Title

Managing trust in direct selling relationships

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

Marketing Intelligence & Planning

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Volume

30

Issue

5

First Page

588

Last Page

603

Publisher

Emerald Publishing Limited

Keywords

Hong Kong, Trust, buyer-seller relationships, direct selling, non-store retailing

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate trust in salespersons of direct selling companies. The major purpose of the study is to examine three alternative measures of trust and to assess the effects of consumer trust in the direct selling salesperson on intended purchase behavior in a non-Western culture, Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach – The research was designed as a personal interview survey of purchasers and non-purchasers of product from direct selling companies in Hong Kong. A street-intercept method of personal interview was used in three major shopping areas. The major measurement was of three different measures of trust in buying behavior from direct selling companies. Findings – Survey results show that the measures of trust are not equally significant in being related to intention to repurchase. Only one measure, “Affect Trust”, is statistically correlated to repurchase intention. This measure is based on emotions which are affective in nature. Originality/value – Gaining trust is crucial to all salespeople, industrial and consumer alike, as trust facilitates an exchange relationship while mistrust hinders it. Consequently, having valid measures of trust is essential to ensuring that exchange relations are positive. The research to date has been in the context of Western cultures and is dated (ten or more years ago). The paper examines trust in a non-Western culture. In addition, the sales relationships studied in the past have been non-direct selling. The paper expands this domain as it looks at direct selling to consumers in a non-fixed business location.

DOI

10.1108/02634501211251070

Print ISSN

02634503

E-ISSN

17588049

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Poon, S. P., Albaum, G., & Chan, P. S. F. (2012). Managing trust in direct selling relationships. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 30(5), 588-603. doi: 10.1108/02634501211251070

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