direct path between coupling and total time of ownership. Inboth these cases, the direct paths were insignificant ruling outalternative explanations for the effect such as: coupling increasing the consumer’s price level perceptionsof the category, which may then reflect on replacementgoods; consumers postponing their purchase because they do notlike the prospect of another loan; coupling and time of ownership both correlating withsome omitted variable such as income; and mental accounting-based explanations.