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Does Information Undermine Brand? Information Intermediary Use And Preference For Branded Web Retailers

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  • JOEL WALDFOGEL
  • LU CHEN

Abstract

Investments in brand, and third‐party information, provide alternative methods for convincing potential customers that vendors will deliver as promised. This study uses a 13‐month panel dataset on 1998–99 Internet shopping behavior and use of information intermediaries by over 30,000 households to examine whether information use undermines brand. Individuals using price comparison sites substantially increase their level of shopping at unbranded retail sites, while they shop less at Amazon. The results have possible implications for both firm strategy and the evolution of market structure. If information weakens the pull of brand, then Internet retailing may grow less concentrated over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Joel Waldfogel & Lu Chen, 2006. "Does Information Undermine Brand? Information Intermediary Use And Preference For Branded Web Retailers," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 425-449, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jindec:v:54:y:2006:i:4:p:425-449
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6451.2006.00295.x
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ajay Agrawal & Christian Catalini & Avi Goldfarb, 2014. "Some Simple Economics of Crowdfunding," Innovation Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 14(1), pages 63-97.
    4. Alberto Cavaliere, 2005. "Price Competition and Consumer Externalities in a Vertically Differentiated Duopoly with Information Disparities," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 86(1), pages 29-64, October.
    5. Hui Feng & Neil A. Morgan & Lopo L. Rego, 2020. "The impact of unprofitable customer management strategies on shareholder value," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 246-269, March.
    6. Michelle Haynes & Steve Thompson, 2013. "Entry and Exit Behavior in the Absence of Sunk Costs: Evidence from a Price Comparison Site," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 42(1), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Steve Thompson, 2009. "Grey Power: An Empirical Investigation of the Impact of Parallel Imports on Market Prices," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 9(3), pages 219-232, September.
    8. Kershen Huang & Chenguang Shang & Chi Zhang, 2021. "Working hard for long‐distance relationships: Geographic proximity and relationship‐specific investments," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 50(4), pages 985-1011, December.
    9. Mary J. Benner & Todd Zenger, 2016. "The Lemons Problem in Markets for Strategy," Strategy Science, INFORMS, vol. 1(2), pages 71-89, June.
    10. Jin Li & Kwok Fai Tso & Fangtao Liu, 2017. "Profit earning and monetary loss bidding in online entertainment shopping: the impacts of bidding patterns and characteristics," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 27(1), pages 77-90, February.
    11. Matthew Chesnes & Weijia (Daisy) Dai & Ginger Zhe Jin, 2014. "Banning Foreign Pharmacies from Sponsored Search: The Online Consumer Response," NBER Working Papers 20088, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    12. Paul DiMaggio & Eszter Hargittai & Coral Celeste & Steven Shafer, 2003. "From Unequal Access to Differentiated Use: A Literature Review and Agenda for Research on Digital Inequality," Working Papers 29, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies..
    13. Alberto Cavaliere, 2004. "Price Competition with Information Disparities in a Vertically Differentiated Duopoly," Working Papers 2004.39, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    14. Hollenbeck, Brett, 2018. "Online Reputation Mechanisms and the Decreasing Value of Chain Affliation," MPRA Paper 91573, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Ya-Ling Chiu & Jiangze Du & Jying-Nan Wang, 2022. "The Effects of Price Dispersion on Sales in the Automobile Industry: A Dynamic Panel Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, August.
    16. Ginger Zhe Jin & Phillip Leslie, 2009. "Reputational Incentives for Restaurant Hygiene," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 1(1), pages 237-267, February.
    17. Daniel Fleder & Kartik Hosanagar & Andreas Buja, 2008. "Recommender Systems and their Effects on Consumers: The Fragmentation Debate," Working Papers 08-44, NET Institute, revised Mar 2010.
    18. Kartik Hosanagar & Daniel Fleder & Dokyun Lee & Andreas Buja, 2014. "Will the Global Village Fracture Into Tribes? Recommender Systems and Their Effects on Consumer Fragmentation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(4), pages 805-823, April.
    19. Matthew Chesnes & Weijia (Daisy) Dai & Ginger Zhe Jin, 2017. "Banning Foreign Pharmacies from Sponsored Search: The Online Consumer Response," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(6), pages 879-907, November.

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    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • N10 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - General, International, or Comparative

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