Agricultural Products’ Bundled Pricing Based on Consumers’ Organic Preferences

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this paper, a nonlinear mixed integer programming model (IBPS) for interactive bundle pricing of organic agricultural products and inorganic agricultural products was developed to maximize the total profit of agricultural e-commerce platform through appropriate pricing strategies, taking the consumer preferences for organic products into account. As mentioned by the author, compared to traditional fixed product bundle pricing strategies, the proposed IBPS offers more flexibility, providing consumers with more choices while achieving maximum profitability for the agricultural e-retailers.

I find the problem under consideration in this study very meaningful. It is a well-executed research that can provide valuable and practical insights for the booming agricultural e-commerce platforms. Moreover, the paper is well-organized. Therefore, I recommend accepting this paper for publication with only minor revisions. The suggestions are as follows:

1. In the discussion section, the author presents four scenarios to compare the effectiveness of different pricing strategies. I suggest the author provide more explanations to help readers to understand.

2. Consumer surplus is an important parameter. I recommend the author include relevant analysis in this study.

3. Regarding the impact of consumer preferences for organic products on bundle pricing strategies, it is suggested to include some numerical simulation analyses.

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Review report - Sustainability 2458885 - Manuscript

Summary of article

Aim of the paper:

This paper proposes an interactive bundle pricing strategy (IBPS) for agricultural e-retailers that is more flexible than the traditional bundle pricing strategy with fixed products. Concept of study was to construct a mixed bundle pricing model for organic and inorganic agricultural products, taking into account consumers' organic preferences as they purchase more environmentally friendly and healthy organic agricultural products.

Main contributions:

The following main contributions were observed with supporting results

A strategy of free shipping is implemented to maximize retailer profit and consumer surplus. Statistical analysis reveals the following:

(1) Compared to the traditional online retailing method, IBPS can effectively stimulate consumption and increase retailer profit;

(2) As the free shipping threshold increases, the total profit shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, indicating that a suitable free shipping threshold can optimize retailer profit; and (3) As consumer green preference increases, the total sales of agricultural products decrease, but the total sales of non-agricultural products increase.

Strengths of article: Study methodology is designed in an elaborate and critical manner.

Comments on article

Article needs major improvements throughout manuscript.

Figures and Tables need to be represented in a focused manner for clarity to readers.

Appropriate Referencing needs to be improved in entire manuscript.

Latest references need to be included in manuscript.

Specific comments

Title

Title is quite confusing and conveying the concept of study in a simple manner.

Abstract section

Abstract is not conveying the information of study clearly.

Details of aims, methodology and results observed are not clearly represented.

Kindly rewrite entire abstract. Include Objectives, methodology and results observed in a concise manner.

Introduction section

Introduction is not focused on the research topic of article and contains lengthy theoretical information.

Combine section 1. Introduction and 2. Literature review section.

Figure 1: Improve Figure 1 representation and mention appropriate figure title with figure legend.

Over all, Introduction needs to be rewritten focusing on the research concept of article.

Figure 2: Mention appropriate figure title with figure legend.

Methodology

Rephrase the data source with term – Methodology for a more accurate description.

Methodology contains lots of theoretical information, without focusing on the study design.

Methodology section is quite lengthy with lots of tables.

There is no information and representation of statistical analysis.

Rewrite entire methodology.

Results

There is no separate results and discussion section.

Methodology is presented along with results, not clear to the reader.

Results and discussion should be represented as a separate section

Rewrite entire result section.

Table 2: Mention appropriate measurement units.

Table 3: Mention appropriate measurement units.

Figure 3: Improve Figure 1 representation and mention appropriate figure title with figure legend.

Figure 4: Improve Figure 1 representation and mention appropriate figure title with figure legend.

Figure 5: Improve Figure 1 representation and mention appropriate figure title with figure legend.

Improve discussion section by citing relevant figures and tables.

Discussion need to be elaborated with critical results of study with supportive references

Avoid repetition of observations from other sections of manuscript.

Conclusions

Conclusion is quite concise and not focused.

Include a conclusion section by clearly summarizing the main observations of study.

Compile concise conclusion avoiding repetition of information.

Include a section on future recommendations for this research topic.

References

Most of references included in study are quite old.

There are very less references in article. Try to include more suitable latest references.

Please include information from latest reference articles as much as possible. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Extensive english editing is needed.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Article is appropriately revised as per the suggestions.

Moderate english editing is required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.doc