Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the differences in the perceived media richness of three marketing channels by different consumer generations as well as to indicate the importance of the perceived media richness of each of channel for the intention of online use at pre-purchase stage.Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on a sample of 1,103 consumers in Poland, which research sample included three generations: Baby Boomers, X generation and Y generation. Computer-assisted personal interview method was used with a standardised questionnaire; the research sample was determined using a quota-random method, with the quotas referring to age and gender and the nature of the place of residence (provincial town, town/city other than a provincial one, or a village) – the structure of the sample was maintained at the regional level.Findings: Analysed channels (online, offline, phone) have different perceived media richness. Consumers from different generations can perceive media richness of the same marketing channels in various ways. Perceived media richness of the analysed marketing channels has an impact on the intention to use the channel online.Research limitations/implications: First, the fact of blurring differences between consumers generation, particularly X and Y generation. As well the fact that each generation has identified an internal diversity. Second limitation refers to the type of marketing channels included in research. Finally, limitation also applies to spatial extent of the study. The above limitations can also be some directions of future research – taking into account some other marketing channels and verifying the conclusions on other consumer groups.Practical implications: General recommendation refers to the need for treating customers in each marketing channel in the same way – immediate response is one of the aspects of this recommended unified customer service in multichannel environment. Online channel communications with customers should be supported by giving consumers more personalised communication via phone, chat and social media. For older consumers, it is recommended to gradually redirect them to an online channel. Information search is a good start for online customer journey, because this channel at the pre-purchase stage is the most useful and least risky for the consumer unfamiliar with online environment.Social implications: Better understanding of the needs of different customers generations and their perception of different marketing channel at the pre-purchase stage.Originality/value: Identification of intergenerational differences in the perception of media richness of online, phone and offline channels.

The purpose of the study is to identify factors affecting the intention to change an energy supplier. This is in a country, Poland, where competition in the energy market has been intensifying over several years, but incumbent suppliers still have an extremely strong position on the market, and the tendency to change an energy supplier is relatively low. The survey was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 1216 adults. The research results were used for a multigroup SEM (Structural Equation Modelling) analysis using AMOS 26. The main findings indicated a strong impact on a general image of a company, as well as the lack of importance of a green image of the current energy supplier. In the general research approach, there are no visible differences in the impact of the perceived price transparency on the intention to switch the supplier. However, taking into consideration two groups (a low energy bill vs. a high energy bill), some interesting differences are visible. In the markets with low consumers’ intention to switch, the strong position of incumbent suppliers is due to their exceptionally strong image in these markets. Spending time on maintenance is the biggest disadvantage for new energy suppliers who, when entering the market, have to look for differentiators.

Abstrakt Artykuł nie posiada streszczenia w języku polskim.

W badaniu uwzględniono perspektywę konsumenta w odniesieniu do obsługi wielokanałowej, analizowano reakcje konsumentów na strategie migracji na etapie obsługi pozakupowej usług telekomunikacyjnych. Wykorzystano podejście scenariuszowe, próba badawcza liczyła 345 konsumentów (studentów kierunków ekonomicznych. Celem artykułu była odpowiedź na pytanie badawcze: Jak konsumenci reagują na poszczególne strategie migracji do e-kanału. Uwzględnione zostały cztery strategie: migracja dobrowolna, przymusowa, oparta na karach i nagrodach. Efektem analizy była hierarchia strategii z uwzględnieniem konsekwencji w zachowaniu klientów (emocje oraz intencje behawioralne). W końcowej części artykułu sformułowano praktyczne implikacje oraz ograniczenia wyników.

Abstrakt Autorka przeanalizowała znaczenie ceny postrzeganej przez konsumentów jako uczciwej w pełnieniu przez nią roli ceny odniesienia tj. ceny, z którą porównywana jest cena konkretnego produktu. W pierwszej części artykułu zaprezentowane zostało tło teoretyczne zagadnienia percepcji uczciwości cen, natomiast w drugiej pokazano zbieżne z celem artykułu wyniki badań własnych. Badania zostały przeprowadzone w 2014 roku i były przedmiotowo zawężone do kategorii dóbr trwałego użytku. W części empirycznej autorka podkreśliła znaczenie ceny postrzeganej jako uczciwej w pełnieniu roli ceny odniesienia. Wskazano również na wzrost znaczenia kwestii percepcji uczciwości cen w środowisku online, wzrost wynikający z większej przejrzystości cen w internetowych kanałach sprzedaży.