Different Channel – Different Price? INVESTIGATING THE PRACTICE OF MULTI-CHANNEL PRICE DIFFERENTIATION

Abstract Price differentiation has long been recognized as a strategy that companies can use to increase profits when consumers’ tastes and valuations of a good price vary. Companies engaging in price differentiation have the opportunity to increase profits considerably compared to those which use a uniform pricing strategy. Accordingly, it should be beneficial for companies to exploit the possibility of charging different prices in online and offline channels as they offer different shopping benefits and are differently valued by consumers. nevertheless, it can be observed that some multi-channel retailers prefer to charge uniform prices in online and offline channels. They argue for consistent prices across distribution channels to maintain a strong brand - and because varying prices may lead to customers’ confusion, anger, irritation and perceptions of price unfairness.