Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Ismail Saiel, Shafiq Habibi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Analyzing the Impact of Ethical Sales Behavior on Customer Satisfaction: Study of Afghanistan’s Passengers Transport Industry
Corresponding Author(s) : Mohammad Ismail Saiel
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): January
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of ethical sales behavior on customer satisfaction within the interprovincial transport sector of Afghanistan, addressing a notable gap in the literature on service quality and customer outcomes in high-contact service environments. Drawing on prior research that highlights the role of ethical sales in building trust and aligning customer expectations with actual service performance, the study hypothesizes that ethical sales behavior positively influences customer satisfaction. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to passengers of three major transport companies in Kabul, yielding 338 valid responses. Descriptive statistics, reliability and validity tests, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were conducted using SPSS and Amos. The results indicate a weak positive direct effect of ethical sales behavior on customer satisfaction, suggesting that its influence operates indirectly through mediating variables. Qualitative feedback further revealed operational challenges, including misinformation about schedules and pricing, which affect passenger satisfaction. These findings underscore the complexity of customer satisfaction in transport services and highlight the importance of combining ethical sales practices with improvements in core service delivery. The study contributes to understanding ethical sales behavior in under-researched service contexts and provides practical recommendations to enhance service quality and customer relations in Afghanistan’s transport industry.
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- Anderson, E. W., & Mittal, V. (2000). Strengthening the satisfaction-profit chain. Journal of Service Research, 3(2), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050032001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050032001
- Aprilia, N., & Warganegara, T. L. P. (2024). The influence of ethical sales behavior, brand equity, and customer experience on Ketje Coffee customer loyalty in Bandar Lampung. Marginal Journal of Management Accounting General Finance and International Economic Issues, 3(2), 456–464. https://doi.org/10.55047/marginal.v3i2.1057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55047/marginal.v3i2.1057
- Nwora, G., & Chinwuba, M. S. (2017). Sales force–customer relationship and ethical behaviours in the Nigerian banking industry: A synthesis. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 19(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-1901056472 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-1901056472
- Hamidy, H., & Claver, J. (2019). The determinants of customer satisfaction in Kabul: Evidence from restaurant industry. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25457.10084
- Kadic-Maglajlić, S., Micevski, M., Lee, N., Boso, N., & Vida, I. (2019). Three levels of ethical influences on selling behavior and performance: Synergies and tensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(2), 377–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3588-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3588-1
- The Daily Afghanistan Ma. (2018). Afghanistan transport system.
- Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2015). Marketing management (15th ed.). Pearson.
- Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022a). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
- Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022b). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
- Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022c). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
- Mujtaba, B. G. (2011). Perceptions of bribery and business ethics across Afghanistan: A reflection on reality and crises management. Journal for Global Business Advancement, 4(2), 88. https://doi.org/10.1504/JGBA.2011.041496 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/JGBA.2011.041496
- Obaid, N., Tariq, A., Shinwari, O., Shorish, I., & Sha, S. S. A. (2023). Importance of seller’s ethical behaviour and its impact on sales performance at the sole proprietorship level businesses in Jalalabad market of Afghanistan.
- L. Safi, B. Abbey, N. B. S. Goucha, O. Al Serhan, and K. Gleason was published in 2020 in the International Journal of Business Performance Management (Volume 21, Issues 1–2). http://10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104.
- Safi, Z. R. (2020). Job satisfaction of employees in banking sector of Afghanistan.
- Tolba, A., Seoudi, I., Meshriki, H., & AbdelShahid, M. (2015a). Impact of ethical sales behavior, quality and image on customer satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence from retail banking in Egypt. International Journal of Business and Economic Development, 8(2).
- Tolba, A., Seoudi, I., Meshriki, H., & AbdelShahid, M. (2015b). Impact of ethical sales behavior, quality and image on customer satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence from retail banking in Egypt. International Journal of Business and Economic Development, 8(2).
- Tuan, N. M. (2015). The impact of ethical sales behavior on customer loyalty: A case from Vietnam. Journal of Competitiveness, 10(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v10n3p152
- Walker, P. G. A. (2015). Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
- Alvi, M. H. (2016). A manual for selecting sampling techniques in research.
- Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P. R. (2015). Management and business research (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
- Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Financial Times Prentice Hall.
- Shau, T. V. (2017). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of preschool management model in Sarawak. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(6), 221–231. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/2959 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/2959
- Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business (7th ed.).
