A Qualitative Study on Risk Reduction Behaviors in Purchase Process of the Counterfeit of Fashion Luxury Brands - Focused on Risk Reduction Behaviors on Psychological Risk Perceptions -

This research is to classify psychological risk perceptions in purchases process at counterfeit at fashion luxury brands, into a risk perception on purchase activity itself and a risk perception on the post-purchase situation, and to analyze types and characteristics at risk reduction behaviors to reduce each risk perception. In this research a qualitative method was employed, and research-related data were collected and analyzed through in-depth interviews. Results were shown that risk reduction behaviors at psychological risk perception on purchase activity itself included rationalization of purchase, accompanied purchase, reduction and discontinuance of purchase, and that risk reduction behaviors of psychological risk perception on the post-purchase situation included information search, establishment of selection criteria, establishment of marginal limit, selective purchase, planned and compared purchase, and reduction and discontinuance of purchase. Previous researches suggested brand loyalty, selection of famous brands, utilization of information agents by marketers, pre-purchase usage and guaranteed purchase, but these risk reduction methods were not utilized, this probably being interpreted as a result of characteristics of counterfeit. In addition, risk reduction behavior of one type tended to reduce risk perception of several other types, and risk reduction behaviors of various types were utilized to reduce a certain type's risk perception. Not only types of risk perception but also levels of risk perception appeared to have exerted influence to risk reduction behaviors.