Post-purchase Evaluation
As consumers use a product, particularly during a trial purchase, they evaluate its performance in the light of their own expectations. There are three possible outcomes of these
evaluations:
1 . actual performance matches expectations, leading to a neutral feeling;
2 . performance exceeds expectations, causing what is known as positive disconfirmation of
expectations (which leads to satisfaction); and
3 . performance is below expectations, causing negative disconfirmation of expectations and
dissatisfaction.
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