Final answer:
Shoppers who are rarely the first to try new products are likely Followers because they tend to follow established preferences rather than seek out new products. They differ from loyal, recreational, and comparison shoppers in their approach to new offerings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shoppers who are rarely the first to try new products are most likely B. Followers. These consumers tend to make purchasing decisions based on established preferences and do not actively seek out new products. On the contrary, loyal customers may repeatedly buy from their preferred brands and could be open to trying new products those brands offer. Recreational shoppers enjoy the act of shopping, but this does not specifically correlate to their propensity to try new products. Comparison shoppers are those who meticulously compare various options before making a purchase, primarily focusing on information and price over novelty.
To further clarify this with an example related to the provided information, someone who visits a store multiple times before making a major purchase (as indicated in Table 2.40) is displaying behaviors akin to comparison shopping. They are not adopting a product impulsively, which could suggest they're also less likely to be the first to try new products without thorough consideration. As for the laundry detergent study, early adopters or those seeking innovation might participate, but followers would likely wait until the brand is more established.