The Effect of Price-Endings on Discerned Parsimony among College Students Using E-Commerce Applications

Authors

  • Bacay Erika Erika FEU Roosevelt Marikina, Philippines
  • Abon Cassandra Venice Erika FEU Roosevelt Marikina, Philippines
  • Barrameda Sophia Victoria Erika FEU Roosevelt Marikina, Philippines
  • Juatchon Mark Lawrence Erika FEU Roosevelt Marikina, Philippines
  • Naranjo Geoff Carlo Erika FEU Roosevelt Marikina, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54536/ajebi.v5i1.7418

Keywords:

Consumer Perception, Discerned Parsimony, Perceived Value, Price-Endings

Abstract

This study will examine how price endings influence discerned parsimony among college students using e-commerce applications, focusing on how common digital pricing strategies shape consumer self-perception in online shopping. In particular, the study will analyze the use of charm pricing focusing on .99/.95 and even pricing .00 and their impact on students’ perception of thriftiness and value judgment in the act of buying. To gather data, the researchers will adopt purposive sampling and exploratory quantitative design and will distribute an online questionnaire to 100 college students within FEU Roosevelt Marikina who are frequent users of e-commerce platforms like Shopee, Amazon, and Shein. The instrument will measure perceived savings, purchase satisfaction, and self-reported spending awareness through the examination of different price-ending conditions. Data will be analyzed using exploratory statistical analysis and mean comparison techniques to examine differences in perceived parsimony across various price formats. The study is expected to find that charm-priced items focusing on .99/.95 will generate higher perceived savings scores compared to even-priced items .00. Moreover, respondents are expected to be more inclined to describe cheaper purchases as “practical” rather than “unnecessary.” However, even pricing is anticipated to produce higher perceived quality ratings, suggesting that price endings will influence not only thrift perception but also value interpretation. The findings are expected to demonstrate that price-ending tactics remain effective in online settings, especially among college students who are highly conscious of their budgets. The research will suggest that e-commerce sites can use price endings as a strategy to influence consumers’ without changing the actual price, while future studies may further examine the long-term impact of these tactics on spending attitudes and financial behavior.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmed, S. A. A. H. (2025). The psychology of pricing: How discounts and promotions influence sales. Riyadah Publishers. https://riyadahpublishers.com/index.php/taha/article/view/27

Ananda, I. A., & Haryanto, J. O. (2025). Analyzing approach selections in 99-ending prices and their impact on purchase intention in the Indonesian market. IDEAS: Journal of Management & Technology. https://doi.org/10.33021/ideas.v5i2.6226

Aquino, Q. M., Domingo, R. A., Pascua, L. M., Peralta, R., Ragual, I. K., & Tabotabo, R. (2026). Consumer attitudes toward e-commerce: Insights from higher education students in the Philippines. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400413618_Consumer_Attitudes_Toward_E-commerce_Insights_from_Higher_Education_Students_in_the_Philippines

Arif, S., & MacNeil, M. A. (2023). Applying the structural causal model framework for observational causal inference in ecology. Ecological Monographs, 93(1), e1554. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1554

Cervantes, J. Z., Custora, J. M. G., Duguran, J. C. C., Malacaya, A. S., Mendoza, J., Panga, R. B., & Waminal, E. D. (2025). The effect of online buying decision on personal budget of business administration students. Researcher Life. https://discovery.researcher.life/article/the-effect-of-online-buying-decision-on-personal-budget-of-business-administration-students/4824da126074336ebbd6ae9d5e2b29ce

Chen, J. (2023). Evaluating the ending‐9 pricing strategy along the online shopping funnel. Production and Operations Management, 32(11), 3469–3483. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.14045

Efefairoro, Z. O., Uyo, E. E., & Bayagbon, T. J. (2025, June 12). Effect of charm pricing on consumer perceptions and purchase decisions: A study of Shoprite, Asaba. BW Journal of Social & Management Sciences. https://bwjournal.org/index.php/bsjournal/article/view/3057

