Stated preferences vs. post purchase feedback: a comparative study of sustainability attitudes in consumer electronics

The intention-behavior gap in sustainable consumption is especially visible in the electronics sector, where consumers frequently express strong environmental values that do not translate into purchasing decisions. This study examined that gap by combining survey-based perceptions (n = 64) with large-scale analysis of 138,488 Amazon reviews containing sustainability related content. Survey participants prioritized convenient return options, recyclability, and the use of sustainable materials, and reported a willingness to adopt eco-friendly practices when these options were easy to access. By contrast, online reviews focused primarily on affordability, convenience, and product functionality; sustainability was mentioned only when it affected quality or usability. Welch’s t-test and Mann-Whitney U test confirmed significant differences between self-reported survey responses and consumer generated reviews, and topic modeling showed that trust and transparency concerns were salient in surveys but largely absent from reviews. These findings indicated that physical, informational, and psychological frictions prevent sustainable intentions from becoming actionable.