IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022
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BCOE 141
PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING
Programme: BAG/2021/2022
Course Code: BCOE 141
Max. Marks: 100
BCOE 141 Free Solved
Assignment
Section – A
Q-1 What is
marketing? Explain the different marketing concepts. (10)
Marketing refers to activities a company undertakes to
promote the buying or selling of a product or service. Marketing includes
advertising, selling, and delivering products to consumers or other businesses.
Some marketing is done by affiliates on behalf of a company. The Marketing
Concept. This is a business philosophy that challenges the above three business
orientations. Its central tenets crystallized in the 1950s. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 It holds that the
key to achieving its organizational goals (goals of the selling company)
consists of the company being more effective than competitors in creating,
delivering, and communicating customer value to its selected target customers.
The marketing concept rests on four pillars: target market, customer needs,
integrated marketing and profitability.
Distinctions between the Sales Concept and the Marketing
Concept:
· The
Sales Concept focuses on the needs of the seller. The Marketing Concept focuses
on the needs of the buyer.
· The
Sales Concept is preoccupied with the seller’s need to convert his/her product
into cash. The Marketing Concept is preoccupied with the idea of satisfying the
needs of the customer by means of the product as a solution to the customer’s
problem (needs).
· The
Marketing Concept represents the major change in today’s company orientation
that provides the foundation to achieve competitive advantage. This philosophy
is the foundation of consultative selling.
· The
Marketing Concept has evolved into a fifth and more refined company
orientation: The Societal Marketing Concept. This concept is more theoretical
and will undoubtedly influence future forms of marketing and selling approaches.
The Societal Marketing Concept. This concept holds that the
organization’s task is to determine the needs, wants, and interests of target
markets and to deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and
efficiently than competitors (this is the original Marketing Concept). IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Additionally, it holds that this all must be done in a way that preserves or
enhances the consumer’s and the society’s well-being. This orientation arose as
some questioned whether the Marketing Concept is an appropriate philosophy in
an age of environmental deterioration, resource shortages, explosive population
growth, world hunger and poverty, and neglected social services.
The Production Concept. This concept is the oldest of the
concepts in business. It holds that consumers will prefer products that are
widely available and inexpensive. Managers focusing on this concept concentrate
on achieving high production efficiency, low costs, and mass distribution. They
assume that consumers are primarily interested in product availability and low
prices. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 This orientation makes sense in developing countries, where consumers
are more interested in obtaining the product than in its features.
The Selling Concept. This is another common business
orientation. It holds that consumers and businesses, if left alone, will
ordinarily not buy enough of the selling company’s products. The organization
must, therefore, undertake an aggressive selling and promotion effort. This
concept assumes that consumers typically sho9w buyi8ng inertia or resistance
and must be coaxed into buying. It also assumes that the company has a whole
battery of effective selling and promotional tools to stimulate more buying.
Most firms practice the selling concept when they have overcapacity. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Their aim
is to sell what they make rather than make what the market wants
Q-2 What do
you mean by consumer buying behavior? Explain the factors influencing consumer
buying behavior. (10)
Consumer Buying Behavior refers to the actions taken (both
on and offline) by consumers before buying a product or service. This process
may include consulting search engines, engaging with social media posts, or a
variety of other actions. It is valuable for businesses to understand this
process because it helps businesses better tailor their marketing initiatives
to the marketing efforts that have successfully influenced consumers to buy in
the past.
Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior · Psychological Factors · Social Factors · Cultural Factors · Personal Factors · Economic Factors
Consumer behavior is influenced by many different factors. A
marketer should try to understand the factors that influence consumer behavior. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Here are 5 major factors that influence consumer behavior:
1. Psychological Factors Human psychology is a major determinant
of consumer behavior. These factors are difficult to measure but are powerful
enough to influence a buying decision.
i. Motivation When a person is motivated enough, it
influences the buying behaviour of the person. A person has many needs such as the
social needs, basic needs, security needs, esteem needs and self-actualization
needs. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Out of all these needs, the basic needs and security needs take a
position above all other needs. Hence basic needs and security needs have the
power to motivate a consumer to buy products and services.
ii. Perception Consumer perception is a major factor that
influences consumer behavior. Customer perception is a process where a customer
collects information about a product and interprets the information to make a meaningful
image about a particular product. When a customer sees advertisements,
promotions, customer reviews, social media feedback, etc. relating to a
product, they develop an impression about the product. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Hence consumer
perception becomes a great influence on the buying decision of consumers.
iii. Learning When a person buys a product, he/she gets to
learn something more about the product. Learning comes over a period of time
through experience. A consumer’s learning depends on skills and knowledge.
While a skill can be gained through practice, knowledge can
be acquired only through experience. Learning can be either conditional or
cognitive. In conditional learning the consumer is exposed to a situation
repeatedly, thereby making a consumer to develop a response towards it. Whereas
in cognitive learning, the consumer will apply his knowledge and skills to find
satisfaction and a solution from the product that he buys.
iv. Attitudes and Beliefs Consumers have certain attitude
and beliefs which influence the buying decisions of a consumer. Based on this
attitude, the consumer behaves in a particular way towards a product. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 This
attitude plays a significant role in defining the brand image of a product.
Hence, the marketers try hard to understand the attitude of a consumer to
design their marketing campaigns.
2. Social Factors Humans are social beings and they live
around many people who influence their buying behavior. Human try to imitate
other humans and also wish to be socially accepted in the society. Hence their
buying behavior is influenced by other people around them. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 These factors are
considered as social factors. Some of the social factors are:
i. Family Family plays a significant role in shaping the
buying behavior of a person. A person develops preferences from his childhood
by watching family buy products and continues to buy the same products even
when they grow up.
ii. Reference Groups
Reference group is a group of people with whom a person
associates himself. Generally, all the people in the reference group have
common buying behavior and influence each other.
Q-3 What do
you understand by channel of distribution? Discuss the functions of channel of
distribution. (10)
A distribution channel is a chain of businesses or
intermediaries through which a good or service passes until it reaches the
final buyer or the end consumer. Distribution channels can include wholesalers,
retailers, distributors, and even the internet. A distribution channel is a
path by which all goods and services must travel to arrive at the intended
consumer. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Conversely, it also describes the pathway payments make from the end
consumer to the original vendor. BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Distribution channels can be short or long,
and depend on the number of intermediaries required to deliver a product or
service.
Functions of Distribution Channels
In order to understand the importance of distribution
channels, businesses need to understand that it doesn’t just bridge the gap
between the producer of a product and its user. Distribution channels provide
time, place, and ownership utility. They make the product available when,
where, and in which quantities the customer wants. BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 But other than these
transactional functions, marketing channels are also responsible to carry out
the following functions: Logistics and Physical Distribution: Marketing
channels are responsible for assembly, storage, sorting, and transportation of
goods from manufacturers to customers.
Facilitation: Channels of distribution even provide pre-sale
and postpurchase services like financing, maintenance, information
dissemination and channel coordination. Creating Efficiencies: This is done in
two ways: bulk breaking and creating assortments. Wholesalers and retailers
purchase large quantities of goods from manufacturers but break the bulk by
selling few at a time to many other channels or customers. BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 They also offer different
types of products at a single place which is a huge benefit to customers as
they don’t have to visit different retailers for different products.
Sharing Risks: Since most of the channels buy the products
beforehand, they also share the risk with the manufacturers and do everything
possible to sell it. Marketing: Distribution channels are also called marketing
channels because they are among the core touch points where many marketing
strategies are executed. They are in direct contact with the end customers and
help the manufacturers in propagating the brand message and product benefits
and other benefits to the customers.