Gonçalves, M. G., Barbosa, B., Saura, J. R., & Mariani, M. (2025). Exploring the role of product attributes in 9‑ending pricing strategies: A study on online retailing. Journal of Business Research, 152, 115285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115285

Hoang, T. (2022). E-commerce managers’ perceptions of pricing strategies. https://jyx.jyu.fi/jyx/Record/jyx_123456789_84232#

Hung, H.-H., Cheng, Y.-H., Chuang, S.-C., Yu, A. P.-I., & Lin, Y.-T. (2021). Consistent price endings increase consumers’ perceptions of cheapness. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 61, 102590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102590

Hussain, A. A., Sharma, B. K., H, C. V., & Kazim, S. (2024). Cognitive and affective components Induced impulsive purchase: an Empirical analysis. Journal of Promotion Management, 30(6), 901–928. https://doi.org/10.1080/10496491.2024.2318666

Joshi, C. (2025). Pricing strategies in global e-commerce: An analysis of psychological pricing tactics. Archives of Publishing. https://archives.publishing.org.in/index.php/archives/article/view/726

Khan, Z. (2025). Pricing tactics and consumer behaviour: Evaluating the psychological effects of charm pricing in retail stores. EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies. https://epratrustpublishing.com/JEBR/pricing-tactics-and-consumer-behaviourevaluating-the-psychological-effects-of-charm-pricing-in-retail-stores/15660

Kristanto, F. H., Rahma, H. W., & Nahrowi, M. (2022). Factors affecting E-Commerce customer loyalty in Indonesia. Jurnal Syntax Transformation, 3(09), 1150–1164. https://doi.org/10.46799/jst.v3i09.613

Martinčić, M., Vuković, D., & Hunjet, A. (2022). Consumer responses to selected activities: Price increases, lack of product information and numerical way of expressing product prices. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(6), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm15060255

Ngo, T. T. A., et al. (2024). A comprehensive study on factors influencing online impulse buying behavior: Evidence from Shopee video platform. Heliyon, 10(11), e35743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35743

Permatasari, B., & Jaelani, J. (2021). The effect of perceived value on e-commerce applications in forming customer purchase interest and its effect on user loyalty. Integrated Journal of Business and Economics, 5(2), 101. https://doi.org/10.33019/ijbe.v5i2.340

Schindler, R. M. (2024). ‘9’ endings in pricing. In Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks (pp. 1–5). https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035307319.ch01

Siddiqui, A. S., F. B., & S. L. (2024). Decoding consumer perception: The cognitive mechanisms of psychological pricing on student purchasing behavior. Jahan-e-Tahqeeq. https://doi.org/10.61866/jt.v7i3.1713

Troll, E. S., Frankenbach, J., Friese, M., & Loschelder, D. D. (2023). A meta‐analysis on the effects of just‐below versus round prices. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 34(2), 299–325. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1353

Ventura, A., Troll, E. S., Soliman, M., & Loschelder, D. D. (2025). Round, just-below, or precise prices? Cultural differences in the prevalence of price endings in E-commerce. Frontiers in Behavioral Economics, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frbhe.2025.1296207

Wu, Y., & Huang, H. (2023). Consumer perception and behavior toward pricing strategies in e-commerce. Sustainability, 15(5), 4432. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054432

Zohora, F., Uddin, R., Rashid, M. H. U., & Hasan, M. M. (2026). The psychology of pricing: How marketing strategy influences consumer buying behavior. Marketing and Sustainable Innovation (MASI). https://doi.org/10.22105/masi.v3i1.91

Downloads

Published

2026-04-24

How to Cite

Erika, B. ., Venice, A. C. ., Victoria, B. S. ., Lawrence, J. M. ., & Carlo, N. G. . (2026). The Effect of Price-Endings on Discerned Parsimony among College Students Using E-Commerce Applications. American Journal of Economics and Business Innovation, 5(1), 161-171. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajebi.v5i1.7418