g.youpassStarbucksandareattractedbythearomaofcoffeeand

    chocolatemuffins).

    Anarousedcustomerthenneedstodecidehowmuchinformation(ifany)isrequired.If

    theneedisstrongandthereis aproductorservicethatmeetstheneedclosetohand,then

    apurchasedecisionislikelytobemadethereandthen.Ifnot,thentheprocessof

    informationsearchbegins.

    Acustomercanobtaininformationfromseveralsources:

    Personalsources:family,friends,neighbors etc

    Commercialsources:advertising;salespeople;retailers;dealers;packaging;point-of-sale

    displays

    Publicsources:newspapers,radio,television,consumerorganizations;specialistmagazines

    Experientialsources:handling,examining,usingtheproduct

    Theusefulnessandinfluenceofthesesourcesofinformationwillvarybyproductandby

    customer.Researchsuggeststhatcustomersvalueandrespectpersonalsourcesmorethan

    commercialsources(theinfluenceofwordofmouth).Thechallengeforthemarketing

    teamistoidentifywhichinformationsourcesaremostinfluentialintheirtargetmarkets.

    Intheevaluationstage,thecustomermustchoosebetweenthealternativebrands,products

    andservices.

    Howdoesthecustomerusetheinformationobtained?

    Animportantdeterminantoftheextentofevaluationiswhetherthecustomerfeels

    involvedintheproduct.Byinvolvement,wemeanthedegreeofperceivedrelevanceand

    personalimportancethataccompaniesthechoice.

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    Whereapurchaseishighlyinvolving,thecustomerislikelytocarryoutextensive

    evaluation.

    High-involvementpurchasesincludethoseinvolvinghighexpenditureorpersonalrisk for

    examplebuyingahouse,acarormakinginvestments.

    Lowinvolvementpurchases(e.g.buyingasoftdrink,choosingsomebreakfastcerealsinthe

    supermarket)haveverysimpleevaluationprocesses.

    Whyshouldamarketerneedtounderstandthecustomerevaluationprocess?

    Theanswerliesinthekindofinformation thatthema rketingteamneedstoprovide

    customersindifferentbuyingsituations.

    Inhigh-involvementdecisions,themarketerneedstoprovideagooddealofinformation

    aboutthepositiveconsequencesofbuying.Thesalesforcemayneedtostresstheimportant

    attributesoftheproduct,theadvantagescomparedwiththecompetition;andmaybeeven

    encouragetrialorsamplingoftheproductinthehopeofsecuringthesale.

    Post-purchaseevaluation - CognitiveDissonance

    Thefinalstageisthepost-purchaseevaluationofthedecision.Itiscommonforcustomersto

    experienceconcernsaftermakingapurchasedecision.Thisarisesfromaconceptthatis

    knownascognitivedissonance.Thecustomer,havingboughtaproduct,mayfeelthatan

    alternativewouldhavebeenpreferable.Inthesecircumstancesthatcustomerwillnot

    repurchaseimmediately,butislikelytoswitchbrandsnexttime.

    Tomanagethepost-purchasestage,itisthejobofthemarketingteamtopersuadethe

    potentialcustomerthattheproductwillsa tisfyhisorherneeds.Thenafterhavingmadea

    purchase,thecustomershouldbeencouragedthatheorshehasmadetherightdecision.

    Conceptual ModelofRationalDecision Making7:

    7http://jiad.org/article65

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    Conceptual Path Model of Rational Decision Making

    Severalbarrierstoactualonlinepurchase have been reported,includingconsumerconcernsand

    transactionanxiety(KorgaonkarandWolin 1999),paymentsecurityanddistributionissues,

    perceptionsofinformationalratherthantransactionalvalue ofthe Internet(ZengandReinartz 2003),

    lackof face-to-face contactinonline shopping (Timesof India 2000),as wellasproductfactorslike

    needforphysicalexperience (e.g.,perfumes)andcomplexityofpurchase (e.g., realestate). However,

    itis equallyevidentthate-shoppingisbecominganincreasinglyglobalphenomenon withover 15% of

    globalInternetuserstransactingonline,and18% intendingtodosointhe nextsix months (TNS

    Interactive-GlobaleCommerce Report2002). In manyconsumersurveys,convenience,interactivity,

    andshopping ease are often mentionedasprimaryreasons forthe growthofconsumers'e-shopping

    activities (Ghose andDou 1998; GVUsurvey1998; KorgaonkarandWolin 1999). While some consider

    onlythe finalactofbuyingaproductonline asdefiningthe transactionalnature of e-shopping,others

    include an entire range ofactivities frompurchase-relatedinformationsearches,use ofprice and

    brandcomparisontools,use ofonline couponsanddiscounts,andinteraction with marketing

    personnelvia websites,toactualpurchase andpost-purchase use ofthe Internet. This expansive

    definitionofonlinepurchase activitiescanbe brokendownintothree basic,stagedcomponentsof

    consumerdecision making--pre-purchase searchandevaluation,actualuse/purchase,andpost-

    purchase interaction.

    Thisstudymodeledtwoofthe three decisionstages withinthe e-shoppingcontext:pre-purchase

    searchandevaluation,andactualpurchase.

    Thisconceptisapplicableinthiscaseasthewaiteractsastheinformationportal,andinfluences

    throughinformationandverbalinformationthefunctionofadvertingandinteractiveinformation.