Assessing customers perception of online shopping risks: A structural equation modeling–based multigroup analysis

Increasing evidence shows the role of perceived risk in customers' attitude and intention to use online shopping services. However, the literature shows disagreement regarding the types of risks that influence purchase intention. Therefore, this study aims to empirically identify the most relevant sources of risks and uncertainties associated with online shopping services and to investigate the influence of sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, and online shopping experience) on the levels of perceived risk using data collected through a survey questionnaire. A total of 558 participants were selected across three countries (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait). The responses were evaluated using structural equation modeling and multigroup analysis. The analysis showed that of the tested types of risks and uncertainty, only three had a significant influence on customers' purchase decisions: financial risk, information risk, and privacy risk. Regarding the moderating role of sociodemographic variables, the analysis showed that previous experience has a significant moderating effect. At the same time, gender and age were found not to affect the relationship between perceived risks and customers' purchase intention. These findings may help online stores understand customers’ concerns when considering online shopping. The limitations and theoretical and managerial implications of the present study are discussed.     

Intangibility and Perceived Risk in Online Environments

Product intangibility increases consumers' perception of risk. Previous research has examined the effects of multiple dimensions of intangibility on the various types of risk and found out that of the three intangibility dimensions, physical intangibility was the least correlated to the consumers' perception of risk in most situations, while mental intangibility and generality had great impact on most of the perceived risk dimensions. Little research so far has been conducted as to the differences between online and offline environments in which risk is perceived. The results from this study with generic vs. branded products in offline vs. online situations show that significant variations in the perception of risk were identified across different purchasing environments. In the online environment concerns of consumers have a significantly stronger impact on the different kinds of risk perceived than generality and mental intangibility. Whereas intangibility has a major impact on risk during the traditional method of shopping, an elevated perception of risk in the online environment is merely triggered by consumer's concerns about their privacy, the security of their purchases and the security of the system through which their transactions are completed.     

Searching online and buying offline: Understanding the role of channel-, consumer-, and product-related factors in determining webrooming intention

In recent times, the increasing accessibility of mobile technology has led to changes in consumers’ purchasing behavior. Despite the gloom and doom hearsay about how electronic commerce is threatening the existence of brick-and-mortar stores, by some indications, however, webrooming (i.e., the practice of researching items online, and then buying them offline) may be an even more common practice among shoppers. Against this background, this study proposes and empirically validates a comprehensive research model which incorporates consumer traits (i.e., need for touch, need for interaction, and price-comparison orientation), channel-related factors (i.e., online search convenience, perceived usefulness of online reviews, perceived helpfulness of in-store salespeople, and perceived risk of buying online), and smart shopping perception as antecedents of webrooming intention. Moreover, this study examines the moderating role of product category in predicting webrooming intention. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted. A total of 280 useable responses was collected and data was analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling. The findings revealed significant direct and/or indirect effects (through smart shopping perception) of consumer traits and channel-related factors on webrooming intention. In addition, product category was found to moderate the relationship between price-comparison orientation, online search convenience, perceived risk, and webrooming intention. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.     

The determinants of Women's redemption of geo-targeted m-coupons

This research has two objectives. First, it examines the determinants and consequences of attitude toward geo-targeted mobile coupons (hereafter, m-coupon). Second, it studies the effect of coupon value and store brand preference on women's intention of visiting a store and redeeming geo-targeted m-coupons. Using a scenario method and an online questionnaire, data are collected from 693 women students. The results support the influence of fear of spam on m-coupon usefulness, perceived privacy risks, m-coupon proneness, ease of use, and perceived product utility. The findings also confirm the effects of perceived usefulness of m-coupons, perceived privacy risk, m-coupon proneness, perceived ease of use, and perceived product utility on women's attitudes toward fashion-related m-coupons. In turn, attitude influences intention of visiting the store and intention of redeeming the m-coupon. M-coupon value and store brand preference significantly affect intentions of redeeming the m-coupon and visiting the store.     