- Zainudin, A. (2012). Research methodology for business and social science. Shah Alam: Universiti Teknologi MARA Publication Centre (UPENA).
- Malhotra, N. K. (2010). Marketing research: An applied orientation (6th ed.). Pearson Education.
- Çetinkaya, A. Ş., & Rashid, M. (2018). The effect of use of social media on employee job performance. Journal of Internet Applications and Management, 9(2), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.437726 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.437726
- Institute for Peace and War Reporting. (2018). Perils of taking Afghan bus. https://iwpr.net/global-voices/perils-taking-afghan-bus
- Bakhtar News Agency. (2024, December 20). Islamic Emirate suspends two transport companies following Ghazni accidents. Bakhtar News. https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-suspends-two-transport-companies-following-ghazni-accidents/
- Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment. (2019). Transportation. https://acci.org.af/en/more/find-a-partner/604-transportation.html
- Ebadinia, H., Asgarnezhad Nouri, B. and Mola Ghalghachi, M. (2023). The effect of interactive behaviors of frontline employees on the perceived value of services and customer loyalty: the mediating role of cooperative behaviors and customer citizenship (case study of Tabriz hospitals). Journal of Business Management Perspective, 22(54), 153-187. doi: http://10.48308/jbmp.2023.103820
- Pahi, M. H., Abdul‑Majid, A.-H., Fahd, S., Gilal, A. R., Talpur, B. A., Waqas, A., & Anwar, T. (2022). Leadership style and employees’ commitment to service quality: An analysis of the mediation pathway via knowledge sharing. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 926779. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926779 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926779
- Zhu, H., Feng, J., & Zhang, J. (2022). Affect consumers’ willingness to interact: The boundary condition of emotional ability similarity. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 68, 103082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103082
- Mittal, V., Han, K., Frennea, C., Blut, M., Shaik, M., Bosukonda, N., & Sridhar, S. (2023). Customer satisfaction, loyalty behaviors, and firm financial performance: what 40 years of research tells us. Marketing Letters, 34(2), 171–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-023-09671-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-023-09671-w
- Cheng, P., & Zhao, X. (2025). How employees’ emotional labor promotes perceived service quality: A dual‑pathway model. Behavioral Sciences, 15(11), 1538. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111538 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111538
- Ahli, M., Hilmi, M. F., & Abudaqa, A. (2024). Ethical sales behavior influencing trust, loyalty, green experience, and satisfaction in uae public entrepreneur firms. Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), 6(2), 149-168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v6i2.422
- Ou, W.-M., Shih, C.-M., & Chen, C.-Y. (2015). Effects of ethical sales behaviour on satisfaction, trust, commitment, retention and word-of-mouth. International Journal of Commerce and Management, 25(4), 673–686. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCoMA-04-2013-0040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCoMA-04-2013-0040
- Homburg, C., Koschate, N., & Hoyer, W. D. (2017). The role of cognition and affect in the formation of customer satisfaction: A dynamic perspective. Journal of Marketing, 81(3), 28–45.
- Fornell, C., Morgeson, F. V., Hult, G. T. M., & VanAmburg, D. (2020). The American Customer Satisfaction Index: Nature, purpose, and findings. Journal of Marketing, 84(4), 5–23.
