• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.195-215
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• 2008

The scarcity is pervasive aspect of human life and is a fundamental precondition of economic behavior of consumers. Also, the effect of scarcity message is a power social influence principle used by marketers to increase the subjective desirability of products. Because valuable objects are often scare, consumers tend to infer the scarce objects are valuable. Marketers often do base promotional appeals on the principle of scarcity to increase the subjective desirability their products among consumers. Specially, advertisers and retailers often promote their products using restrictions. These restriction act to constraint consumers' ability th take advantage of the promotion and can assume several forms. For example, some promotions are advertised as limited time offers, while others limit the quantity that can be bought at the deal price by employing the statements such as 'limit one per consumer,' 'limit 5 per customer,' 'limited products for special commemoration celebration,' Some retailers use statements extensively. A recent weekly flyer by a prominent retailer limited purchase quantities on 50% of the specials advertised on front page. When consumers saw these phrase, they often infer value from the product that has limited availability or is promoted as being scarce. But, the past researchers explored a direct relationship between the purchase quantity and time limit on deal purchase intention. They also don't explored that all restriction message are not created equal. Namely, we thought that different restrictions signal deal value in different ways or different mechanism. Consumers appear to perceive that time limits are used to attract consumers to the brand, while quantity limits are necessary to reduce stockpiling. This suggests other possible differences across restrictions. For example, quantity limits could imply product quality (i.e., this product at this price is so good that purchases must be limited). In contrast, purchase preconditions force the consumer to spend a certain amount to qualify for the deal, which suggests that inferences about the absolute quality of the promoted item would decline from purchase limits (highest quality) to time limits to purchase preconditions (lowest quality). This might be expected to be particularly true for unfamiliar brands. However, a critical but elusive issue in scarcity message research is the impacts of a inferred motives on the promoted scarcity message. The past researchers not explored possibility of inferred motives on the scarcity message context. Despite various type to the quantity limits message, they didn't separated scarcity message among the quantity limits. Therefore, we apply a stricter definition of scarcity message(i.e. quantity limits) and consider scarcity message type(general scarcity message vs. special scarcity message), scarcity depth(high vs. low). The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the scarcity message on the consumer's purchase intension. Specifically, we investigate the effect of general versus special scarcity messages on the consumer's purchase intention using the level of the scarcity depth as moderators. In other words, we postulates that the scarcity message type and scarcity depth play an essential moderating role in the relationship between the inferred motives and purchase intention. In other worlds, different from the past studies, we examine the interplay between the perceived motives and scarcity type, and between the perceived motives and scarcity depth. Both of these constructs have been examined in isolation, but a key question is whether they interact to produce an effect in reaction to the scarcity message type or scarcity depth increase. The perceived motive Inference behind the scarcity message will have important impact on consumers' reactions to the degree of scarcity depth increase. In relation ti this general question, we investigate the following specific issues. First, does consumers' inferred motives weaken the positive relationship between the scarcity depth decrease and the consumers' purchase intention, and if so, how much does it attenuate this relationship? Second, we examine the interplay between the scarcity message type and the consumers' purchase intention in the context of the scarcity depth decrease. Third, we study whether scarcity message type and scarcity depth directly affect the consumers' purchase intention. For the answer of these questions, this research is composed of 2(intention inference: existence vs. nonexistence)${\times}2$(scarcity type: special vs. general)${\times}2$(scarcity depth: high vs. low) between subject designs. The results are summarized as follows. First, intention inference(inferred motive) is not significant on scarcity effect in case of special scarcity message. However, nonexistence of intention inference is more effective than existence of intention inference on purchase intention in case of general scarcity. Second, intention inference(inferred motive) is not significant on scarcity effect in case of low scarcity. However, nonexistence of intention inference is more effective than existence of intention inference on purchase intention in case of high scarcity. The results of this study will help managers to understand the relative importance among the type of the scarcity message and to make decisions in using their scarcity message. Finally, this article have several contribution. First, we have shown that restrictions server to activates a mental resource that is used to render a judgment regarding a promoted product. In the absence of other information, this resource appears to read to an inference of value. In the presence of other value related cue, however, either database(i.e., scarcity depth: high vs. low) or conceptual base(i.e.,, scarcity type special vs. general), the resource is used in conjunction with the other cues as a basis for judgment, leading to different effects across levels of these other value-related cues. Second, our results suggest that a restriction can affect consumer behavior through four possible routes: 1) the affective route, through making consumers feel irritated, 2) the cognitive making route, through making consumers infer motivation or attribution about promoted scarcity message, and 3) the economic route, through making the consumer lose an opportunity to stockpile at a low scarcity depth, or forcing him her to making additional purchases, lastly 4) informative route, through changing what consumer believe about the transaction. Third, as a note already, this results suggest that we should consider consumers' inferences of motives or attributions for the scarcity dept level and cognitive resources available in order to have a complete understanding the effects of quantity restriction message.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 2018

