Exploring the e-shopping geography of Lisbon: Assessing online shopping adoption for retail purchases and food deliveries using a 7-day shopping survey

E-shopping is growing globally, and the COVID-19 pandemic further accentuated this tendency. In this paper, online shopping adoption is analysed in Lisbon immediately before the pandemic outbreak. By focusing on an urban area, the impact of variables such as internet access or access to delivery services is controlled, thus enhancing the remaining components of the online purchase. The results show that online shopping is spatially dependent in an intraurban environment as a reflex of residential location preferences of different socioeconomic groups. Moreover, as internet access and delivery services become widespread, residential location preferences may come to explain e-shopping adoption both in urban and non-urban environments. The e-shopping geography of Lisbon suggests that age and affluence are determinants in explaining e-shopping adoption, with a marked distinction between central areas and more peripheral ones, some of which include extensive social housing projects. Hence, if retailers move online, shopping opportunities may become scarce for some consumers due to their socioeconomic status and consequent residential preferences. Nevertheless, strategic partnerships between retailers and the public sector may be devised to improve shopping opportunities. Physical stores can be encouraged to locate in areas where consumers are less prone to shop online. E-shopping adoption may also be encouraged by the public sector by promoting digital literacy, especially considering that the share of the older population is growing in Portugal as in most European countries.     

Illusion of safety: How consumers underestimate manipulation and deception in online (vs. offline) shopping contexts

Online commerce changes how consumers shop for products and services—while also giving firms more control over consumers' shopping experience, more access to their information, and leading more firms to use these platforms to their financial advantage. In this research, I examine consumer perceptions of firms when they shop for products and services online (vs. offline), to determine whether consumers feel firms might use certain kinds of manipulative and deceptive tactics against consumers. Results show consumers believe firms are less likely to use manipulative and deceptive practices to increase consumer spending, when they shop online (vs. offline) for products and services. These findings remain consistent despite key individual differences (in ethnicity, gender, age, and time spent online). This research also demonstrates how certain cues can make consumers more (vs. less) suspicious of firms when they shop online and discusses the implications these findings have for consumer financial welfare.     

The physically disabled South African female consumer’s problems in purchasing clothing

Physically disabled women today have to face the inconvenience of shopping for their own as well as their families’ clothes and the inability of finding fashionable clothes that fit any disability. A total of 40 physically disabled women between the ages of 21 years and 60 years were interviewed on the problems they experienced when shopping for fashionable clothes that fit their disabilities. A total of 40 clothing shops were observed to get information on the extent to which the shops cater for the needs of the physically disabled consumer. Results from the interviews showed that the majority of physically disabled female clothing consumers experienced major problems in finding fashionable clothes that fit their disabilities. It was also clear that these women experienced problems with unusable access routes, unsuitable parking lots, display racks that are too high, spaces between racks that are too narrow, inadequate space in fitting rooms and a lack of assistance in shops. The observations were compared with the complaints the women had and it was found that these women had not overestimated their problems.     

An empirical analysis of online shopping adoption in Beijing,China

The Internet is a global communication medium that is increasingly being used worldwide as an innovative tool for marketing goods and services. At the end of 2010, Internet users in China reached 420 million. However, online shopping in China is not widely practiced and organisations investing in B2C online shopping need to understand the factors that affect Chinese consumers′ online buying behaviour. This research develops a theoretical research model as a framework to identify the key decision factors influencing Chinese consumers′ to shop, or not to shop online. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather information from 435 respondents in Beijing, China. The empirical analysis identifies and ranks seven important decision factors: perceived risk, consumer resources, service quality, subjective norms, product variety, convenience, and website factors. All of these decision factors impact on Chinese consumers′ adoption of online shopping. Moreover, managerial implications and recommendations are also presented.     

