Consumer purchasing behaviour

However, the usefulness of these studies is limited by the poor consistency found between reported attitudes and actual purchasing behaviour. Hence, research findings to date regarding the relationship between environmental concern and consumer behaviour have been equivocal (Roberts and Bacon, 1997). More recent studies have attempted instead to measure the relative importance of ethical and environmental concerns in comp2irison with other motivational factors. Results of these studies indicate that the majority of consumers do not feel concerned about the environment (Steptoe et al., 1995 Henson and Traill, 2000). Nevertheless, consumer concerns and motivational factors are linked through the consumer s value system. There is widespread agreement in the literature regarding the definition of values based on five conceptual precepts (Schwartz, 1992) ... 

The purchase behaviour of consumers 75% of consumers sometimes buy sustainable/organic agricultural products 12.8% always buy and 11.8% do not buy or do not know. In short, the consumers who bought (88.2%) sustainable/organic agricultural products outnumbered those who did not (11.8%). 

Customers in all markets, industrial or consumer, are increasingly time-sensitive. In other words they value time and this is reflected in their purchasing behaviour. Thus, for example, in industrial markets buyers tend to source from suppliers with the shortest lead times who can meet their quality specification. In consumer markets customers make their choice from amongst the brands available at the time hence if the preferred brand is out of stock it is quite likely that a substitute brand will be purchased instead. 

Strong evidence is emerging that consumers are increasingly basing their purchasing behaviour on ethical and environmental criteria. For example, the findings of a recent survey in the UK are summarised in the box below. 

Cognitive or behavioural approaches depend on psychological models that explore the consumers knowledge and perceptions of the characteristics of the food in relation to the needs that they are trying to satisfy through their purchase. Within this approach, differing emphases are placed upon the consumers values, beliefs and attitudes, their intentions to act and their actions. 

There are several critical dimensions that create differences between tourist behaviour and consumer behaviour. One such major difference lies in the extended phases that surround tourist activities. Clawson and Knetsch (1966) identified five such phases. They noted (1) an anticipation or pre-purchase (2) a travel to the site segment, (3) an on-site experience, (4) a return travel component, and (5) an extended recall and recollection stage. 

Consumer behaviour, as a field of inquiry with its own journals, textbooks and courses, is centrally focused on the choices of products and the satisfaction with products (Bagozzi et ah, 2002 Schutte Carlante, 1998). In each phase of tourist behaviour outlined by Clawson and Knetsch, some differences from the standard consumer behaviour studies can be noted. In the first anticipation phase, many tourists plan for and fantasise about their forthcoming travel for months, sometimes years ahead. While this might be similar for the purchase of a motor vehicle, it is somewhat absurd when... 

There is a further non-trivial distinction between consumer products and the opportunities that arise from travel purchases. Most consumer products of some complexity come with an owner s manual. These kinds of documents provide operational instructions, safety hints, advice on replacement parts or persons to whom one can direct service inquiries. Perhaps the closest parallel in the world of tourist behaviour is the guidebook. Even here, however, there is a range of guide books for any one place. The holiday consumer is free to consult multiple owner manuals, to redesign and further refine his or her experience. Tourists interact with their destination and this mutual influence process is sometimes assisted by... 

For both equipment and replacement batteries, the annual acquisition rate (number of units acquired per year - purchased or received as second hand) is significantly higher than the annual quantity available for collection (number of units available for collection per year either as being taken back to a collection point or as being discarded in MSW). This is the consequence of the consumer behaviour with a reliable (long life)... 

A consumer s involvement with product thus represents both the end point of the cycle and the starting point of the subsequent willingness to pay cycle. By adopting a continuous improvement mode for understanding food purchase, new experiences and information can be seen to build and reinforce consumer behaviour. 

Models that analyse consumer behaviour as they move from a state of unawareness to the purchase of a product or service are summarised below ... 

The solutions may also enhance the competitiveness of the customers. The customers ultimately decide on their own choices, i.e. whether they will reward responsible behaviour or not and whether they are willing to pay a premium for this value. In this regard, there is also a conflict between consumers values and their concrete purchasing decision. 

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