Internet Purchases Research Articles

Internet pharmacy: a web of mistrust?

Internet pharmacy: a web of mistrust?

Consumer Communications, Media Use, and Purchases via the Internet: A Comparative, Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT The Internet provides a fast, efficient and cost-effective alternative for communication, transaction, and distribution. In this study, consumers’ Web-based chatting behavior across three countries (i.e., the U.S., Canada, China) is explored, using an Internet survey of Web-based chatters. Results indicate that chatters’ Internet use does not affect their use of traditional mass media in any significant manner. No difference is found in the frequency of information seeking and chatters’ attitude towards online advertising across the three countries. Internet purchase patterns are contrasted in the three countries, and results suggest that consumers in the U.S. have the highest purchase incidence among the three countries under study. Canadian consumers make significantly fewer purchases than their counterparts in each product category.

The Incidence of Contact Lens–Related Microbial Keratitis in Australia

To establish the absolute risk of contact lens (CL)-related microbial keratitis, the incidence of vision loss and risk factors for disease. A prospective, 12-month, population-based surveillance study. New cases of CL-related microbial keratitis presenting in Australia over a 12-month period were identified through surveillance of all ophthalmic practitioners (numerator). Case detection was augmented by records' audits at major ophthalmic centers. The denominator (number of wearers of different CL types in the community) was established using a national telephone survey of 35,914 individuals. Cases and controls were interviewed by telephone to determine subject demographics and CL wear history. Visual outcomes were determined 6 months after the initial event. Annualized incidence and confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for different severities of disease and multivariable analysis was used in risk factor analysis. Annualized incidence (with CI) of disease and vision loss by CL type and wear modality and identification of independent risk factors. We identified 285 eligible cases of CL-related microbial keratitis and 1798 controls. In daily wear rigid gas-permeable CL wearers, the annualized incidence per 10,000 wearers was 1.2 (CI, 1.1-1.5); in daily wear soft CL wearers 1.9 (CI, 1.8-2.0); soft CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 2.2 (CI, 2.0-2.5); daily disposable CL wearers 2.0 (CI, 1.7-2.4); daily disposable CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 4.2 (CI, 3.1-6.6); daily wear silicone hydrogel CL wearers 11.9 (CI, 10.0-14.6); silicone hydrogel CL wearers (occasional overnight use) 5.5 (CI, 4.5-7.2); overnight wear soft CL wearers 19.5 (CI, 14.6-29.5) and in overnight wear of silicone hydrogel 25.4 (CI, 21.2-31.5). Loss of vision occurred in 0.6 per 10,000 wearers. Risk factors included overnight use, poor storage case hygiene, smoking, Internet purchase of CLs, <6 months wear experience, and higher socioeconomic class. Incidence estimates for soft CL use were similar to those previously reported. New lens types have not reduced the incidence of disease. Overnight use of any CL is associated with a higher risk than daily use.

Student Internet Purchases

Since the onset of the Internet shopping format, e‐commerce sales have soared, and Generation Y consumers, the first generation to grow up with the Internet, have turned into young adults. As part of Generation Y, college students represent a lucrative market for businesses selling a wide array of goods and services, and they are extremely computer savvy. The purpose of this study was to empirically analyze online buying behavior among college students. Based on an economic framework, factors affecting the online purchase of nine different merchandise categories were examined. Data were analyzed from 4,688 students enrolled in a major Midwestern university. Logistic analysis revealed that variations in the effect of age, gender, income, car ownership, ability to identify a secure Internet site, and compulsive buying behavior existed between the merchandise categories. This study has implications for educators, marketers, and policy makers.