Shopping orientations as antecedents to channel choice in the French grocery multichannel landscape

This paper investigates the influence of consumer shopping orientations on grocery channel attractiveness and choice. It extends the concept of shopping orientation (utilitarian and hedonic) to account for emerging motivations among French consumers: shopping in line with sustainable and ethical values. In doing so, it helps profile segments of consumers who choose to shop through new online channels (Drive through) and newly deployed store formats (city stores). A sample of 300 French customers, responsible for shopping in the household, was surveyed. Hypotheses were tested through Latent Class Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling with categorical outcomes. Our findings indicate that consumers shopping orientations influence the way consumers will combine the different channels and store formats for grocery purchase. In particular, our results highlight the importance of responsible retail practices and ethical assortments in consumers' choice of online formats whilst local product orientation influences the choice of city stores and market places.     

Adoption and usage of online shopping: An empirical analysis of the characteristics of “buyers” “browsers” and “non-internet shoppers”

We empirically study and model how socio-demographic variables, attitudes and beliefs towards Internet shopping affect both the adoption decision and usage of the online shopping channel. Previous research on online shopping focuses on whether to adopt online shopping. This paper extends this research by delineating non-adopting individuals into non-browsing and browsing. Our results demonstrate that there is a fundamental behavioural difference between three forms of behaviour: that is, those that purchase online, those that browse online but then purchase in-store and those that do not shop online at all.     

A comparison of online and offline gender and goal directed shopping online

The aim of this paper is to model the effect of the consumers’ perceptions of their offline and online gendered behaviour on online utilitarian shopping motivation and purchase intentions. We hypothesise that when consumers shop online, their behaviour is mediated by two gendered behaviours, namely offline and online. To test this hypothesis, 515 usable responses were collected in face-to-face interviews. The conceptual model was tested with confirmatory factors analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) across five product categories. Our findings show that the effect of a consumer's perception of their gendered behaviour offline vs. online on online utilitarian shopping motivation and purchase intentions is significantly different. In particular we found that utilitarian shopping motivation online has a significant effect on purchase intentions online mediated by gender (online) overall: strongly for females but not for males. Conversely, utilitarian shopping motivation online has a significant effect on purchase intentions online mediated by gender (offline) for males but not overall and for females.     

Toward a conceptualization of the online shopping experience

This research article explores the content of consumers′ experience when they shop online and proposes a first step in conceptualizing the ‘online shopping experience′ (OSE). First, we carried out an extended literature review and proposed an integrative conceptual framework. Then, we relied on a consumers discourse analysis with four focus groups with consumers who differ in terms of age, gender and online shopping experience.We define the OSE and propose a conceptualization through four core dimensions: the physical, ideological, pragmatic and social dimensions. Connections are established between the flow concept and the ‘traditional’ dimensions of experience, and specific shopping values are identified. Moreover, an appropriation process of commercial websites is revealed; beyond purchase intentions and rituals, the OSE is embodied by the use of online tools and patronage routines. Finally, social interactions with Facebook friends are one of the new practices considered.     

Shopping for fun or shopping to buy: Is it different online and offline?

Consumers can shop both online and offline, either for fun or for needs. We investigate the consequences of shopping for fun or for need on word-of-mouth (WOM), intentional loyalty, and price consciousness directly comparing the offline and online settings. We find differences in the relationships among the considered variables, with the offline context being characterized by a simplified structure of causalities, greater maturity, and fewer but stronger ties among the considered constructs, compared with the online context. Furthermore, the content of WOM changes: consumers share experiential issues when they shop for fun, and efficiency issues when their shopping is goal-oriented     

Increasing online sales by facilitating spillover shopping

The Internet can serve dual roles as a source of information and a shopping channel for consumers. As a source of information, it competes with traditional sources such as print and direct mail. As a shopping channel, it competes with traditional shopping formats such as brick-and-mortar retailing and catalogs. There is little research as yet, however, regarding how the use of the online channel for information can affect its use for purchasing products. Our research is aimed at filling this gap in the literature, i.e., of examining if and how the use of the Internet as a source of information can affect consumers’ willingness to shop online. We use an integrated modeling framework that simultaneously models consumers’ choice of a shopping channel from three options – brick and mortar, catalog and online – and a source of information from three options as well: newspapers and magazines, direct mail, and online.     