Purpose - Many retail stores tend to use scarcity-laden message in order to influence consumers, where scarcity refers to insufficiency of product supply or time of availability. For example, inside stores, the displayed products are often accompanied by scarcity message such as 'exclusive offer, limited time only.' According to past research, scarcity has a positive effect on product evaluation, since scarcity can acts as a signal of consumer demand, and thus product quality. Prior studies argue that consumers face a scarce product, they logically infer that other consumers buying the product in large numbers cause the scarcity. We propose that scarcity can be interpreted as a sales tactic artificially created by retail stores in order to increase sales of product. Research design, data, and methodology - We use a persuasion knowledge perspective framework to develop our hypotheses. In the present research, we show that product curation type is a key variable that moderates consumer response to scarcity, and thus the scarcity effect on product evaluation. Results - In this research, we showed when scarcity-laden message was used inside the store using consumer-centric curation message, scarcity had a positive effect on product evaluation. In contrast, when scarcity-laden message was used inside the store using marketer-centric curation message, the positive of scarcity message on product evaluation was diluted. Conclusions - Our study makes two important contributions to the literature on consumer response to scarcity. First, we identify a variable - namely, product curation type - that determines when either 'scarcity = good' or 'scarcity = marketing tactic' interpretation is likely to be dominant. Second, we cite persuasion knowledge perspective to explain the moderating function of product curation type in a retail store-related scarcity context. This research is relevant to practitioners, such as brand manager, retail environment manager, and advertising agencies, for the effective use for the scarcity-laden message in retail. The proposed moderator can operate in many real-life situations in retail where consumers are exposed to scarcity. And curation message related to scarcity has been facilitated by the inner-retail activities. These factors of the marketplace indicate that the boundary conditions of scarcity can have a significant effect on real-life consumer judgment.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.121-132
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• 2010

This study was intended to identify the persuasion effects of online cosmetic advertising according to scarcity message type and product type. For the experiment, 4 stimuli were developed as experimental stimuli for the 2(scarcity message type: quantity scarcity message vs distinctiveness scarcity message) X 2(product type: hedonic product vs utilitarian product) factorial design. Participants were 160 students, and they allocated 40 students in each group. They responded a questionnaire. The results were as follows. First, distinctiveness scarcity message showed more effective than quantity scarcity message in advertising attitude, product attitude, brand attitude, and purchase intention. Second, hedonic product showed more effective than utilitarian product in advertising attitude, product attitude, brand attitude, advertising attention, click-through intention, and purchase intention. Third, there was interaction effect according to scarcity message type and product type on the aspect of advertising attitude, advertisement attention, and click-through intention.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.99-111
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• 2014

This study looked into the scarcity effect based on the consumers' self-regulatory modes and determined the effect that such a regulatory mode and that quantity-scarcity messages would have on evaluations of fashion products. To that end, the study used a 2 (regulatory mode: assessment mode/locomotion mode)${\times}2$ (message type: quantity-scarcity message/non-scarcity message) between-subjects factorial design in which buying impulsiveness was presented as a mediator variable that showed differences in product evaluations depending on the message type and on the presence of a self-regulatory mode. The results of this study showed that locomotion-oriented consumers evaluated products more positively compared to assessment-oriented consumers when the quantity-scarcity message was presented. When a non-scarcity message was presented, no significant difference was observed in product evaluations based on the consumers' self-regulatory modes. In addition, buying impulsiveness in consumers served a mediator role in the evaluations of fashion products. The results of this study imply that a clear understanding of consumers is a prerequisite for maximizing the scarcity effect and that companies need to differentiate in terms of the way they use scarcity messages based on consumers' self-regulatory modes.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.2383-2399
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• 2014

Due to the low conversion rate of social commerce, its sustainability is questioned. To solve this problem, this study aims to verify the different antecedents between visit intention and purchase intention. For a visit intention, this study employs the concept of the scarcity heuristic and its momentary characteristic. The scarcity heuristic is created by a scarcity of time and quantity, and provisional coupons. In previous studies, the scarcity heuristic has often been treated as a major factor in which to influence purchase intention. However, this study examines the scarcity heuristic only as an antecedent of the visit intention, not of the purchase intention, because of its momentary characteristic. Contrary to previous studies, as this study expected, the attributes of the scarcity heuristic had a significant relationship only with the visit intention in social commerce. Additionally, the results suggest that there are two distinct intentions in social commerce: visit intention and purchase intention. This study verified that the antecedents of the two distinct intentions are different from one another. This study helps to understand why people visit social commerce sites regularly but do not buy.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1133-1149
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• 2011

The major aim of this study was to find out that the relation between consumers value and experience quality toward purchase intention in addition to the influence of the consumers value and experience quality on the effects of scarcity message types collaboration using limited edition in global SPA brand. As a result of an empirical analysis, it shows that consumers value and experience quality are co-related to the intention of purchase, especially, brand familiarity and reputation influenced scarcity valuation in the affirmative and both emotional value and epistemic value influenced the intention of purchase under scarcity message. The moderating effect of consumers value and experience quality however, turns out to be not significant although its effect is directionally supported that is purchase intention was high when scarcity message is shown. Moreover, emotional epistemic group was influenced by scarcity message so we found that consumers value is changed to emotional with subjective. This result indicates that we need the scarcity message type reflecting the characteristics of consumers value and experience quality to increase customer's purchase intention.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.97-117
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• 2016