Q-4 What is
augmented and virtual reality? State its advantages and limitations. (10)
In virtual reality (VR), the users' perception of reality is
completely based on virtual information. In augmented reality (AR) the user is
provided with additional computer generated information within the data
collected from real life that enhances their perception of reality.
For example, in architecture, VR can be used to create a
walk-through simulation of the inside of a new building; and AR can be used to
show a building's structures and systems super-imposed on a real-life view.
Another example is through the use of utility applications. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Some AR
applications, such as Augment, enable users to apply digital objects into real
environments, allowing businesses to use augmented reality devices as a way to
preview their products in the real worldSimilarly, it can also be used to demo
what products may look like in an environment for customers, as demonstrated by
companies such as Mountain Equipment Co-op or Lowe's who use augmented reality
to allow customers to preview what their products might look like at home
through the use of 3D models.
Augmented reality (AR) differs from virtual reality (VR) in
the sense that in AR part of the surrounding environment is 'real' and just
adding layers of virtual objects to the real environment. On the other hand, in
VR the surrounding environment is completely virtual and computer generated. A
demonstration of how AR layers objects onto the real world can be seen with
augmented reality games. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 WallaMe is an augmented reality game application that
allows users to hide messages in real environments, utilizing geolocation
technology in order to enable users to hide messages wherever they may wish in
the world.
Such applications have many uses in the world, including in
activism and artistic expression.
Advantages of
Augmented Reality (AR)
· Here
are the pros/benefits of Augmented Reality:
·
Offers individualized learning
·
Fostering the learning process
· Wide
variety of fields
·
Offers innovation and continuous improvement
·
Increase accuracy
·
Augmented reality can be used to increase user knowledge and information.
·
People can share experiences over long distances.
·
Helps developers to build games that offer “real” experience to the user.
Advantages of Virtual
Reality (VR)
· Here
are the pros/benefits of Virtual Reality:
·
Immersive learning
·
Create an interactive environment
·
Increase work capabilities
·
Offer convenience
· One
of the most important advantages of VR is that it helps you to create a
realistic world so that the user can explore the world.
·
Virtual reality in the education field makes education more easy and
comfortable.
·
Virtual reality allows users to experiment with an artificial environment.
Q-5 What do
you mean by advertising? Explain the various media of advertising and compare
their advantages and limitations. (10)
Advertising is a means of communication with the users of a
product or service. Advertisements are messages paid for by those who send them
and are intended to inform or influence people who receive them, as defined by
the Advertising Association of the UK.
Description: Advertising is always present, though people
may not be aware of it. In today's world, advertising uses every possible media
to get its message through. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 It does this via television, print (newspapers,
magazines, journals etc), radio, press, internet, direct selling, hoardings, mailers,
contests, sponsorships, posters, clothes, events, colours, sounds, visuals and
even people (endorsements).
1. Press Advertising or Print Media: Press advertising i.e.,
advertising through newspapers, magazines, journals, etc. is commonly used by
modern businessmen. It may be noted that advertising is an important source of
finance for the press or print media. Because of advertisements, the
subscribers get newspapers and periodicals at subsidised rates.
(a) Newspaper
Advertising:
Newspaper reading is a common habit among the educated
people. Besides daily newspapers, there are bi-weekly and weekly newspapers
also. Newspapers reach almost every place and are read by all kinds of people.
Therefore, newspaper can be used as a medium of advertisement with great
advantage. While selecting a newspaper for this purpose, an advertiser has to
take into consideration the strength of circulation, the class of readers it
serves, the geographical region over which it is popular and the cost of space.
The limitations of
newspaper advertising are as follows:
(i) The life of a newspaper advertisement is very short.
Moreover, people devote only an insignificant part of their days’ time in
reading the newspaper. Thus, advertisements are likely to draw the reader’s
attention only casually.
(ii) Newspaper advertisement is successful only when the
people to be communicated are educated
(iii) Newspaper cannot be used for high class coloured
advertisements. The advertisements are generally printed in black and white.
