Trust me if you can: The effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride‐sharing service

Abstract

Building trust and enhancing consumers' participation are critical for the growth of peer-to-peer sharing economy. This research explores the effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service and its underlying psychological mechanisms. The results indicate that driver username has a significant impact on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service, as a driver with a real name elicits greater intention to use ride-sharing service than a driver with a screen name (studies 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 3c). In addition, the effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service is serially mediated by social presence and trust (study 2). Importantly, the effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ridesharing service is moderated by driver reputation (studies 3a, 3b, and 3c). A high (vs. low) reputation facilitates the impact of driver username on passengers' usage intention. Based upon these findings, theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Consumers' transport and mobility decisions

“…Among the 10 selected papers, seven of them fall under the first theme of sustainable mobility decisions and behaviours, and the remaining three papers are concerned with emerging/new topics in consumers' transport and mobility decisions. The effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service' by Fu et al (2023) investigates the impact of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service. This paper finds that the significant effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ride-sharing service is mediated by social presence followed by trust; the effect of driver username on passengers' intention to use ridesharing service is moderated by driver reputation.…”

Effectiveness of self‐run vs. third‐party sales channels on the consumers' purchase intention: A multi‐method exploration of the moderating role of review volume

“…However, results about the interplay between high‐scope and low‐scope cues have been conflicting. One line of research suggests that a negative high‐scope cue decreases the diagnosticity of a low‐scope cue, whereas a positive high‐scope cue increases it (Fu et al, 2023; Purohit & Srivastava, 2001). This is because a positive high‐scope cue builds an environment of trust in which consumers are more likely to pay attention to and trust the low‐scope cue.…”

Broadcasters’ expertise and consumers’ purchase intention: The roles of consumer trust and platform reputation

“…The credibility of the live streaming platform plays a crucial role in determining the extent to which consumers trust and accept sellers in the e-marketplace ( Hong and Cho, 2011 ; Hollowell et al, 2019 ). In live streaming for agricultural assistance via broadcast platforms with high visibility, such as those featured in people’s daily agricultural aid broadcasts, it is easier for consumers to establish trust with the broadcaster when the professionalism of the broadcaster is exemplary, and when the broadcaster’s actions and language when introducing products are more professional, consumers are more likely to establish trust with the broadcaster based on these actions and this language, and they are thus more likely to trust the broadcaster’s introduction of the product, which is usually aimed at encouraging consumers to purchase the product; accordingly, this trust in turn promotes consumers’ behavior ( Fu et al, 2022 ).…”