Ending Types

8 Ending Types experienced by consumers.

Endings are inevitable. Whether digital, service, or physical, every product will eventually reach its conclusion. Designing for these moments is a strategic necessity to protect brand equity and long-term consumer trust.

By categorising endings through the Eight Ending Types, developed by AndEnd, we help businesses move beyond departmental silos. This proprietary framework enables teams to identify hidden risks and transform barren off-boarding into a unified, competitive advantage.

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Ending Type
Time Out

A Time Out type ending is a product that is delivered over a fixed period.
Ex: 2 week holiday, sell by date, 1 yr software subscription

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Close-up of a split door with two round doorknobs, in black and white.

Ending Type
Lingering

A relationship that has effectively ended due to lack of use, yet may still be available to the consumer.
Ex: Unused gym contract, old phones in draws, un-used email accounts.

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Ending Type
Exhaustion / Credit Out

Services or products that are based on a numeric value. Once that value is exhausted the service or product end. 
Ex: Pay as you go, battery flat,
no gems in Clash of Clans

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Ending Type
Proximity

Moving out of reach of the service or product relationship brings the end.
Ex: Move outside covered area, items in loft, move from Apple to Android

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Ending Type
Task / Event Completion

Completion of a previously-defined event or task offered by the provider.
Ex: Parcel delivered, used disposable cup, game complete

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Ending Type
Cultural / Style

Consumers experience cultural endings of their products, services, or digital products when they perceive them to be out of fashion, or culturally unacceptable.
Ex: Fashion, Trends, Politics.

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Ending Type
Broken / Withdrawal

This may be defined as an unplanned, and often uncomfortable separation between the product/provider and the consumer.
Ex: Break contract, product broken, provider shut down

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Ending Type
Competition

The consumer ends one relationship to start a new one elsewhere. They might do this because they see weakness in their current relationship and benefits in another.
Ex: Someone else is Bigger, Better, Faster

Video explanations of all the 8 Types of Ending.