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Assessing the Impact of Price-Matching Guarantees and Price Fluctuations on Consumer Feedback: Insights from the Online Consumer Electronics Market

Simone Robbiano & G. Cerruti

Journal of Consumer Policy2026https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-026-09613-9article
AJG 2ABDC C
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

Abstract This study examines how price-matching guarantees (PMGs) influence consumer behaviour in online retail. Using a Difference-in-Differences design (DiD), the paper tracks how product ratings react to within-product price changes during PMG periods. PMGs alone have no effect, but price increases under an active PMG reduce ratings, with impacts intensifying over time and concentrating on cheaper, less visible items. To probe mechanisms, the paper links review texts to the product–platform panel and builds transparent dictionaries for price/value language and sentiment. When prices rise under PMG, references to price/value spike, while placebo topics (quality, service, delivery) remain flat; sentiment shifts little. Event-study tests show flat pre-trends, supporting identification. Overall, PMGs act as market signals whose disciplinary bite emerges when prices move, especially where buyers are highly price sensitive or visibility is low. Antitrust and policy implications include safeguarding pricing transparency and consumer protection while balancing informational benefits against risks of anti-competitive conduct and consumer harm.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-026-09613-9

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@article{simone2026,
  title        = {{Assessing the Impact of Price-Matching Guarantees and Price Fluctuations on Consumer Feedback: Insights from the Online Consumer Electronics Market}},
  author       = {Simone Robbiano & G. Cerruti},
  journal      = {Journal of Consumer Policy},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-026-09613-9},
}

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Assessing the Impact of Price-Matching Guarantees and Price Fluctuations on Consumer Feedback: Insights from the Online Consumer Electronics Market

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.