Antonetti, P. and Crisafulli, Benedetta and Maklan, S. (2018) Too good to be true? Boundary conditions to the use of downward social comparisons in service recovery. Journal of Service Research 21 (4), pp. 438-455. ISSN 1094-6705.
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Abstract
Evidence shows that downward social comparisons (DSCs), messages delivered by frontline employees describing how service experiences turned out even worse for others, can reduce customers’ anger following a service failure. This study contributes to the literature on DSCs and service recovery by highlighting pitfalls associated with the use of these messages in service recovery and showing the conditions necessary for their effectiveness. Building on persuasion knowledge theory, we show that customers draw manipulative inferences about DSCs because of the perceived bias associated with the source of the message and the implicit derogation of a competitor that DSCs entail. To reduce inferences of manipulative intentions, frontline employees should accompany DSC messages with intense apologies and use selfderogation to reduce the perception that they are criticizing another firm. Past claims on the generalized effectiveness of DSCs need to be revised. Managers should craft social comparison messages carefully to avoid negative reactions from customers. Our research indicates that once adapted to address these concerns, DSCs can be an effective recovery strategy amongst individuals with a strong need for social comparison information.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Business and Law > Birkbeck Business School |
| Depositing User: | Benedetta Crisafulli |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Oct 2018 12:22 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 17:44 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/24081 |
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- Too good to be true? Boundary conditions to the use of downward social comparisons in service recovery. (deposited 11 Oct 2018 12:22) [Currently Displayed]
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