- Safi, L., Abbey, B., Goucha, N. B. S., Al Serhan, O., & Gleason, K. (2020). Knowledge of Islamic banking and bank customer satisfaction in Afghanistan: An exploratory analysis. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 21(1–2), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104
- Vukmir, R. B. (2006). Customer satisfaction. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 19(1), 8–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860610642573 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860610642573
- Shadab, R. (2012). Effects of ethical sales behavior considered through transaction cost theory: To whom is the customer loyal? Unpublished master’s thesis, Department of Business, Islamic Azad University, Guilan, Iran. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12816/0002265
- Rastgoo, H., & Dastranj, H. A. (2016). The impact of the influence of ethical sales behavior on customers' loyalty in insurance company (A case study: Iran Insurance Company-Fars Branch). International Business Management, 10(20), 4921–4926. https://doi.org/10.3923/ibm.2016.4921.4926
- Rasyid, A., & Djakasaputra, A. (2025). The relationship between seller ethical habits, customer satisfaction, and customer trust and loyalty. International Journal of Management Science and Application, 1(1), 1–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58291/ijmsa.v4i2.365
- Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. S. (2019). Development and validation of job satisfaction scale for different sectors. International Journal for Quality Research, 13(1), 193–220. https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR13.01-12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR13.01-12
- Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
- Andersson, M., Boateng, K., & Abos, P. (2024). Validity and reliability: The extent to which your research findings are accurate and consistent. Civil Engineer and Researcher. Retrievedfrom . Link
- George, D., & Mallery, P. (2018). IBM SPSS Statistics 25 Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference (15th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351033909 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351033909
References
Anderson, E. W., & Mittal, V. (2000). Strengthening the satisfaction-profit chain. Journal of Service Research, 3(2), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050032001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/109467050032001
Aprilia, N., & Warganegara, T. L. P. (2024). The influence of ethical sales behavior, brand equity, and customer experience on Ketje Coffee customer loyalty in Bandar Lampung. Marginal Journal of Management Accounting General Finance and International Economic Issues, 3(2), 456–464. https://doi.org/10.55047/marginal.v3i2.1057 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55047/marginal.v3i2.1057
Nwora, G., & Chinwuba, M. S. (2017). Sales force–customer relationship and ethical behaviours in the Nigerian banking industry: A synthesis. IOSR Journal of Business and Management, 19(1), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-1901056472 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9790/487X-1901056472
Hamidy, H., & Claver, J. (2019). The determinants of customer satisfaction in Kabul: Evidence from restaurant industry. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25457.10084
Kadic-Maglajlić, S., Micevski, M., Lee, N., Boso, N., & Vida, I. (2019). Three levels of ethical influences on selling behavior and performance: Synergies and tensions. Journal of Business Ethics, 156(2), 377–397. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3588-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3588-1
The Daily Afghanistan Ma. (2018). Afghanistan transport system.
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2015). Marketing management (15th ed.). Pearson.
Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022a). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022b). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
Kethan, M., & Basha, S. M. (2022c). Relationship of ethical sales behaviour with customer loyalty, trust and commitment: A study with special reference to retail store in Mysore city. East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 1(7), 1365–1376. https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v1i7.874
Mujtaba, B. G. (2011). Perceptions of bribery and business ethics across Afghanistan: A reflection on reality and crises management. Journal for Global Business Advancement, 4(2), 88. https://doi.org/10.1504/JGBA.2011.041496 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/JGBA.2011.041496
Obaid, N., Tariq, A., Shinwari, O., Shorish, I., & Sha, S. S. A. (2023). Importance of seller’s ethical behaviour and its impact on sales performance at the sole proprietorship level businesses in Jalalabad market of Afghanistan.
L. Safi, B. Abbey, N. B. S. Goucha, O. Al Serhan, and K. Gleason was published in 2020 in the International Journal of Business Performance Management (Volume 21, Issues 1–2). http://10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104.
Safi, Z. R. (2020). Job satisfaction of employees in banking sector of Afghanistan.
Tolba, A., Seoudi, I., Meshriki, H., & AbdelShahid, M. (2015a). Impact of ethical sales behavior, quality and image on customer satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence from retail banking in Egypt. International Journal of Business and Economic Development, 8(2).
Tolba, A., Seoudi, I., Meshriki, H., & AbdelShahid, M. (2015b). Impact of ethical sales behavior, quality and image on customer satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence from retail banking in Egypt. International Journal of Business and Economic Development, 8(2).
Tuan, N. M. (2015). The impact of ethical sales behavior on customer loyalty: A case from Vietnam. Journal of Competitiveness, 10(3). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v10n3p152
Walker, P. G. A. (2015). Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Alvi, M. H. (2016). A manual for selecting sampling techniques in research.
Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson, P. R. (2015). Management and business research (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Shau, T. V. (2017). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of preschool management model in Sarawak. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(6), 221–231. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/2959 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i6/2959
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business (7th ed.).
Zainudin, A. (2012). Research methodology for business and social science. Shah Alam: Universiti Teknologi MARA Publication Centre (UPENA).
Malhotra, N. K. (2010). Marketing research: An applied orientation (6th ed.). Pearson Education.
