Business Buying Behavior

Read this chapter, which provides an overview of business-to-business buying behavior. This chapter discusses how B2B markets differ from B2C markets, types of B2B buyers, buying centers, and stages of the B2B buying process. The chapter wraps up with a discussion of international B2B markets, e-commerce, and ethics in the B2B market. From this reading, you will learn what a buying center is and will be able to name the members of buying centers and describe their roles. Pay special attention to the concepts of the decision-making unit (DMU) and the purchase process.

Stages in the B2B Buying Process and B2B Buying Situations

Review Questions

  1. What buying stages do buying centers typically go through?
  2. Why should business buyers collaborate with the companies they buy products from?
  3. Explain how a straight rebuy, new buy, and modified rebuy differ from one another.