The Impact of a Third-Party Assurance Seal in Customer Purchasing Intention

ABSTRACT

Although e-commerce is evolving at an incredible speed, asymmetric information and opportunism have increased online purchasing risks and market inefficiencies. The lack of face-to-face contact and the inability of the customer to touch and feel tangible products necessitate that online business must provide customers with reliable information and convince customers of their trustworthiness. While the research on Third-Party Assurance Seals (TPAS) is not new, the effectiveness of TPAS has not been persuasively addressed by empirical studies. Our study is different from previous efforts in that it is comprehensive because it combines consumer trust, perceived risk, and influences of TPAS in the B2C e-commerce context. The results of the study show that (1) the effects of TPAS on perceived risk are channeled through perceived trustworthiness, thus demonstrating the mediating role of perceived trustworthiness in B2C e-commerce, (2) perceived risk, perceived usefulness of website, and subjective norm appear to be significant predictors of intention to purchase from the website, (3) a third-party assurance seal strongly affects online shoppers' perceived trustworthiness toward online retailers, while the seal appears to have little effect on perceived risk directly; perceived risk is strongly associated with intention to purchase from the website.     

Consumers’ channel choice for university-licensed products: Exploring factors of consumer acceptance with social identification

This research investigated a modified-technology acceptance model (TAM) with two added antecedents (e.g., information search motivation and perceived risk) to examine whether online shopping channels would be adopted by college students, the main target market of university-licensed products (ULP). Moreover, this study tried to adopt the social identity theory to fit a modified TAM model to explain the role of identification with a university on the attitude toward shopping for collegiate products. This research surveyed college students from two large Midwestern universities and utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses in a conceptual framework. As expected from previous TAM research, two specific behavioral attributes explained students’ adoption of online channels. Moreover, the results showed that both information search motivation and perceived risk have significant positive effects on attitude toward shopping via online channels. Specifically, the students who have strong information search motivation from concerns about online shopping had a higher level of online channel purchase intention. In addition, the attitude toward ULP online shopping formed by the antecedents gave a different level of purchase intention about the multiple distribution channels. The results suggest that retailers in the ULP industry should build efficient multi-channel strategies by adopting online channels.     

An empirical analysis of factors predicting the behavioral intention to adopt Internet shopping technology among non-shoppers in a developing country context: Does gender matter?

Motivated by the lack of knowledge of what factors deterring Internet users from adopting the Internet shopping in developing cultures, this investigation is therefore intended to underline the possible factors responsible for their deterrence. To achieve this objective, a model was proposed by involving factors established in literature as key potential drivers for predicating individuals' behavioral intention to adopt new technologies. The proposed factors were drawn from popular IS/IT adoption theories, namely perceived ease-of-use, perceived usefulness, perceived compatibility, social influence, trust, perceived risk, privacy, security, Internet shopping anxiety, Internet self-efficacy and price. Gender moderating influence was investigated in the conceptualized relationships between proposed factors and behavioral intention.This study was implemented by collecting data through a self-administered questionnaire from a broad diversity of Jordanian Internet users. Analyzing the data which consists of 261 valid datasets was accomplished by using WarpPLS 4.0. The results provide significant statistical evidence in support of all the factors hypothesized to influence behavioral intention to adopt with the exception of three factors: perceived risk, privacy and security. Furthermore, the gender was found to moderate the relationships between five of the proposed factors (perceived ease-of-use, social influence, trust, perceived risk, privacy) and behavioral intention. This study has also revealed some differences between online shoppers (based on prior literature and results) and non-shoppers. Interestingly, the proposed model explains 58% of the total variance in intention to adopt Internet shopping. Findings and limitations are discussed, theoretical contributions and practical implications are outlined, and future research directions are suggested.     

What Promotes Online Group-Buying? A Cross-Cultural Comparison Study between China and the United States

Considering the universal prosperity of online group-buying (OGB), this research study used online surveys to gauge the impact of perceived risk, opinion seeking, and hedonistic/recreational and brand conscious decision-making styles on consumers' OGB intention in two diametrically distinguished countries—China and the United States. The research findings indicated both cultural similarities and differences in the mechanisms underlying Chinese and American consumers' OGB intention. Perceived risk emerged as the most important predictor in the U.S. data while brand consciousness was the key driver of Chinese consumers' OGB intention. Promotion and management implications based on the research findings are also presented.     

