Value across fulfillment-product categories of Internet shopping

摘要

The absence of a theoretically sound framework for delineating the various forms of Internet retailing may negate recognition of situation-specific issues or engender insights being drawn from, and applied to, incompatible contexts. To address this gap, the fulfillment-product classification scheme that segments Internet retailing into four categories was developed. Efforts were then directed towards providing a more detailed examination of perceived Internet shopping value than has to date been performed by examining the sources and inhibitors of utilitarian and hedonic value relative to each fulfillment-product category. The interviews with experienced Internet shoppers generated theoretical and managerial insights pertaining to value, while the classification scheme has applications beyond that of the current research topic.