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Smile or pity? Examine the impact of emoticon valence on customer satisfaction and purchase intention

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  • Ma, Ruijing
  • Wang, Weisha

Abstract

Emoticons are pictorial/textual depictions of facial expressions used in marketing communications. Little is known about how customers interpret positive or negative emoticons used by customer service employees in service failure contexts. We investigate the impact of emoticon type on customer satisfaction and re-purchasing intention, and examine the sequential mediating role of perceived sincerity and willingness to forgive. Results show that the use of a negative emoticon in a response leads to a higher level of customer satisfaction and re-purchasing intention than responses with a positive emoticon. We further demonstrate that customers perceive that the presence of a negative emoticon in a response is more sincere and generates a higher level of forgiveness than those responses that use positive emoticons, but only when the communal relationship is salient in the customer’s mind. Our findings offer important theoretical and practical implications in service failure contexts.

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  • Ma, Ruijing & Wang, Weisha, 2021. "Smile or pity? Examine the impact of emoticon valence on customer satisfaction and purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 443-456.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:134:y:2021:i:c:p:443-456
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.057
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    1. Davide Christian Orazi & Bhoomija Ranjan & Yimin Cheng, 2023. "Non-face emojis in digital marketing: Effects, contingencies, and strategic recommendations," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 570-597, May.
    2. Nazir, Sajjad & Khadim, Sahar & Ali Asadullah, Muhammad & Syed, Nausheen, 2023. "Exploring the influence of artificial intelligence technology on consumer repurchase intention: The mediation and moderation approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Ruan, Yanya & Mezei, József, 2022. "When do AI chatbots lead to higher customer satisfaction than human frontline employees in online shopping assistance? Considering product attribute type," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
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    5. Chen, Cheih-Ying & Huarng, Kun-Huang & González, Vanessa Izquierdo, 2022. "How creative cute characters affect purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 211-220.

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