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Does e-shopping for intangible services attenuate the effect of spatial attributes on travel distance and duration?

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  • Shi, Kunbo
  • De Vos, Jonas
  • Yang, Yongchun
  • Li, Enlong
  • Witlox, Frank

Abstract

E-shopping for intangible services (e.g., eating out services, hairdressing, and visits to movie theatres) refers to searching and paying for services online, but it requires e-shoppers to travel to use these services. In theory, e-shoppers’ search space via the internet is less constrained by spatial attributes. As a result, spatial attributes may barely affect the distance and duration of trips resulting from e-shopping for intangible services. The present study used data from 714 valid face-to-face interviews in Beijing, China, to verify this hypothesis. The results showed that e-shoppers were likely to travel farther after purchasing intangible services online. The effect of spatial attributes on the distance of a single trip was largely attenuated due to online purchases of these services, and the effect on the duration was correspondingly weaker to a limited extent. Therefore, spatial interventions aiming to moderate travel distances and durations may not be as effective in the age of online shopping.

Suggested Citation

  • Shi, Kunbo & De Vos, Jonas & Yang, Yongchun & Li, Enlong & Witlox, Frank, 2020. "Does e-shopping for intangible services attenuate the effect of spatial attributes on travel distance and duration?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 86-97.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:141:y:2020:i:c:p:86-97
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2020.09.004
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    1. Shi, Kunbo & De Vos, Jonas & Cheng, Long & Yang, Yongchun & Witlox, Frank, 2021. "The influence of the built environment on online purchases of intangible services: Examining the mediating role of online purchase attitudes," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 116-126.
    2. Kunbo Shi & Long Cheng & Jonas De Vos & Yongchun Yang & Wanpeng Cao & Frank Witlox, 2021. "How does purchasing intangible services online influence the travel to consume these services? A focus on a Chinese context," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 2605-2625, October.
    3. Shao, Rui & Derudder, Ben & Witlox, Frank, 2022. "The geography of e-shopping in China: On the role of physical and virtual accessibility," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Shi, Kunbo & Shao, Rui & De Vos, Jonas & Cheng, Long & Witlox, Frank, 2021. "Is e-shopping likely to reduce shopping trips for car owners? A propensity score matching analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Mateos-Mínguez, Paloma & Arranz-López, Aldo & Soria-Lara, Julio A. & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2021. "E-shoppers and multimodal accessibility to in-store retail: An analysis of spatial and social effects," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).

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