Skip to main content

The Classic Conceptualisation and Classification of Distribution Service Outputs – Time for a Revision?

  • Chapter
European Retail Research

Abstract

Distribution service outputs structurally play a pivotal role in retail and channel management. This paper critically assesses the nature of Bucklin's classic formulation, which is concerned with numerically expressible economic benefits resulting from the execution of the distribution function within a perfectly operating economic channel. It is distinguished from postclassic extensions, which provide alternative multi-functional or institutional approaches. The paper captures both approaches in a generic higher-order customer value scheme, which also redefines and broadens the traditional economic benefits. The proposed generic framework also extends to any marketing sub-field and provides the potential for more focused theoretical and empirical research.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alba, J.; Lynch, J.; Weitz, B.; Janiszewski, C.; Lutz, R.; Sawyer, A.; Wood, S. (1997): Interactive home shopping: consumer, retailer, and manufacturer incentives to participate in electronic marketplaces, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 61, pp. 38–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alderson, W. (1954): Factors governing the development of marketing channels, in: Clewitt, R.M. (ed.): Marketing channels for manufactured products, Homewood, Il, pp. 5–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Babin, B.J.; Darden, W.R. (1996): Good and bad shopping vibes: spending and patronage satisfaction, in: Journal of Business Research, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 201–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babin, B.J.; Darden, W.R.; Babin, L.A. (1998): Negative emotions in marketing research: affect or artifact?, in: Journal of Business Research, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 271–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, N.; Areni, C.S. (2006): When a few minutes sound like a lifetime: does atmospheric music expand or contract perceived time?, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 189–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, J.; Parasuraman, A.; Grewal, D.; Voss G.B. (2002): The influence of multiple store environment cues on perceived merchandise value and patronage intentions, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 66 (April), pp. 120–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartels, R. (1962): The development of marketing thought, Homewood, Il.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, D.R.; Ho, T.-H.; Tang, C.S. (1998): Determining where to shop: fixed and variable costs of shopping, in: Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 352–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bello, D.C.; Osmonbekov, T.; Xie, T.; Gilliland, D.I. (2002): E-business technological innovations: impact on channel processes and structure, in: Journal of Marketing Channels, Vol. 9, No. 3/4, pp. 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender, W.C. (1964): Consumer purchase costs, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 40 (Spring), pp. 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, L.L. (1980): Service marketing is different, in: Business, May/June, pp. 24–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Betancourt, R.R.; Gautschi, D.A. (1988): The economics of retail firms, in: Managerial and Decision Economics, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 133–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betancourt, R.R.; Gautschi, D.A. (1990): Demand complementarities, household production, and retail assortments, in: Marketing Science, Vol. 9, pp. 146–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betancourt, R.R.; Gautschi, D.A. (1998): Distribution services and economic power in a channel, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 74, No. 1, pp. 37–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botchen, G.; Thelen, E.M. (1999): Using means-end structures for benefit segmentation, in: European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33, No. 1/2, pp. 38–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breyer, R.F., (1964): Some observations on structural formation and the growth of marketing channels, in: Cox, R.; Wroe A.; Stanley, J.S. (eds.): Theory in marketing, Homewood, Il, pp. 163–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucklin, L.P. (1966): A theory of distribution channel structure, Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucklin, L.P. (1972): Competition and evolution in the distributive trades, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucklin, L.P. (1978): Productivity in marketing, Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bucklin, L.P.; Ramaswamy, V.; Majumdar, S.K. (1996): Analyzing channel structures of business markets via the structure-output paradigm, in: International Journal of Research in Marketing, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 73–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coughlan, A.T.; Anderson, E.; Stern, L.W.; El-Ansary, A.I. (2006): Marketing channels, 7th ed., New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coupey, E. (2001): Marketing and the internet, Upper Saddle River, N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • English, W.D. (1985): The impact of electronic technology upon the marketing channel, in: Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 57–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, P.B.; Wurster, T.S. (1997): Strategy and the new economics of information, Harvard Business Review, Vol. 75, No. 5, pp. 71–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdem, O.; Oumlil, B.A.; Tuncalp, S. (1999): Consumer values and the importance of store attributes, in: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 137–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutman, J. (1982): A means-end chain model based on consumer categorization processes, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 46, Spring, pp. 60–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, R.I. (1968): Benefit segmentation: a decision-oriented research tool, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 30–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna, J.G. (1980): A typology of consumer needs, in: Sheth, J.N. (ed.): Research in marketing, Vol. 3, Greenwich, Conn., pp. 83–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, S.D. (1976): The nature and scope of marketing, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 40, pp. 17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, S.D. (1983): General theories and the fundamental explanada of marketing, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 47, pp. 9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, S.D. (1991): Modern marketing theory: critical issues in the philosophy of marketing science, Homewood, Il.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katona, G. (1953): Rational behaviour and economic behaviour, in: Psychological Review, Vol. 60, No. 4, pp. 307–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D. (1960): The functional approach to the study of attitudes, in: Public Opinion Quarterly, Vol. 24, pp. 163–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keh, H.T. (1997): The classification of distribution channel output: a review, in: The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 145–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiang, M.Y.; Raghu, T.S.; Huei-Min Shang, K. (2000): Marketing on the internet – who can benefit from an online marketing approach, in: Decision Support Systems, Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 383–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, P.; Levy, S.J. (1969a): Broadening the concept of marketing, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33, pp. 10–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotler, P.; Levy, S.J. (1969b): A new form of marketing myopia: rejoinder to professor luck, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33 (July), pp. 55–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambin, J.