Difference Game of Closed-Loop Supply Chain of Innovative Products with Discrete-Time Conditions

This paper aims to explore the impact of the purchase regret of consumers on dynamic closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) under discrete-time conditions. Durable products are mostly traded under discrete-time conditions, and consumers tend to have different purchase regret psychologies during the trading process of different types of durable products (innovative or remanufactured). In addition, different purchase regret psychologies can affect the dynamic decision-making behaviour of the nodal enterprises in the supply chain, thus affecting the dynamic decision-making optimization sequence of the supply chain and nodal enterprises. Based on the traditional Bass model, this paper introduces the factor of consumer purchase regret psychology into the Bass model and constructs a model of a CLSC led by the manufacturer and followed by the retailer and recycler on the premise of heterogeneous characteristics of new products and remanufactured products. The optimal control theory of discrete systems is used to obtain the optimal decision sequence for each participant in the CLSC, when there is consumer regret psychology in the market. Then, the effects of consumer purchase regret psychology on the members of the CLSC at each stage are analysed. Finally, the conclusions are verified by using a numerical analysis. Compared to previous studies, the results further revealed the following: when the market share of brand new products is below 50%, the wholesale and retail prices are positively related to the regret psychology; while when they are above 50%, the wholesale and retail prices are negatively related to the regret psychology; the product sales and the manufacturers and retailers' profits are negatively related to the regret psychology; purchase regret psychology does not affect the recyclers' profits. To mitigate the negative consequences of the purchase regret psychology, manufacturers and merchants should completely grasp the market, enhance product quality, such that the price plan for the product is fairer.

Automated summary

This paper explores the impact of consumer purchase regret on dynamic closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) under discrete-time conditions. It introduces the factor of purchase regret psychology into the traditional Bass model and constructs a CLSC model led by the manufacturer and followed by the retailer and recycler. The optimal control theory is used to obtain the optimal decision sequence for each participant in the CLSC. The analysis shows that purchase regret affects the pricing strategy, sales, and profits of manufacturers and retailers, but not the profits of recyclers.