User Perceptions of Mobile and Online Channels for Purchasing Financial Products

ABSTRACT

This study investigates users' perceptions of costs and benefits of mobile versus online, PC-based, channels for accessing financial information and completing financial transactions. Results indicate that, in the financial services context, the mobile channel has no perceived advantages over the online channel. The older online channel does have several perceived advantages related to transaction cost, risk, ease of use, meeting financial goals, and information accessibility. The channels are similar on four dimensions, but most of the similarities arise because the online and mobile channels enable purchase of the same financial products. Finally, users are more willing to use the mobile channel for less risky tasks (accessing information) than they are for more risky tasks (buying financial products).     

How perceived trust mediates merchant's intention to use a mobile wallet technology

As mobile wallets are in constant demand and growing over the past few years, there is a need to identify views of different stakeholders involved in the process. Several studies have been done to investigate consumers' perspective intensively. On the other hand, review of perception and adoption of wallet services by other participants, in particular merchants, is often neglected. The present study aims to fill this gap. This study used an empirical model to measure merchant's intention to use a mobile wallet technology. The study includes the variables, perceived compatibility, perceived usefulness, awareness, perceived cost, perceived customer value addition and perceived trust, and aims to determine their influence on intention to use. Our study also tested the mediating effect of perceived trust on the influence of perceived usefulness to predict merchant's intention. The study includes results of the survey of 315 Indian merchants by an online survey method. We find the highest effect of perceived customer value addition on merchant's intention, followed by perceived usefulness of technology. The proposed mediation effect of perceived trust was small but significant on perceived usefulness. The results of the study can help mobile payment companies to understand factors that are relevant to increase adoption of technology in the context of merchants.     

Beyond presence: Creating attractive online retailing stores through the cool AR technology

Augmented reality (AR) is increasingly coming into the spotlight for its potential to improve the consumer experience through the creation of presence. This research aims to explore the theoretical mechanisms through which AR-based product presentation influences online store attractiveness and whether the effects differ in the purchasing contexts of hedonic and utilitarian product types. From the perspective of consumers' bidimensional experience, we find that AR increases online store attractiveness by creating perceived coolness (intrinsic attribute) and spatial presence experience (extrinsic attribute), which would further have a positive impact on consumers' purchase intention. The mediating mechanisms are different in purchasing contexts of various product types: for hedonic products, perceived coolness and spatial presence are parallel mediating factors leading to the improvement of online store attractiveness; while for utilitarian products, only the mediation effect of spatial presence presents. Our findings enrich the literature on AR marketing by proposing an insightful mediating force (i.e., perceived coolness) to complement the effect of presence, and explore the different purchasing contexts. We also provide managerial guidance for e-retailers to differentiate AR interface design for diverse product types to apply AR technology effectively.     

Impact of online convenience on mobile banking adoption intention: A moderated mediation approach

The purpose of this study to investigate the effect of online convenience dimensions on mobile banking (m-banking) adoption intention using a comprehensive moderated mediation framework. A total of 446 responses from Indian banking users were received using systematic sampling. The covariance-based structural equation modelling and PROCESS macro were used to examine the hypotheses. The results indicated that access convenience, transaction convenience, benefit convenience, and post-benefit convenience have a crucial impact on m-banking adoption intention. The perceived hedonic values and perceived utilitarian values mediate the effects of convenience dimensions on m-banking adoption intention. The study's findings will help banks to identify which dimension/s of online convenience they should focus on over m-banking platforms to enhance adoption intention. As, “Convenience” plays a crucial role in mobile commerce adoption intention. This study attempts to examine how convenience dimensions affect m-banking adoption intention.     

