Final answer:
Consumers don't view the promise of time-saving as a benefit of self-service technologies, as technology sometimes fails to deliver on this promise and may not reduce actual time spent on tasks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Research indicates that consumers perceive several benefits of using self-service technologies during the choice process, except for the promise of time-saving. The irony of technology is that it often pledges efficiency, but may not actually reduce the time spent on tasks. For example, the frustration of a slow-loading website or a dropped cell phone call illustrates that technology does not always deliver on its time-saving potential. Moreover, time-saving appliances haven't reduced the amount of time spent on housework, which remains consistent with levels from fifty years ago. The pressure for constant availability and immediate response, as facilitated by 24/7 e-mails and instant information, has also increased the amount of time employees are expected to be available, rather than providing the breaks introduced by slower methods like the postal system.