Service Retail Results Assessment from the Consumer’s Point of View

ABSTRACT

This study aims at assessing the connection between financial results and non-financial assessments from the consumer’s point of view, considering Brazil’s mobile phone context. According to consumer relationship theory, higher profits are to be expected from satisfied customers, from those who tend towards long-term use of company services. Therefore, non-financial assessments such as satisfaction, commitment, trust and loyalty were correlated to financial results, according to consumption information reported by consumers themselves. Altogether, 493 cases were investigated in a non-probabilistic sample of customers belonging four different mobile phone operators. The relationship quality assessment model was confirmed, although the expected connection between satisfaction, loyalty and financial results was not observed. Results obtained suggest sector-specific assessments, in which mobile phone user behavior is not revealed in a linear way. Findings suggest new perspectives for relationship quality analysis applied to customers within growing markets that harbor a wide range of offers amongst competitors.

Keywords:
Relationship quality; Service retailing; Financial result