Consumer Shopping Styles and Online Shopping: An Empirical Study of Indian Consumers

ABSTRACT

The generalizability and applicability of the Consumer Shopping Inventory (CSI) scale on Indian sample in predicting online shopping behavior was examined. CSI scale has been adapted by researchers to validate its applicability in different countries. Results revealed new factors and different segments of consumers were identified by factor analysis. The findings posit that the original U.S. eight-factor model could not be confirmed completely on Indian sample. However, the study found support for five factors: quality-conscious shopper, fashion-conscious shopper, uninterested shopper, impulsive shopper, and brand-conscious shopper. Online shopping behavior was categorized under convenience, information availability, and cost factors. Demographic factors do not influence consumers' decision to shop online. Consumers shopping online frequently and Impulsive shoppers are likely to look at convenience factor of online shopping. Information availability was important for fashion-conscious shoppers, consumers frequently shopping online, and impulsive shoppers. Brand-conscious shoppers and quality-conscious shoppers were not likely to purchase online.     

Online shopping continuance after COVID-19: A comparison of Canada,Germany and the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an increase in online shopping because of government-imposed restrictions and consumer anxiety over the potential health risk associated with in-store shopping. By end of 2021, many health concerns had been alleviated through efforts such as vaccinations and reductions in hospitalizations in certain countries. Some governments started to relax their restrictions and consumers started to return to in-store shopping, creating the possibility that the volume of online shopping would decrease once stores reopened. However, consumers may continue to shop online more than they did prior to the pandemic because of their experience during the lockdown. This study seeks to understand the factors that explain the potential of online shopping continuance. A novel model is constructed by extending ES-QUAL, and adding hedonic motivation, social shopping and health susceptibility as mediators. Empirical data is collected from Canada, Germany and the US. We find that convenience and efficiency, as well as security for some females, are important factors contributing to online shopping's perceived usefulness and, ultimately, intentions to continue shopping online. In addition, creating an enjoyable online shopping experience adds to these continuance intentions.     

中国消费者的购物价值研究:以零售经销店为切入点(英文)

本文旨在探讨中国消费者的购物价值。在利用定性研究所获得的购物价值维度的基础上,本文还采用量化研究来进一步评估消费者在两类零售经销店——百货商店和超型市场中的购物体验及相应的购物价值观。研究结果表明,中国消费者倾向于同时到上述两类零售经销店购物,并从中获得自我满足感和实现社会交往;同时,他们在百货商场获得更多的享乐性购物价值,而在超市里则获得更多的实用性购物价值。这些研究结果凸显了购物体验和购物价值对中国消费者的重要性。     

How second-generation consumers choose where to shop: A cross-cultural semiotic analysis

Using ethnographic interviews and Greimasian semiotics, this study explores second-generation ethnic consumers’ perceptions of physical shopping environments from a cultural identity perspective. It reveals how second-generation ethnic consumers make decisions about where to shop for cosmetics. The key results reveal the identity dimensions of shopping behaviour that retail stores wanting to target second-generation ethnic consumers must take into consideration.     

Consumers' attitudes and intentions toward Internet-enabled TV shopping

An increasing number of households are equipped with Internet-enabled televisions (IETVs) that yield opportunities for online activities. This research contributes by investigating the motivational factors of consumers’ attitudes and intentions toward IETV shopping. A quasi-experimental study in the environmental context of a living room was designed to explore IETV shopping behavior. Findings indicate that utilitarian motivations are determined by characteristics of technology and hedonic motivations from the physical environment. Attitudes toward IETV shopping are primarily influenced by hedonic shopping motivations. Conclusions suggest that by providing an IETV shopping app, retailers would make online shopping more enjoyable and comfortable for consumers.     

