An integrated analysis of consumer purchase decision-making on second-hand trading platforms: evidence from china

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the context of circular economy and sustainable development, second-hand trading platforms are in the preliminary stages of development, revealing the consumer behavior of second-hand trading platform consumers has become a challenging topic. Previous studies have often used technology acceptance models to analyze consumers’ acceptance of electronic commerce platform technologies. However, these studies have not analyzed consumer purchase decision-making well, lacked affective explanations of the logic of consumer decisions, and lacked discussions of multiple stakeholders. Therefore, this study proposes a comprehensive framework model for consumer decision making on second-hand trading platforms. We analyzed consumer purchase decision process, identified three key dimensions eight factors. Through a combination of the ABC attitude model and the technology acceptance model, we sorted out a hypothetical model consisting of cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Then, we validated and analyzed the empirical results in China using the partial least squares structural equation technique. The findings underscore the significant impact of product and platform dimensions on consumer sentiment and behavior. Theoretically, this study advances the understanding of consumer decision-making in the context of second-hand platforms, particularly within the framework of the circular economy. Practically, it offers actionable insights for merchants and platform operators to enhance user experience and service quality, thereby supporting the sustainable growth of e-commerce.