The role of customer online brand experience in customers' intention to forward online company-generated content: The case of the Islamic online banking sector in Palestine

The purpose of this study is twofold: Firstly, to assess the impact of customer online brand experience (COBE) with online banking on customer's intention to forward online company-generated content (CGC). Secondly, to explore the role of online brand community engagement (OBCE) and the perceived trust of brand community page (BCP) as mediating variables between COBE and the intention to forward online CGC. This research conducted an online survey among various Islamic bank customers in Palestine who were members of online brand communities (fan pages) on Facebook. 375 valid responses were collected and results revealed that COBE exerts a dual influence on intention to forward CGC. This study is a pioneering empirical research on the role of OBCE in customers' intention to forward online CGC within the fast-growing Islamic banking industry. This study contributes to fill this research gap by assessing the effect of COBE on OBCE and intention to forward online CGC within the context of the Islamic online banking sector in Palestine. In this sense, this study is a first-of-its-kind research on the role of experience on customer engagement with regard to online brand communities of Islamic banks.     

Adoption of Online Social Networks to Communicate with Financial Institutions

Spain's financial sector is not in a healthy state, and the problems that some financial institutions currently face perpetuate the widespread perception of risk across the entire sector. Moreover, the online social networks (OSN) that emerged a decade ago are suddenly at the very heart of digital society. In this study we develop a predictive model to determine that the motivational factors that influence Spanish users' intention to use OSN to communicate with financial institutions are quality management, availability of information, external conditions, trust, perceived compatibility, perceived usefulness, attitude, and intention. Data were collected from 335 Spanish OSN users through an online survey. The results suggest that quality management has a highly significant and positive effect on perceived usefulness and that perceived usefulness has a positive and significant effect on the intention to use social networks to communicate with financial institutions.     

The moderating influence of brand image on consumers' adoption of QR-code e-wallets

In a post-pandemic era marked by thriving digital payments and e-commerce transactions due to physical distancing norms, the growth of mobile payments or E-wallets is expected to expand in tandem with the global trend toward cashless payment solutions. However, it is unclear whether this momentum would be sustained for over-the-counter (OTC) retail payments, particularly QR-code E-wallets, that are more affordable and accessible to merchants and customers than NFC-based (near field communication) systems in emerging markets. This study aims to model the interaction effects of brand image in shaping consumers’ E-wallet usage intentions. Incorporating a consumer-brand relationship element (i.e., brand image) should improve the understanding of consumers’ digital service experiences in proximity-based retail encounters. The research model was empirically tested using 305 responses from QR-based E-wallet users in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Statistical analysis was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypotheses. An empirical examination of the model revealed effort expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, and perceived value as significant positive predictors of consumer usage intention. Furthermore, brand image was found to significantly strengthen the positive effect of perceived value and weaken the positive impact of hedonic motivation on the outcome. The study’s key contributions include reaffirming the crucial contingent role of brand image in consumer technology adoption studies and investigating consumer perceptions of QR-based E-wallets, which are expected to gain traction, especially in emerging markets. E-wallet providers should reinforce their value propositions by providing seamless, engaging, and easy-to-use experiences that improve users' brand perceptions.     

The role of utilitarian and hedonic aspects in the continuance intention to use social mobile apps

The purpose of this research is to understand the main factors that determine users’ continuance intention to use social mobile Apps, considering two utilitarian (i.e., perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use) variables and a hedonic (i.e., perceived enjoyment) variable. As social mobile Apps may be utilitarian or hedonic, we aim to evaluate possible differences in the significance of the aforementioned antecedent factors in utilitarian Apps (i.e., TripAdvisor) and hedonic Apps (i.e., Instagram). The data were collected from an international sample of users; the Partial Least Squares method was applied to analyze the research model, using SMARTPLS 3.0. To analyze the moderating effects, a multi-group PLS analysis was carried out to compare the differences between the path relationships in the two Apps. The results show that continuance intention to use is explained by perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, satisfaction and user experience (control variable), and the impact of utilitarian variables is generally greater for utilitarian Apps, whereas the impact of perceived enjoyment is higher for hedonic Apps. This study contributes to the general body of knowledge about mobile Apps by providing a comprehensive theoretical foundation and practical implications that illuminate the continuance use of social mobile Apps.     

