Price-related consumer discussions in China and the United States: a cross-cultural study investigating price perceptions and word-of-mouth transmission

Abstract

Prices are among the most frequently discussed topics in consumer research. Although word-of-mouth is known to be highly influential and it is considered to be of growing importance, previous research has largely neglected price-related word-of-mouth, especially in a cross-cultural context. The present study fills this research gap by analyzing the effects of price-related word-of-mouth valence, price changes communicated by word-of-mouth, market mavenism and national culture on price fairness and expensiveness perceptions, as well as on subsequent word-of-mouth intentions. Two studies employing Hofstede’s national culture dimensions reveal considerable differences between the cultures of the United States and China.