Drawing on the theoretical framework of customer value-satisfaction-loyalty, this study examines how scarcity message influences customers' value, satisfaction, and loyalty in the context of group-buying social commerce. Previous studies have argued that scarcity message limiting the avilability of products and service is a source of enhancing customer value. In this regard, this study posits scarcity message as a predictor of customer value. Furthermore, this study classifies customer value into two forms (i.e., utilitarian value and hedonic value) and verfies how scarcity message is associated with them. To test the proposed research model and hypotheses, this study performed structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses, using a total of 292 data collected on users who have experience in purchasing products and service through group-buying social commerce sites such as Coupang, Timon, and WeMakePrice. The key results are as follows : First, scarcity message increases utilitarian and hedonic values and further customer satisfaction. Second, utilitarian value increases customer satisfaction and repurchase intention while hedonic value has nothing to do with them. The findings imply that customers seek to maximize utilitarian value through group-buying social commerce. Finally, this study indicates that repuchase intention depends greatly on customer satisfaction.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.342-366
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• 2023

This study attempts to extend the customer value - customer satisfaction - customer loyalty framework by introducing key constructs of scarcity messages as a major environmental stimulus and the urge to buy impulsively as its response in the context of group-buying social commerce, across countries including Korea and China. More specifically, this study proposes that scarcity messages influence customers' value perception (i.e., utilitarian value and hedonic value) and thereby influencing customer satisfaction and further customer loyalty. Moreover, the study suggests that scarcity messages and utilitarian and hedonic values arouse the urge to buy impulsively. In the Korean sample, the results show that scarcity messages increase both utilitarian and hedonic values as well as the urge to buy impulsively, which in turn leads to customers' satisfaction and further loyalty. Besides, customer satisfaction is determined by utilitarian value, not hedonic value. In the Chinese sample, utilitarian value-related relationships are insignificant. More specifically, scarcity messages only influence hedonic value which increases the urge to buy impulsively. Besides, customer satisfaction is determined by both utilitarian and hedonic values, but not by the urge to buy impulsively.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.157-173
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• 2018

Purpose Product characteristics and price value in website have strongly effects on customer satisfaction. Especially, in the online shopping site, the scarcity limits the customer's opportunity to purchase the product. Thus scarcity has been proposed as a important factor that makes the customer highly aware of the merchantability of the product. The scarcity in the web store is used as an important variable to make purchasing decisions of users easier by psychological pressure. In the case of scarce products with price discounts in online commerce, advertising formats that highlight scarcity value in the web commerce market are very effective in enhancing purchase intentions of consumers. Unlike offline stores, the importance of scarcity becomes more important when reflecting the characteristics of online commerce. Therefore, this study intends to confirm the influence of the degree of price discounts and scarcity information presented by Web sites on consumer purchase behavior in Web purchase behavior. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a web-based experimental study on price sensitivity and price discount. Therefore, we created experimental web-sites that offer two stimuli according to the discount rate. The 200 respondents were randomly assigned. The stimuli were fictitious based on tourism products. The first stimulus presented the price discount(15% discount) with basic explanation about the package of the tourist package. The stimuli assigned to the second group were used for groups with high price discount intensity(65% discount). In this way, the two stimuli clearly distinguished the level of price discount intensity. This paper conducted t-test analysis and structural equation to analyze the experiemental results after confirming the reliability and validity. Findings The results of this study are as follows. The difference in price discount intensity (15% vs 65%) with scarcity showed the mean difference among all the variables. Therefore, this study concluded that there is a significant difference between the price discount of 15% and 65% for the acquisition value and transaction value of users. In particular, consumers' purchase intention is greater and product recommendation intensity is stronger when the price discount is 65%. As a result, the high degree of the price discount intensity with scarcity exerts a greater influence on consumers' purchase intentions. Product scarcity also have a significant impact on perceived value of users. Therefore, purchase intention of customers increases when perceived value increases their profit and pleasure feeling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1519-1529
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• 2009

This study investigates the influences of the impulse buying tendency of consumers, apparel price and scarcity messages on purchasing behavior at the time of purchase on the internet. This study was comprised of 2 (impulse buying: high versus low) $\times$ 2 (price of Internet purchase products: high apparel price versus low apparel price) $\times$ 2 (scarcity message: quantity scarcity message versus time scarcity message) with three mixed elements. The subjects of this study were 400 college students in the Seoul and Gyeonggi area. A total of 95 students who had a high tendency for impulsive purchase and 104 who had a low tendency participated in the survey. Data are analyzed by factor analysis, T-test, and ANOVA. The results of this study are as follows. 1. At the time of group buying on the Internet, impulse buying tendency, apparel price, and scarcity message had a statistically significant interaction effect on consumer preferences. 2. At the time of purchase on the Internet, impulse buying tendency, apparel price, and scarcity message did not have a statistically significant interaction effect on the intention of consumers to make a purchase. However, there was a significant difference in the intention to make a purchase based on impulse buying tendency and apparel price.