The role of brand forgiveness in the relationship between brand transgression and consumer coping behavior (case study: Yazd Irankhodro agencies)

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of brand forgiveness in the relationship between brand transgression and consumer coping behavior.  This research was applied in terms of purpose and was descriptive-correlational in terms of data collection method. The statistical population in this study were the real customers of Iran Khodro Company in 2019 who have used the products and services of this company at least once in 2019, Sampling method in this research was random sampling, and 125 questionnaires had been analysed. To analyse the data in this study, descriptive statistics were used using spss21 software and to confirm the relationships between variables and factors through confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling technique, SMART PLS2 software was used.The results of the research showed that brand transgression behaviour has a direct and significant effect on the coping behavior of Iran Khodro consumers in this sample and brand forgiveness has a mediating role in the relationship between brand transgression behaviour and coping behaviour. This study by examining one of the main brands of car manufactures in Iran and due to examining the transgression behaviour of this brand in the form of indicators of negative experiences in the past, image incongruence and corporate wrongdoing, provides a good insight to the managers of this industry. Strengthen the sense of brand forgiveness in brand communication programs help to prevent coping behaviours such as brand switching, complaints, revenge and likely to buy.