• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.337-349
• /
• 2003

This study was dealt with consumers' attitudes and requests for refunds on the basis of data gathered in 1997 and 2000 and examined factors shaping the differences of the consumers' requesting for refunds and investigated variables influencing the presence or absence of requests for refunds. Research outcomes could be summarized as follows. First there were no differences in consumers' searches for information of refunds, degrees of satisfactions for practices of refunds, knowledges for refunds, consumers' expectation for the permission of refunds between two periods Consumers generally showed more active behaviors for the request for refunds in 2000 than in 1997. In cases of defects, the chance of getting refunds was higher while consumers feel greater needs for refund. Second, consumers perception for the necessity of refund and their expectations for successful outcomes were higher in cases of defects than in the opposite case; consumers were also more active to request for refunds and get more positive responses in the former case. Third, in cases of defects in 1997, as consumers faced the unsatisfactory response for their previous requests for refunds, they did not actively request for refunds. In 2000, requesting for refunds were more active as they were more knowledgeable, actively search for information of refunds before their purchases, and expect more positive outcomes for their requests for refund. On the other hand, in cases of no defects in 1997, consumers showed more active behaviors requesting for refunds as their own professional jobs, owned greater consumer expectation for positive outcomes and showed greater satisfactions for the previous requests of refunds. In the survey of 2000, consumers showed active behaviors requesting for refunds as they were highly educated, gather much information for refund, and showed positive expectations for the possibility of refund.