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Does Access Trump Ownership? Exploring Consumer Acceptance of Access-Based Consumption in the Case of Smartphones

Author

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  • Flora Poppelaars

    (Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Conny Bakker

    (Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Jo Van Engelen

    (Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
    Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, 9747 AE Groningen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Value creation in a circular economy is based on products being returned after use. In the case of smartphones, most are never returned and tend to be kept in drawers. Smartphone access services (e.g., leasing or upgrade) have been experimented with in the Netherlands but have been largely unsuccessful. This study explores the reasons why consumers rejected these access-based smartphone services and is one of the very few to address this topic. The findings are compared with the case of car access services, which are socially better accepted, to identify potential areas for improvement. The qualitative study consists of in-depth interviews with consumers (n = 18) who either adopted and used a smartphone or car access service, or had considered a new smartphone or car but did not choose access-based consumption. The findings of this small-scale study suggest that the main reasons for the rejection of smartphone access services are a lack of awareness, misunderstanding of terms and conditions, and unsatisfactory compensation for their sacrifice of not owning. Smartphone access providers could thus clearly communicate customers’ rights and responsibilities, offer an excellent service experience (especially during repair) by taking over the burdens of ownership, and stimulate the societal logic shift from ownership to access.

Suggested Citation

  • Flora Poppelaars & Conny Bakker & Jo Van Engelen, 2018. "Does Access Trump Ownership? Exploring Consumer Acceptance of Access-Based Consumption in the Case of Smartphones," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2133-:d:153914
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hyeon Jo & Do-Hyung Park, 2024. "Exploring loyalty drivers for smartphone and mobile carriers," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Vivian S. C. Tunn & Ellis A. Van den Hende & Nancy M. P. Bocken & Jan P. L. Schoormans, 2021. "Consumer adoption of access‐based product‐service systems: The influence of duration of use and type of product," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 2796-2813, September.
    3. Deborah Sumter & Jotte de Koning & Conny Bakker & Ruud Balkenende, 2020. "Circular Economy Competencies for Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Peter Byrial Jensen & Louise Møller Haase & Linda Nhu Laursen, 2021. "A Practical Approach to Companies’ Transformation toward Product Longevity: A Best-Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-16, December.
    5. Daniel Borg & Oksana Mont & Heather Schoonover, 2020. "Consumer Acceptance and Value in Use-Oriented Product-Service Systems: Lessons from Swedish Consumer Goods Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Gaidi Tian & Chunfa Li, 2023. "How Can We Promote Smartphone Leasing via a Buyback Program?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-29, July.
    7. Steven Day & Janet Godsell & Donato Masi & Wanrong Zhang, 2020. "Predicting consumer adoption of branded subscription services: A prospect theory perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1310-1330, March.
    8. Dong Lu & Ivan Ka Wai Lai & Yide Liu, 2019. "The Consumer Acceptance of Smart Product-Service Systems in Sharing Economy: The Effects of Perceived Interactivity and Particularity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, February.
    9. Ruth Mugge, 2018. "Product Design and Consumer Behaviour in a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-4, October.
    10. Vivian S. C. Tunn & Richard Fokker & Koen A. Luijkx & Silke A. M. De Jong & Jan P. L. Schoormans, 2019. "Making Ours Mine: Increasing Consumer Acceptance of Access-Based PSS through Temporary Product Customisation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, January.
    11. Mauro Cordella & Felice Alfieri & Javier Sanfelix, 2021. "Reducing the carbon footprint of ICT products through material efficiency strategies: A life cycle analysis of smartphones," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(2), pages 448-464, April.
    12. Denise Baden & Ken Peattie & Adekunle Oke, 2020. "Access Over Ownership: Case Studies of Libraries of Things," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Ece G. Gülserliler & Joseph D. Blackburn & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2022. "Consumer acceptance of circular business models and potential effects on economic performance: The case of washing machines," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 509-521, April.
    14. Xiao-Ling Jin & Zhongyun Zhou & Yiwei Tian, 2022. "A Configurational Analysis of the Causes of Consumer Indirect Misbehaviors in Access-Based Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 135-166, January.
    15. Eri Amasawa & Yurie Suzuki & Dami Moon & Jun Nakatani & Hirokazu Sugiyama & Masahiko Hirao, 2018. "Designing Interventions for Behavioral Shifts toward Product Sharing: The Case of Laundry Activities in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, July.

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