This paper develops a model of oligopolistic price competition to analyze the impact of online intermediaries such as Autobytel.com on the price setting process in the automobile market. The roles of dealer search costs, the fraction of buyers using the intermediary, the value of the item being sold, and heterogeneity in buyer bargaining abilities are explored. The model provides theoretical insights relevant to the empirical literature addressing the role that intermediaries like Autobytel play in online markets. For example, we present conditions under which the price offered through the intermediary is either higher or lower than offline (bargained) prices.
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Michael R. Baye & John Morgan & Patrick Scholten, 2006.
"Persistent Price Dispersion in Online Markets,"
Working Papers
2006-12, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
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Varian, Hal R, 1980.
"A Model of Sales,"
American Economic Review,
American Economic Association, vol. 70(4), pages 651-59, September.
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Morton, Fiona Scott & Zettelmeyer, Florian & Silva-Risso, Jorge, 2001.
"Internet Car Retailing,"
Journal of Industrial Economics,
Blackwell Publishing, vol. 49(4), pages 501-19, December.
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