Determinants of consumers’ remanufactured products purchase intentions: Evidence from China

Abstract

Previous studies have examined the main factors that influence consumer acceptance of remanufactured products based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). However, researchers have not yet conducted detailed studies to classify the variables of TPB. In the present research, this gap is addressed by using a TPB model which (1) differentiates attitude into experiential attitude and instrumental attitude, (2) differentiates subjective norm into normative social influence and informational social influence, and (3) differentiates perceived behavioural control into product knowledge, perceived risk, and perceived inconvenience. In this study, past experience and the interaction effect of attitude and subjective norm are also considered. The research results suggest that experiential and instrumental attitude, normative and informational social influence, product knowledge, and past experience are positive determinants of consumers’ purchase intentions toward remanufactured products, while perceived inconvenience and perceived risk are negative determinants. Furthermore, the findings also suggest that the interaction effects of experiential attitude and subjective norms positively affect purchase intentions, whereas the interaction effects of instrumental attitude and subjective norms have a negative effect. Based on the research conclusions, this study concludes with a discussion of proposals for improving consumers’ remanufactured product purchase intentions, implications for product design and manufacturing, limitations of the current study, and recommendations for further research.

Keywords:

• Remanufactured products
• Purchase intentions
• Theory of planned behaviour
• Past experience
• Interaction effect

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Geolocation information

Remanufactured products; Green supply chain management; Theory of planned behaviour.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71571172], [grant number 71601174], [grant number 71804174]; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant number 2018M632555].