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The Secondary Exchange of Transferable Service Access on Xianyu: Participation Archetypes in a C2C Platform

Wang, Sicu LU and Teng, Yilin (2026) SMMP40 20261
Department of Service Studies
Abstract
This thesis examines the secondary exchange of transferable service access on Xianyu, a Chinese C2C platform increasingly used not only for second-hand goods but also for service-related deals among consumers. These include practices such as restaurant proxy ordering, discount-mediated ordering, alternative booking routes, and membership-based privileges. The study explores how participants find, evaluate, negotiate, and use these forms of access in everyday consumption on Xianyu. Based on an interpretive case study and 17 interviews, the findings identify three participation archetypes: the Deal Hunter, who uses Xianyu to obtain cheaper access to familiar services; the Gap Bridger, who depends on another person’s channel, resource, or... (More)
This thesis examines the secondary exchange of transferable service access on Xianyu, a Chinese C2C platform increasingly used not only for second-hand goods but also for service-related deals among consumers. These include practices such as restaurant proxy ordering, discount-mediated ordering, alternative booking routes, and membership-based privileges. The study explores how participants find, evaluate, negotiate, and use these forms of access in everyday consumption on Xianyu. Based on an interpretive case study and 17 interviews, the findings identify three participation archetypes: the Deal Hunter, who uses Xianyu to obtain cheaper access to familiar services; the Gap Bridger, who depends on another person’s channel, resource, or knowledge to make access possible; and the Perk Trader, who treats underused entitlements as assets that can be redirected or lightly monetized. The thesis contributes to consumption research by exploring what happens when second-hand consumption shifts from goods to services. (Less)
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author
Wang, Sicu LU and Teng, Yilin
supervisor
organization
course
SMMP40 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Xianyu, secondary markets, transferable service access, C2C platforms, digital possession, participation archetypes
language
English
id
9235506
date added to LUP
2026-06-12 09:12:43
date last changed
2026-06-12 09:12:43
@misc{9235506,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the secondary exchange of transferable service access on Xianyu, a Chinese C2C platform increasingly used not only for second-hand goods but also for service-related deals among consumers. These include practices such as restaurant proxy ordering, discount-mediated ordering, alternative booking routes, and membership-based privileges. The study explores how participants find, evaluate, negotiate, and use these forms of access in everyday consumption on Xianyu. Based on an interpretive case study and 17 interviews, the findings identify three participation archetypes: the Deal Hunter, who uses Xianyu to obtain cheaper access to familiar services; the Gap Bridger, who depends on another person’s channel, resource, or knowledge to make access possible; and the Perk Trader, who treats underused entitlements as assets that can be redirected or lightly monetized. The thesis contributes to consumption research by exploring what happens when second-hand consumption shifts from goods to services.}},
  author       = {{Wang, Sicu and Teng, Yilin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Secondary Exchange of Transferable Service Access on Xianyu: Participation Archetypes in a C2C Platform}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}