Service recovery in unaffected consumers: evidence of a recovery paradox

Purpose This paper aims to examine the effects of a general service recovery effort in consumers who were not victims of the service failure. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a 2 × 2 between-subjects design comparing a service failure announcement with apology and an anniversary event announcement, either with a 15% discount or no discount on purchase intentions. Findings A service recovery effort involving an apology and 15% discount leads to higher purchase intention in consumers who were not victims of the service failure in comparison to a control. The unexpected apology generates surprise, which amplifies the effect of the discount, leading to higher purchase intention. Practical implications The results of this study suggest that apologizing and offering a discount for a minor service failure can have positive effects on consumers who were not victims of the service failure. Thus, if a company is unsure which consumers have been affected by a service failure, this study shows that issuing a general apology for the failure does not have negative effects in unaffected consumers. Originality/value To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to examine the effects of a service recovery effort in consumers who were not victims of the service failure and the first to find evidence of a service recovery paradox in unaffected consumers.