Çetinkaya, A. Ş., & Rashid, M. (2018). The effect of use of social media on employee job performance. Journal of Internet Applications and Management, 9(2), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.437726 DOI: https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.437726
Institute for Peace and War Reporting. (2018). Perils of taking Afghan bus. https://iwpr.net/global-voices/perils-taking-afghan-bus
Bakhtar News Agency. (2024, December 20). Islamic Emirate suspends two transport companies following Ghazni accidents. Bakhtar News. https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-suspends-two-transport-companies-following-ghazni-accidents/
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment. (2019). Transportation. https://acci.org.af/en/more/find-a-partner/604-transportation.html
Ebadinia, H., Asgarnezhad Nouri, B. and Mola Ghalghachi, M. (2023). The effect of interactive behaviors of frontline employees on the perceived value of services and customer loyalty: the mediating role of cooperative behaviors and customer citizenship (case study of Tabriz hospitals). Journal of Business Management Perspective, 22(54), 153-187. doi: http://10.48308/jbmp.2023.103820
Pahi, M. H., Abdul‑Majid, A.-H., Fahd, S., Gilal, A. R., Talpur, B. A., Waqas, A., & Anwar, T. (2022). Leadership style and employees’ commitment to service quality: An analysis of the mediation pathway via knowledge sharing. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, Article 926779. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926779 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926779
Zhu, H., Feng, J., & Zhang, J. (2022). Affect consumers’ willingness to interact: The boundary condition of emotional ability similarity. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 68, 103082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103082 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103082
Mittal, V., Han, K., Frennea, C., Blut, M., Shaik, M., Bosukonda, N., & Sridhar, S. (2023). Customer satisfaction, loyalty behaviors, and firm financial performance: what 40 years of research tells us. Marketing Letters, 34(2), 171–187. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-023-09671-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-023-09671-w
Cheng, P., & Zhao, X. (2025). How employees’ emotional labor promotes perceived service quality: A dual‑pathway model. Behavioral Sciences, 15(11), 1538. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111538 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111538
Ahli, M., Hilmi, M. F., & Abudaqa, A. (2024). Ethical sales behavior influencing trust, loyalty, green experience, and satisfaction in uae public entrepreneur firms. Aptisi Transactions on Technopreneurship (ATT), 6(2), 149-168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v6i2.422
Ou, W.-M., Shih, C.-M., & Chen, C.-Y. (2015). Effects of ethical sales behaviour on satisfaction, trust, commitment, retention and word-of-mouth. International Journal of Commerce and Management, 25(4), 673–686. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCoMA-04-2013-0040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCoMA-04-2013-0040
Homburg, C., Koschate, N., & Hoyer, W. D. (2017). The role of cognition and affect in the formation of customer satisfaction: A dynamic perspective. Journal of Marketing, 81(3), 28–45.
Fornell, C., Morgeson, F. V., Hult, G. T. M., & VanAmburg, D. (2020). The American Customer Satisfaction Index: Nature, purpose, and findings. Journal of Marketing, 84(4), 5–23.
Safi, L., Abbey, B., Goucha, N. B. S., Al Serhan, O., & Gleason, K. (2020). Knowledge of Islamic banking and bank customer satisfaction in Afghanistan: An exploratory analysis. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 21(1–2), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106104
Vukmir, R. B. (2006). Customer satisfaction. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 19(1), 8–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860610642573 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860610642573
Shadab, R. (2012). Effects of ethical sales behavior considered through transaction cost theory: To whom is the customer loyal? Unpublished master’s thesis, Department of Business, Islamic Azad University, Guilan, Iran. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12816/0002265
Rastgoo, H., & Dastranj, H. A. (2016). The impact of the influence of ethical sales behavior on customers' loyalty in insurance company (A case study: Iran Insurance Company-Fars Branch). International Business Management, 10(20), 4921–4926. https://doi.org/10.3923/ibm.2016.4921.4926
Rasyid, A., & Djakasaputra, A. (2025). The relationship between seller ethical habits, customer satisfaction, and customer trust and loyalty. International Journal of Management Science and Application, 1(1), 1–15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58291/ijmsa.v4i2.365
Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. S. (2019). Development and validation of job satisfaction scale for different sectors. International Journal for Quality Research, 13(1), 193–220. https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR13.01-12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24874/IJQR13.01-12
Hair, J. F., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
Andersson, M., Boateng, K., & Abos, P. (2024). Validity and reliability: The extent to which your research findings are accurate and consistent. Civil Engineer and Researcher. Retrievedfrom . Link
George, D., & Mallery, P. (2018). IBM SPSS Statistics 25 Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference (15th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351033909 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351033909
Accepted 2026-01-31
Published 2026-01-31