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Too Much Attention on Low Prices? Loss Leading in a Model of Sales with Salient Thinkers

Author

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  • Inderst, Roman
  • Obradovits, Martin

Abstract

Loss leading is analyzed in a model of promotions (as in Varian 1980) with limited consumer attention: (i) Consumers only compare prices of a selected number of products and (ii) they may pay more attention either to price or quality, depending on the salience of the respective attributes. When consumers have standard preferences, which is our benchmark case, manufacturers benefit when one-stop shopping induces retailers to discount their products, as this expands demand. Results are strikingly different when consumers are salient thinkers. When one-stop shopping or retail competition increases the scope for loss leading, manufacturers' profits decline and there may be an inefficient substitution to lower-quality products. In particular, shoppers who compare products may end up with a choice that is strictly inferior to that of non-shoppers who are locked in to a (local) retailer. Our analysis has implications both for competition policy, as we analyze the implications of a ban on loss leading, and for marketing, as we also analyze how salience affects retailers' product and promotion strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Inderst, Roman & Obradovits, Martin, 2015. "Too Much Attention on Low Prices? Loss Leading in a Model of Sales with Salient Thinkers," CEPR Discussion Papers 10813, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:10813
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Herweg, Fabian & Müller, Daniel & Weinschenk, Philipp, 2017. "Salience, competition, and decoy goods," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 28-31.
    2. Nana Adrian, 2019. "Price Discrimination and Salient Thinking," Diskussionsschriften dp1906, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Limited attention; Loss leading; Manufacturer profits; Product choice; Promotions; Quality choice; Retailing; Sales; Salience;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L11 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Production, Pricing, and Market Structure; Size Distribution of Firms
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L15 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Information and Product Quality

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