Because of this, they may fail to help the customer identifying the products at
the point of purchase.
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(b) Magazine
Advertising:
Magazines or periodicals are an excellent medium of
advertisement when a high quality of printing and colour is desired in an
advertisement. Magazine advertisements can be directed towards a particular
class of people and thus they avoid wasteful expenditure on advertising. Many
specialised magazines or journals are published which can be used for
transmitting the message to the specific class of customers.
Magazine advertising
has the following limitations:
(i) Advertising through magazines is very costly.
(ii) The circulation of magazines is very small as compared
to the newspapers.
(iii) Magazine advertisements are to be prepared and sent
for publication well in advance. It is not possible to make the last minute
change in the advertisement copy.
2. Radio Advertising:
Radio advertisements have gained great popularity these
days. Advertisements are broadcast from the transmitting stations of the commercial
service of All India Radio and picked up by the receiving sets owned by the
public. Radio advertisements or commercials are normally broadcast along with
popular programmes of music. Even the sponsored programmes of interviews and
plays can also be broadcast over the radio.
Section – B
Q.6 What do
you mean by market segmentation? Explain the basis of market segmentation. (6)
At its core, market segmentation is the practice of dividing
your target market into approachable groups. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Market segmentation creates
subsets of a market based on demographics, needs, priorities, common interests,
and other psychographic or behavioural criteria used to better understand the
target audience. By understanding your market segments, you can leverage this
targeting in product, sales, and marketing strategies. Market segments can
power your product development cycles by informing how you create product
offerings for different segments like men vs. women or high income vs. low
income.
The basics of
segmentation
Understanding segmentation starts with learning about the
various ways you can segment your market. There are four primary categories of
segmentation, illustrated below. As product markets tend to mature, customer
needs often become more specialized. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Depending on the level of competition in
the product market, segmentation is the natural response of marketers to deal
with the situation in market. Market segmentation has become a norm today.
Market segmentation is based on the assumption that all the
potential customers are not identical and that the firm should address their
needs with appropriate product Land other marketing strategies or else should concentrate
on only one single segment and tailor the strategy accordingly. Market
segmentation simply means dividing up a market into distinct groups that-(i)
have common needs, and (ii) will respond similarly to a marketing action.
1. Demographic
Segmentation:
Demographics are the statistical description of population
characteristics in terms of age, gender, income, education, family size and so
on. People differ for their demographic characteristics and marketers’ use of
these variables as segmentation basis is based on the premise that people with
different characteristics have different needs and in the case of a product
these differences may lead to behavioural differences as well. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 Marketers need
to focus more on some specific demographic groups and not all, as mentioned
already the group should be distinct for its behaviours. Companies develop
products and services to meet the needs of individual demographic segments and
also tailor their messages to those specific groups.
2. Geographic
Segmentation:
Depending on their area of location, consumers are often
found to have differences in their consumption behaviour. Marketers divide the
markets into different geographical units at national, regional. State, local
or neighbourhood level. These locations differ for their spread as well as for
the extent and types of differences and the level of complexity. The message
and media strategies, therefore, differ for each of the location. Small firms
targeting a local area employ local media as against national marketers who
develop specific advertising and marketing programmes for specific regions of
the country. BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 The multinational firm operating in different nations requires
greater adaptations to suit the differences in culture and language.
Q.7 Explain
the process of new product development
The new product development process is a systematic guide
for all budding businesses and entrepreneurs that will help them come up with a
customer-oriented, high-quality product that has the best chance of doing well
in the highly competitive markets. In an attempt to explain new product
development process, many market experts believe that there exist 6 or 7 stages
of new product development process. This number however can vary based on how
detailed the process is from one example to another. To know more about these
stages and find out what are the 8 steps of new product development process,
read on. It is important to understand that there is no one generic product
development process and that each rendition of such a process will vary
depending on the depth and detail that each explanation covers. This article
explains
8 stages of the
product development process and these are listed below.
