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Buying free rewards: the impact of a points-plus-cash promotion on purchase and reward redemption

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  • Ricardo Montoya

    (University of Chile)

  • Constanza Flores

    (University of Chile)

Abstract

While many studies have investigated consumer purchase behavior in reward programs, a better understanding of customer redemption behavior is lacking, particularly when promotions affect a core aspect of reward programs—free rewards. In this paper, we examine the impact of a promotion on purchase and reward redemption in a reward program in which consumers can partially cover the cost of a free reward with their money. The literature on reward programs suggests a positive reinforcement caused by reward redemption, whereas the literature on promotion provides different views regarding the existence of a postpromotion dip. Using data from a major retailer’s reward program, we verify that such a promotion attracted customers with less transaction activity and shorter tenure. Interestingly, consumers using the promotion increased their preference for hedonic rewards compared to their previously observed behavior. This change in preference persisted after the promotion ended. Overall, the promotion significantly increased the number of redemptions but generated a negative impact on subsequent consumer behavior by decreasing purchase incidence and quantity. Our findings point to a need to understand the trade-off between spending money on buying an otherwise free reward and future regular purchases.

Suggested Citation

  • Ricardo Montoya & Constanza Flores, 2019. "Buying free rewards: the impact of a points-plus-cash promotion on purchase and reward redemption," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 107-118, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:mktlet:v:30:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11002-019-09482-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11002-019-09482-y
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    Cited by:

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    2. Li, Chen & Swaminathan, Srinivasan & Kim, Junhee, 2021. "The role of marketing channels in consumers’ promotional point redemption decisions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 314-323.
    3. Alina Nastasoiu & Neil T. Bendle & Charan K. Bagga & Mark Vandenbosch & Salvador Navarro, 2021. "Separating customer heterogeneity, points pressure and rewarded behavior to assess a retail loyalty program," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 1132-1150, November.
    4. Agarwal, Reeti & Mehrotra, Ankit & Misra, Dheeraj, 2022. "Customer happiness as a function of perceived loyalty program benefits - A quantile regression approach," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Panzone, Luca A. & Tocco, Barbara & Brečić, Ružica & Gorton, Matthew, 2024. "Healthy foods, healthy sales? Cross-category effects of a loyalty program promoting sales of fruit and vegetables," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 100(1), pages 85-103.

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