Clothing-related risk perceptions of disabled men and women at point of purchase

Clothing-related risk perceptions of wheelchair-bound consumers were examined and then compared to risk perceptions of able-bodied consumers reported in previous studies. A scenario was used which involved the purchase of a pair of pants or slacks for a job interview to measure specific and overall clothing-related risk perceptions of 75 wheelchair-bound consumers. These disabled consumers perceived the order of clothing-related risk components as: physical, performance, psychological, economic and social. In previous studies, able-bodied students, reported a reverse order of perceived clothing-related risks. In this study, performance and social risk significantly correlated with overall risk; the same correlations held for able-bodied consumers in previous studies. Unique to this study were the high correlations of physical risk with psychological risk and economic risk. Wheelchair-bound males and persons with congenital disabilities perceived greater overall risk than other disabled consumers in this study.     

Shopping and virtual communities for consumers with physical disabilities

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the use of virtual communities for clothing shopping by consumers with physical disabilities, and to explore the role that these communities play in their clothing shopping experiences. An international virtual community created for consumers with disabilities was identified using keywords through search engine directories. The content of discussion forums was identified and analysed with the assistance of the qualitative research software tool, QSR NVivo 9.0. The content was coded to allow categories and themes to emerge. Thirty‐one categories, which were dispersed between three major themes (self, product, market), emerged from data analysis. In the discussions, various communication channels and social media sites were mentioned, and users enhanced their discussion topics with a photograph of a product or an Internet link, providing further assistance to peers. Consumers also shared personal information, such as life experiences. The results of this study may provide significant implications to retailers in their efforts to target these consumers, in various areas including product development, branding, marketing, customer relationship and managerial strategies. There may also be relevance for development of other consumer goods and sales to other target markets. Using online discussion forums to probe for product development and brand ideas has not been widely addressed, nor has the information search process for people with disabilities. The use of QSR NVivo software is new for a study such as this and should be explored in greater depth for future research with this type of data.     

Electronic Commerce Encourages Differentiation

Abstract

This paper explores why and how ecommerce firms differentiate their products and services. Consumers who shop online are able to do quick and easy comparison shopping, including shopping in an active market for used goods. Since online product search and price comparisons are faster, easier, and involve fewer shopping costs, firms who sell online must differentiate their products and services to a greater extent than those who do not sell online. These product and service differentiations may be certified and rated by host shopping sites and by outside ratings companies.     

The Influence of Consumers’ Cognitive and Psychographic Traits on Perceived Deception: A Comparison Between Online and Offline Retailing Contexts

In this article, we examine the role of several consumers’ cognitive and psychographic traits in their perceptions of retailers’ deceptive practices (perceived deception) and the different effects on perceived deception associated with online vis-à-vis in-store shopping. Building on theoretical models of persuasion in consumer behavior, we hypothesize that the antecedents of perceived deception in traditional settings are the same as those on the Internet, while the intensity of the impact of these antecedents differs between the online and the offline environment. Results suggest that the effects of individual’s cognitive traits (Internet-based information search and perceived Internet usefulness) and risk aversion on perceived deception are more relevant when consumers shop online than when they purchase from traditional stores. Conversely, psychographic traits (shopping enjoyment and materialism) play a more important role in explaining perceived deception in the traditional shopping context as compared to the online channel. Several theoretical and managerial implications are derived from these findings.     

Website evaluation criteria among US college student consumers with different shopping orientations and Internet channel usage

The purpose of this study was to compare the website evaluation criteria among college student consumers in the US with different shopping orientations and Internet channel usage (i.e. online information searchers, online purchasers). The sample for this research was 414 college students, non‐married and aged 18–22 who have experience in visiting websites selling apparel products. Five apparel website evaluation criteria were identified by factor analysis (i.e. product information, customer service, privacy/security, navigation, auditory experience/comparison shopping). Based on shopping orientation factors, cluster analysis revealed three shopping orientation clusters (i.e. Hesitant In‐home Shoppers, Practical Clothing Shoppers, Involved Clothing Shoppers). Factorial manova showed that website evaluation criteria were significantly different among college student consumers with different shopping orientations and between online information searchers and online purchasers. Implications and limitations of the study are discussed.