The consumer purchase decision process consists of the five stages through which consumers pass in the process of making a decision about which products and services to buy. These five stages are (1) problem recognition, (2) information search, (3) alternative evaluation, (4) purchase decision, and (5) postpurchase behavior.

Understanding Problem-Solving Variations

The consumer purchase decision process consists of the five stages through which consumers pass in the process of making a decision about which products and services to buy. These five stages are (1) problem recognition, (2) information search, (3) alternative evaluation, (4) purchase decision, and (5) postpurchase behavior.

Sometimes, consumers skip or minimize one or more stages of the five-stage decision process due to variations in the consumers' level of involvement with the purchase. Involvement is the personal, social, or economic significance of the purchase to the consumer. The three variations in the consumer purchase decision process are known as extended problem solving, limited problem solving, and routine problem solving.