Product Retention Tendency Scale

What it measures

The first dedicated measure of consumer product retention tendency, developed and validated across five studies using both student and non-student samples. Alpha 0.83–0.88 across studies; test-retest reliability 0.72 (4-week interval). PRT is distinct from hoarding pathology (r=0.42 with hoarding symptoms but operates in non-clinical range), possessiveness (Belk, r=0.41), and materialism (r=0.29). PRT predicts clutter in the home, difficulty with product disposal decisions, increased number of possessions owned, lower likelihood of donating or selling unneeded items, and greater susceptibility to promotional offers involving free gifts or product bundles. High-PRT consumers are particularly resistant to trade-in, upgrade, and subscription service offers that require relinquishing existing products. The scale captures non-disposal as a behavioural pattern shaped by both functional rationalisations ('I might need it someday') and emotional reluctance to discard possessions that retain some residual value. Moderators of PRT effects include financial resources (lower-resource individuals show stronger PRT–clutter association), life stage (PRT increases with age), and product category (stronger for durable goods, sentimental items, and gifts).

Representative items

• I find it difficult to throw products away.
• Even when I know I'll never use a product again, I keep it just in case.
• I have trouble discarding products that still work, even if I don't use them anymore.
• I tend to keep products around even though I have no specific use for them.
• I like to keep old products because I might find a use for them someday.

Citation

Haws, K.L., Naylor, R.W., Coulter, R.A., & Bearden, W.O. (2012). Keeping it all without being buried alive: Understanding product retention tendency. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 22(2), 224–236.