Impact of Multiple Perceived Value on Consumers' Brand Preference and Purchase Intention: A Case of Snack Foods

This study explores product value with reference to brand development. The question of which perceived product value acts dominantly has received very little attention, in particular, whether multiple product value may importantly enhance consumers' brand preference/purchase. This research investigates relationships between multiple perceived snack foods' product value, brand preference and purchase intention. Findings show significantly positive effects of brand preference on purchase intention, and brand preference as a mediator between multiple perceived product value and purchase intention. Findings also reveal multiple value perceptions of snack foods, (e.g., functional-price/value for the money and performance/quality, emotional, and social dimensions) be significant in the formation of brand preference, whereas only functional-price/value for the money and emotional value relate to purchase intention directly.     

What online game spectators want from their twitch streamers: Flow and well-being perspectives

Over the last five years, live-streaming platforms, such as Twitch and YouTube, have been dramatically developed and used for individuals' broadcast of digital content, including online video games. Consequently, online game live-streamers have played an important role in the business industry (e.g., advertisements) as well as the online video game industry. By focusing on this context, this study identifies streamer attributes and live-streaming mobile application attributes, and examines how each attribute influences spectators’ flow experience, psychological well-being, commitment, and loyalty toward their favorite streamer. Based on the cognitive appraisal theory and social media influencer literature, the authors classify streamer attributes (i.e., friendship, interaction, and streamer skills) and live-streaming mobile application attributes (i.e., perceived usefulness, technology & functional quality, convenience, and security quality) in the context of Twitch. The data were collected from Twitch users in the United States via two waves. The empirical findings indicated: (1) friendship, technology & functional quality, convenience, and security quality significantly affected flow experience; (2) friendship, streamer skills, convenience, and security quality significantly influenced psychological well-being; (3) flow experience significantly impacted commitment and loyalty; (4) psychological well-being had a significant effect on commitment; and (5) commitment significantly affected loyalty. The empirical findings of this study provide meaningful implications to scholars and practitioners in the social media and online video game contexts.     

Metaverse mingle: Discovering dating intentions in metaverse

The present work represents a mixed-method investigation to redefine Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) using some innovative variables to investigate dating-partner behaviour in the metaverse. In addition, it seeks proof that realistic threat and perceived trust have a moderating role in this proposed model. The research is split into two parts: in the first stage, dating app users' responses have been collected from online reviews posted on social media sites. Python have been used to find out the constructs from the content analysis. Then using the constructs second phase have been started where the model has been validated by confirmatory analysis. Perceived trust moderates the association between perceived attitude and dating intention in Metaverse whereas realistic threat don't have. Our research showed that apart from perceived accuracy of information all the other factors are having significant association towards perceived attitude. Our findings highlight the importance of both channels in persuading consumers to try out metaverse dating. In order to earn the users' trust, they must resolve their concerns over privacy and security in the online world. To achieve this, strict user verification and security procedures should be implemented.     

Why Consumers Hesitate to Shop Online: Perceived Risk and Product Involvement on Taobao.com

Heralded as one of the fastest-growing regions in e-commerce sales, Asia has received increasing attention from online retailers as a promising e-commerce market. Therefore, to provide better insight into Asian online marketplaces, this study focuses on Taobao.com (hereafter referred to as “Taobao”), a major Chinese online marketplace, and attempts to shed light on consumers’ perceptions of Taobao. More specifically, this study examines (a) what consumers in China think about Taobao as an online marketplace when purchasing high- or low-involvement products; (b) what types of risk are associated with each product; and (c) how online consumers’ risk perceptions consequently influence both their trust toward Taobao and their purchase intention. Multidimensional perceived risks (financial, privacy, product, security, social/psychological, time) were considered in the research. Participants were 217 Chinese university students. The results indicate that product risk and social/psychological risk were negatively associated with consumers’ trust and purchase intention, regardless of their degree of product involvement. Interestingly, financial risk was positively related to trust and purchase intention. Findings are discussed with managerial implications, followed by limitations and future studies.