Increasing use of stimulants warns of potential abuse

SIR — Your Editorial ‘Defining natural’ (Nature452, 665–666; 2008) indicates that cognitive-enhancing drugs have only mild effects similar to caffeine, and the News story ‘Poll results: look who's doping’ (Nature452, 674–675; 2008) highlights the general increase in availability through Internet purchase and possibly diversion of prescriptions of the cognitive enhancers. However, by far the most frequently prescribed of these — the stimulant medications amphetamine and methylphenidate — have abuse potential and warrant particular concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) tracks by country the yearly production, supply and consumption of psychotropic substances, including stimulant drugs. The most recent figures suggest to us that diversion of methylphenidate and amphetamine may be increasing in the United States. From 1995 to 2006, consumption estimates by the WHO and prescriptions recorded by the healthcare information company Verispan®-One National have both increased linearly. Moreover, the relative increase in the WHO estimates of consumption (268.9%), from 4.66 to 17.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 population, during this decade far exceeded the relative increase in number of prescriptions per year, from 15,044,359 to 30,137,136 (100.3%). The greater increase in consumption could be related to a shift in the age of individuals treated for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, as more adults are now seeking diagnosis and treatment. This could influence debate over whether some prescriptions for clinical treatment of adults are being appropriated instead for performance enhancement or recreational purposes. History teaches us that either of these could escalate into misuse. We have serious concerns that the dramatic increase in national consumption and the smaller, but still large, increase in annual prescriptions of stimulant medications could be signalling possible diversaion, and should make us vigilant to avoid a potential repeat of past episodes of potential abuse.

Assessing Markups, Service Quality, and Product Attributes in Music CDs' Internet Retailing

We investigate trade‐offs among markups, service quality, and product attributes across customer, Internet retailer, and wholesaler echelons. Research has documented the reality of retail price dispersion, but little is known about how retail markups, in particular, are related to service quality and product attributes. For example, do Internet retailers deliver superior service in return for high markups? Do product characteristics affect the relationship between service and markups for retailers? To examine these issues, we first developed a model of Internet retail profitability that separates revenues and costs related to sales from other profit sources. This framework allowed us to position our work alongside the extant literature about Internet retailing. Moreover, it led us to synthesize service quality dimensions found in Internet retailing studies. We subsequently developed a critical‐event study based on the profit model and the synthesis of service quality dimensions to delineate service aspects that retailers should emphasize to address buyers' utility. Finally, we collected data from Internet purchases across retailers to isolate markup‐service quality trade‐offs along our delineated service aspects. We find that high markups are associated with superior performance across service quality dimensions. Furthermore, this trade‐off becomes more acutely defined when products with variable popularity are transacted.

Appreciation of apparel e‐tailing by Dutch fashion consumers

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about the Dutch fashion retailers' use of internet sites and the Dutch consumers' appreciation of apparel e‐tailing.Design/methodology/approachA selection of apparel chain stores was made with the criterion of having more than ten shops to investigate fashion retailers' sites. The sites were rated by the results of Google's search engines on name. Six categories about the content of the site were taken to measure completeness and the developmental stage of these web sites.FindingsRetailer internet developments appear to be mainly complementary to their brick‐and‐mortar shop retail channel strategy. Of the interviewed consumers in The Netherlands 15 per cent had bought garments on the internet. Age and gender effects were not found. Inhibiting factors were security worries about payment, privacy and delivery, but the expected reasons such as fun, product information and fit, feel and look were less important.Research limitations/implicationsSince factors that inhibit buying on the internet are mainly connected to internet technology and insecurity, the prediction of 25 per cent of the consumers buying garments on the internet is only justified if internet use and buying becomes more generally accepted by larger consumer groups.Practical implicationsApparel internet sales by retailers is a significantly growing retail channel. To be successful, retailers should take five recommendations seriously.Originality/valueThis paper offers an overview of current apparel retail internet strategies and an analysis of consumer data about apparel buying. Results are interpreted to offer recommendations to apparel retailers in general.

Contact lenses purchased over the Internet place individuals potentially at risk for harmful eye care practices

Background Individuals are increasingly purchasing contact lenses over the Internet. No studies exist regarding Internet purchase of contact lenses and eye care health practices. Methods One hundred fifty-one college students were surveyed regarding contact lenses purchase category (doctor’s office, store, Internet). Pearson chi-square analyses compared purchase category with responses regarding U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations for purchasing contact lenses online. Analysis of variance compared contact lenses purchase category with the Time Pressure Scale (TPS). Also, correlation analyses compared the TPS with Internet eye-health statements. Results Contact lens purchase categories included doctor’s office (43.0%), store (55.0%), and Internet (22.5%), with individuals purchasing at multiple venues. With regard to the FDA recommendations, those who purchased contact lenses at a doctor’s office more often adhered to the recommendations, whereas those who purchased contact lenses at a store or the Internet did so less often. Those who purchased contact lenses over the Internet had significantly higher TPS scores. In addition, higher TPS scores were significantly correlated with various statements regarding the Internet. Conclusions Those who purchase contact lenses via the Internet or store do not follow a number of FDA contact lenses recommendations. Also, those with higher TPS scores trust possible non-evidence–based contact lenses Internet information. Implications with regard to the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act are discussed.