-J. (2000): Market-driven management: strategic and operational marketing, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazer, W. (1969): Marketings changing social relationships, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33, pp. 3–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levy, M.; Weitz, B.A. (2007): Retailing management, 6th ed., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovelock, C.H. (1983): Classifying services to gain strategic marketing insights, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 47, pp. 9–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luck, D.J. (1969): Broadening the concept of marketing – too far, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33, pp. 53–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marketing Staff of the Ohio State University (1965): Statement of marketing philosophy, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 33, pp. 43–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1943): A theory of human motivation, in: Psychological Review, Vol. 50, No. 4, pp. 370–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A.; Russell, J.A. (1974): An approach to environmental psychology, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morschett, D.; Swoboda, B.; Foscht, T. (2005): Perception of store attributes and overall attitude towards grocery retailers: the role of shopping motives, in: International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 423–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mottner, S.; Thelen, S.; Karande, K. (2002): A typology of internet retailing: an exploratory study, in: Journal of Marketing Channels, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 3–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oi, W.Y. (1992): Productivity in the distributive trades: the shopper and the economies of massed reserves, in: Griliches, Z. (ed.): Output measurement in the services sectors, Chicago, pp. 161–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman, A.; Zeithaml, V.A.; Berry, L.L. (1985): A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 41–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman, A.; Zeithaml, V.A.; Berry, L.L. (1988): Servqual: a multiple-item scale for measuring customer perceptions of service quality, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 64, No. 1, pp. 12–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, R.A.; Balasubramanian, S.; Bronnenberg, B.J. (1997): Exploring the implications of the internet for consumer marketing, in: Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 329–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangan, V.K.; Menezes, M.A.J.; Maier, E.P. (1992): Channel selection for new industrial products: a framework, method and application, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 56, pp. 69–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rokeach, M.J. (1973): The nature of human values, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbloom, B. (2004): Marketing channels, 7th ed., Mason, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheth, J.N.; Gardner, D.M.; Garrett, D.E. (1988): Marketing theory: evolution and evaluation, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheth, J.N.; Newman, B.I.; Gross, B.L. (1991): Consumption values and market choices: theory and applications, Cincinnati, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skipper, R.; Hyman, M.R. (1990): Marketing and logical deduction, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 54, pp. 89–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, L.W.; El-Ansary, A.I.; Coughlan, A.T. (1996): Marketing channels, 5th ed., New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stigler, G.J. (1961): The economics of information, in: Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 213–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamilia, R.D.; Senecal, S.; Corriveau, G. (2002): Conventional channels of distribution and electronic Intermediaries: a functional analysis, in: Journal of Marketing Channels, Vol. 9, No. 3/4, pp. 27–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tauber, E.M. (1972): Why do people shop?, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 36, pp. 46–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kenhove, P.; van Waterschoot, W.; De Wulf, K. (1999): The impact of task definition on store-attribute salience and store choice, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 75, No. 1, pp. 125–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; Van den Bulte, C. (1992): The 4P classification of the marketing mix revisited, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 56, pp. 83–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; De Haes, J. (2001): Marketing mix: a functional classification, in: Kitchen, P.J.; Proctor, T. (eds.): The informed student guide to marketing, London, pp. 175–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; Gijsbrechts, E. (2003): Knowledge transfer through marketing textbooks: the Howard and Sheth typology as a case in point, in: Kitchen, P.J. (ed.): The future of marketing.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; De Haes, J. (2008): Marketing mix metaphorosis: the heavy toll of too much popularity, in: Kitchen, Ph. (ed.): Metaphors and metamorphosis, pp. 42–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; P. K. Sinha; Van Kenhove, P.; De Wulf, K. (2008): Consumer learning and its impact on store format selection, in: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 194–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Waterschoot, W.; Lagasse, L.; De Haes, J.; Bilsen, R. (2009): Marketingbeleid: theorie en praktijk, 12th ed., Antwerpen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D.W.; Giese, J.L.; Johnson, J.L. (2004): Customer retailer loyalty in the context of multiple channel strategies, in: Journal of Retailing, Vol. 80, No. 4, pp. 249–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, D.; Clark, L.A.; Tellegen, A. (1988): Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the panas scales, in: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 54, No. 6, pp. 1063–1070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weld, L.D.H. (1915): Market distribution, in: American Economic Review, pp. 125–139, in: Bucklin, L.P. (1966): A theory of distribution channel structure, Berkeley, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkie, W.L.; Moore, E.S. (1999): Marketing's contributions to society, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 63, No. 4, pp. 198–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young, J.A.; Clark, P.W.; McIntyre, F.S. (2006): The web as an e-commerce medium: an exploratory study of consumer perceptions in a restaurant setting, in: Journal of Marketing Channels, Vol. 14, No. 1/2, pp. 5–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeithaml, V.A. (1988): Consumer perceptions of price, quality and value: a means-end model and synthesis of evidence, in: Journal of Marketing, Vol. 52, pp. 2–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeithaml, V.A.; Bitner, M.J. (1996): Services marketing, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Dirk Morschett Thomas Rudolph Peter Schnedlitz Hanna Schramm-Klein Bernhard Swoboda

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Gabler Verlag | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

van Waterschoot, W., Sinha, P.K., Burt, S., De Haes, J., Foscht, T., Lievens , A. (2011). The Classic Conceptualisation and Classification of Distribution Service Outputs – Time for a Revision?. In: Morschett, D., Rudolph, T., Schnedlitz, P., Schramm-Klein, H., Swoboda, B. (eds) European Retail Research. European Retail Research. Gabler Verlag, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6147-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6147-1_1

  • Publisher Name: Gabler Verlag, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-8349-2709-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-8349-6147-1

  • eBook Packages: Business and Economics (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics