THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS IN ONLINE CONSUMER COMPLAINT BEHAVIOR AND SERVICE RECOVERY EXPECTATION

Abstract

To date, the literature on service failure and recovery has tended to be focused on bricks-and-mortar stores. In this study the relationships among service failures, consumer complaint behaviors, and service recovery expectations in an online setting were investigated. Data were collected from 252 respondents in a questionnaire survey. Results of multiple regression analysis show that personality traits in terms of Type A and locus of control may moderate the relationships among e-service failures, consumer complaint behaviors, and service recovery expectations. When e-service failures occur, Type A and internally oriented consumers engage in aggressive complaint behaviors and expect high service recovery efforts. Conversely, Type B and externally oriented consumers tend to tolerate e-service failures and refrain from complaining. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.