Internet Purchases, Cross-Border Shopping, and Sales Taxes

Using data from the Current Population Survey for 1997 and 2001, we estimate the probability that a consumer engages in online shopping. We use variation in sales-tax rates by county to identify the effects of the sales-tax rate in the home county and adjacent counties. We also control for the sales-tax base. The estimates are consistent with the interpretation that consumers use Internet shopping to avoid sales taxes. In addition, consumers who live adjacent to counties with lower sales-tax rates are less likely to shop via the Internet, all else equal. We interpret this as evidence of cross-border shopping.

The impact of sales taxation on internet commerce — An empirical analysis

This paper examines how sales taxation on Internet purchases could affect the decision to buy goods over the Internet. The results appear robust with respect to unobserved technological sophistication or other alternative explanations. The tax effect is found to be significant and its magnitude suggests that applying a provincial average sales tax of 14% to all Internet sales in Canada would reduce the number of online buyers by as much as 44%.

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Prescription Drug Advertising on Television and Online Purchases of Medications

The present research explored several aspects concerning hazard/risk communication in direct-to-consumer (DTC) television advertising. Results indicated that participants frequently encounter DTC ads and some report information seeking as a result. Participants reported that their physicians will fill their requests for DTC advertised drugs. They report infrequently making online (Internet) purchases of prescription drugs possibly due to safety and legal concerns. Implications of the findings for factors/ergonomics (HF/E) professionals are discussed.

An experimental design approach to investigating the relationship between Internet book reviews and purchase intention

This investigation examined the effects of Internet book reviews on consumer purchase intention. The total number of reviews and their length, the number of negative book reviews, and the order in which reviews appear were found to significantly influence customers’ book purchase intention. These results can assist book retailers to better understand the effects of various attributes in consumers’ book purchase process, as well as to manage book reviews effectively.

인터넷 쇼핑의 패션제품 중독구매성향

This study attempted to understand the addictive internet buying tendencies and how self-esteem, materialism, and self-control influenced the addictive internet tendencies and how those variables affected those when people receive marketing promotions on internet shopping mall. A total 883 cases were collected as data through internet survey on the consumers who had purchased fashion products. Internet fashion buyers were classified into high-purchasing, low-purchasing, and non-purchasing groups. These groups were showing differences among self·esteem, materialism, and self-control. High purchasing group was showing low self-esteem and self·control and high materialism than others. Variables that affect addictive buying tendencies of internet fashion product were shown accordingly brand promotion, materialism, web display promotion, and self-esteem. Marketing promotions were contributed more on the internet addictive buying tendencies than consumers' socio-psychological variables. So as to induce rational buying behavior, excessive product promotion and discount price promotion should be reduced.

온라인 패션 구전에 따른 패션제품 관여와 인터넷 구매행동

The purposes of this study were to segment consumers by on-line word of month and to find the differences among the segmented groups in regard to fashion involvement, internet perceived risk, and internet purchase behavior. The subjects of this study were female consumers who were members of online cafe in Korea. The data were collected during October, 2004. The respondents returned the questionnaires through internet and 480 questionnaires were finally used in the data analysis. The statistical analyses used for the study were factor analysis, cluster analysis, t-test, and . The results showed that word-of·mouth communication on internet(e-WOM) is composed of two factors, word-of-mouth transmission and word-of-mouth acceptance. These two factors were put under cluster analysis and were classified into two groups of the word-of·mouth communication: WOM group and non-WOM group. T-test showed that word-of-mouth communication groups were significantly different in regard to fashion involvement, internet perceived risk, and internet purchase behavior. For example, WOM group was more uncertain of their clothing choices, put more weight on the internal factors of clothing selection, and was a frequent purchaser of internet fashion products. Internet fashion business needs to implement the proper marketing strategies based on the results of the study.

