Abstract
Purpose – The satisfaction-trust paradigm has been recently criticized regarding its ability to deliver positive consumer behavioral outcomes. This
study aims to argue that – amongst others – a reason for this unpleasant situation may be the failure of service managers to account for non-linearities
in the satisfaction-trust paradigm.
Design/methodology/approach – The setting for this study was the supermarket retail channel. A total of 942 respondents were “intercepted” in
supermarket stores, employing a face-to-face personal interviewing method. For the detection of curvilinear effects the study employed the two-step
single indicant method of Ping.
Findings – It is posited that consumer trust is an important intervening variable through which non-linear service evaluation effects translate into
word-of-mouth. Findings imply that investing resources in satisfaction programs do not do a good job in building positive word-of-mouth from a point
on. Economic value evaluations and trust judgments seem to be both necessary and sufficient conditions for building consumer relationships.
Research limitations/implications – Theoretically, the work extends the relationship marketing research stream suggesting that curvilinear
mechanisms are likely present in the well accepted satisfaction-trust paradigm. Limitations of the study relate to the generalization of the findings in
other sectors besides grocery retailing and its cross-sectional nature.
Practical implications – The findings of this study suggest that relationship marketing managers would be ill-advised in their investment decisions
should they use a linear-only terms trust model.
Originality/value – This article extends the trust literature in that it investigates whether consumer trust suffers from diminishing returns. Service
providers who strive to build long-term relationships with their customers may not do a good job if they continue to invest in trust determinants that
present diminishing returns to scale