Idea Generation: The first stage in the product development
process is idea generation. In this stage, the company comes up with many
different and unique ideas based on both internal and external sources.
Internal idea sources more often than not refer to the in-house research and
development teams of the company and external sources refer to competitor
innovations, the customer wants, distributors and suppliers, and so on. The
company thereby focuses on coming up with as many feasible ideas as possible.
Concept Development and Testing: The third of the product
development process steps is concept development and testing. In this stage,
the good product ideas must be developed into detailed product concepts that
are conveyed in consumer-oriented terms. The concept must be made in order to
project the product in terms of how it is perceived by consumers and how it
will potentially be received in the market and by which set of potential
customers. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 This concept must then be tested by presenting it to the target
consumers and their response must be taken into account.
Development of Marketing Strategy: The new product
development process in marketing is covered in stage four. In this step, the
company tries to come up with strategies to introduce a promising product into
the market. The company must therefore come up with the price, potential
revenue figures as well as advertising and distributing channels in this step.
Business Analysis: The product concept is put through a
vigorous business analysis or test in order to ascertain projected sales and revenue
and also assess risk and whether the production of the product is financially
feasible. The company’s objectives are considered and if these are satisfied,
the product is moved on to the next step.
Product Development: This is the step that comes after the
management of a company declares a product concept to be in line with the goals
of the company and issues green light for development. The research and
development wing of the company then works on the product concept for many
months and even years in some cases, to come up with a working and functional
prototype of the product concept.
Test Marketing: This is the penultimate stage of the new
product development process and involves the testing of the product and its
suggested marketing program in realistic market settings. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 This stage provides
an insight into how the product will be introduced into the market, advertised,
produced, packaged, distributed, and eventually sold to the customers, and
therefore any optimizations if required can be made by the company.
Commercialization: The final step of the product development
process is that of commercialization. Based on the information gathered during
the test marketing process, the business management may either decide to go
ahead with the launch of the product or put it on the backburner. In case the
go-ahead is given, the product is finally introduced into the market and this
process is called commercialization. This stage often leads to massive costs in
terms of initial infrastructural investments as well as sales promotions and
advertisements.
Q.8 What
are the factors affecting promotion mix. (6)
Main factors
influencing promotion mix has been briefly discussed as under:
1. Type of Product:
Type of product plays an important role in deciding on
promotion mix. Product can be categorized in terms of branded products,
non-branded products, necessity products, luxury products, new products, etc.
All these types of products need different promotional tools. For example,
advertising is suitable for the branded and popular products. Personal selling
may be fit for non-branded products. Advertising, personal selling sales
promotion and publicity – all four tools – are used for a newly launched
product to get a rapid consumer acceptance.
2. Use of Product:
Product may be industrial product, consumable and necessity
product, or may be luxurious product that affects selection of promotion tools
and media. For example, advertising and sales promotion techniques are widely
used for consumer goods while personal selling is used for industrial goods.
3. Complexity of
Product:
Product complexity affects selection of promotional tools.
Personal selling is more effective for complex, technical, risky, and newly
developed products as they need personal explanation and observation. On the
other end, advertising is more suitable for simple and easyhandled products.
4. Purchase Quantity
and Frequency:
Company should also consider purchase frequency and purchase
quantity while deciding on promotion mix. Generally, for frequently purchase
product, advertising is used, and for infrequently purchase product, personal
selling and sales promotion are preferred. Personal selling and advertising are
used for heavy users and light users respectively.
5. Fund Available for
Market Promotion:
Financial capacity of company is a vital factor affecting
promotion mix. Advertising through television, radio, newspapers and magazines
is too costly to bear by financially poor companies while personal selling and sales
promotion are comparatively cheaper tools. Even, the company may opt for
publicity by highlighting certain commercially significant events.