Consumer demographics and geographics: Determinants of retail success for online auctions

This study investigates transactions of two eBay sellers of consumer goods to determine if certain demographics and geographics related to individual American consumers can be utilised to predict retail sales and the average value of those sales. The average value of each sale is equivalent to the sum of the amount bid for each item and the shipping cost for that item. A sample of 753 transactions of these two eBay retailers was analysed. The significant variables include consumer gender, whether the consumer lives in a rural or urban area and the region in the US in which the consumer resides. The implications of these results are significant to both eBay retailers and scholars alike as this study presents findings that bring us nearer to understanding consumer internet buying behaviour.

The role of perceived risk on purchase intention in internet shopping

The growth of internet marketing encourages marketing researchers to look at how traditional consumer behaviour theories and models apply in the internet context. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and scope of consumers' perceived risk in internet purchasing based on traditional consumer behaviour research methodologies. Using a national sample of internet purchasers in USA, the results of the study supported the generalisation that the relationship between risk and purchase that has been found in catalogue and in-store retailing also holds to internet retailing. Risk is detrimental to the internet purchase decision. Consumers perceive more convenience risk, monetary risk, functional risk, and physical risk than social risk or psychological risk in purchasing on the internet. Positive purchase experience that reduces perceived risk increases the probability of purchase on the internet.

Privacy Concerns and the Purchasing of Travel Services Online

The travel industry has come to rely heavily on information and communication technologies to facilitate relations with consumers. Compiling consumer data profiles has become easier and it is generally thought that this has led to an increase in consumers' privacy concerns, which may have an adverse impact on their willingness to purchase online. Three specific aspects of privacy that have received attention from researchers are unauthorized secondary use of data, invasion of privacy, and errors. A study was undertaken to examine the effects of these factors on prior purchase of travel services via the Internet and future purchase probability. No evidence was found to indicate that such privacy concerns affect online purchase behavior within the travel industry. Managerial implications are discussed.

E-business in the developing world: an empirical study of payment methods and their implications

The recent trend of outsourcing manufacturing and services from the developed economies is creating buoyant economies in the developing world. With advances in technological infrastructure, these new markets are being transformed by e-business. In this paper, we discuss issues regarding methods of payment for internet purchases in China, India and Pakistan. The relationship between factors that may influence the establishment and growth of e-business within these economies are investigated empirically. A logit model of payment method preference is subsequently developed from these analyses. Finally, a general discussion regarding obstacles, limitations and ways forward for e-business in these economies is provided.

Airline Pricing, Price Dispersion and Ticket Characteristics On and Off the Internet

This paper uses a unique individual transactions data set to investigate the effects of internet purchase on the prices paid for airline tickets. The analysis also investigates the effects of changes in the percentage of online transactions on both online and offline prices and on price dispersion. The analysis also uses these unique data to provide a more complete analysis of the factors affecting airline price levels and price dispersion, contributing more generally to our understanding of airline pricing. Our novel data set includes detailed transaction level data that includes ticket characteristics and restrictions, carrier, estimated flight level load factors, date of issue, departure date, other hedonic factors affecting prices, whether the ticket was purchased online or offline, and the share of online purchases for the city-pair. Controlling for numerous observed ticket characteristics, as well as carrier and route effects, the results show that online prices average about 13 percent less than offline prices. The analysis also shows that a ten percent increase in the online share of tickets sold on a route decreases average prices by an additional 5 percent, with more of this effect coming in the form of lower offline prices. The paper also finds evidence that an increase in online shares decrease price dispersion. The paper also uses these unique data to investigate the effects of hub dominance and high route shares on pricing. Due to data limitations previous investigations of these issues could not control for important ticket characteristics, load factors, and time of purchase in measuring the effects of concentration on price levels and dispersion. Our analysis controls for these factors while investigating the impact of market concentration on price levels and dispersion.

Dynamic Pricing and Consumer Fairness Perceptions

Abstract Dynamic pricing practices by sellers in response to segment and individual-level differences have been made more feasible as internet buyer behavior increases. While benefits from these pricing practices can accrue to sellers and buyers, the potential for (un)fairness perceptions to mitigate these advantages is important. In an effort to investigate these issues, this article reports the results of three studies that examine the effects of seller-, consumer-, time-, and auction-based price differences on perceived price fairness and purchase satisfaction. The findings underscore the potential negative effects associated with price differences from dynamic pricing practices.