Just print it! The effects of self-printing a product on consumers’ product evaluations and perceived ownership

Annika Wiecek, Daniel Wentzel, Aras Erkin

Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · 2020 · Volume 48 · Issue 4

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the diffusion of 3D printing technologies that allow consumers to create products with the push of a button. While these technologies may change how value is created in the marketplace, there is little research on 3D printing from a consumer perspective. Against this background, this research conceptualizes 3D printing as a form of co-creation and presents four studies aimed at understanding how consumers respond to products they have printed themselves. Study 1 shows that self-printing a product positively affects product evaluations by increasing perceived ownership. Study 2 finds that this effect occurs even when people are not able to observe the printing process. Study 3 shows that the positive effect of self-printing is moderated by the affective quality of the products being printed. Specifically, while self-printing enhances the evaluations of hedonic products, it has no effect on the evaluations of utilitarian products. Finally, Study 4 identifies a strategy that may offset the disadvantage that utilitarian products face in a 3D printing context, that is, ingredient branding.

Keywords

Co-creation, Co-production, 3D printing, Perceived ownership, Hedonic and utilitarian consumption, Ingredient branding

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