Q.9 What is
product life cycle? Discuss briefly. (6)
The term product life cycle refers to the length of time a
product is introduced to consumers into the market until it's removed from the
shelves. The life cycle of a product is broken into four stages— introduction,
growth, maturity, and decline. This concept is used by management and by
marketing professionals as a factor in deciding when it is appropriate to
increase advertising, reduce prices, expand to new markets, or redesign
packaging. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 The process of strategizing ways to continuously support and
maintain a product is called product life cycle management. Products, like
people, have life cycles. A product begins with an idea, and within the
confines of modern business, it isn't likely to go further until it undergoes
research and development (R&D) and is found to be feasible and potentially
profitable. At that point, the product is produced, marketed, and rolled out.
Q.10 What
do you understand by marketing environment? Explain the types of marketing
environment. (6)
A marketing environment encompasses all the internal and
external factors that drive and influence an organization's marketing
activities. Marketing managers must stay aware of the marketing environment to
maintain success and tackle any threats or opportunities that may affect their
work.
A marketing environment is vast and diverse, consisting of
controllable and uncontrollable factors. A good grasp of your marketing
environment helps to: Identify opportunities: Understanding your marketing
environment helps you notice and take advantage of market opportunities before
losing your edge. For example, say your marketing team sees an uptick in
digital buying over in-shop sales. You may decide to allocate more resources to
your online marketing funnel to drive more sales. Identify threats: Studying
your marketing environment alerts you to potential threats which may affect
your marketing activities. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 For example, a market leader could diversify their
product portfolio to compete with your organization. Foreknowledge of this can
help you restrategize your marketing efforts to maintain and grow your market
share. Manage changes: Paying attention to the marketing environment also helps
manage changes and maintain growth in a dynamic economy. Marketing managers can
forecast and determine timely marketing campaign strategies by monitoring their
marketing environment.
Section – C
Q.11 Write
short notes on the following:
(a) Cash
discount
Cash discounts refer to an incentive that a seller offers to
a buyer in return for paying a bill before the scheduled due date. In a cash discount,
the seller will usually reduce the amount that the buyer owes by either a small
percentage or a set dollar amount. Cash discounts are deductions allowed by
some sellers of goods, or by some providers of services, to motivate customers
to pay their bills within a specified time. Cash discounts also are called
early payment discounts. The sellers and providers offering a cash discount
will refer to it as a sales discount, and the buyer will refer to the same
discount as a purchase discount.
(b) Branding
Branding is the process of giving
a meaning to specific organization, company, products or services by creating
and shaping a brand in consumers’ minds. It is a strategy designed by
organizations to help people to quickly identify and experience their brand, and
give them a reason to choose their products over the competition’s, by
clarifying what this particular brand is and is not.
Q.12
Distinguish between the following:
a) Skimming
and penetration pricing
Differences Between
Penetration Pricing and Skimming Pricing
· The
difference between penetration and skimming pricing are presented hereunder:
·
Penetration Pricing can be described as a pricing method adopted by the firm to
attract more and more customers, in which the product is offered at low price
at the early stage. Conversely, skimming pricing is used to mean a pricing technique,
in which high price is charged at the beginning to earn maximum profit.
·
Penetration pricing aims at achieving a greater market share, by offering the
product at low prices. As against the object of using skimming pricing strategy
is to earn maximum profit from the customers, by offering the product at the
highest price.
·
Penetration pricing strategy is put into practice when the demand for the
product is relatively elastic. On the other hand, skimming pricing is used when
the demand for the product is inelastic.
· In
case of penetration pricing, the profit margin is low, whereas, in skimming
pricing, the profit margin is very high.
· As
the price of the product is initially low in penetration pricing, huge
quantities of product is sold by the firm. As against, due to high price of the
product customer demand small quantity of the product, in case of skimming
pricing.
(b) Product
and services
Differences Between
Services and Products
·
Products are tangible – they are physical in nature such that they can be
touched, smelled, felt and even seen. Services are intangible and they can only
be felt not seen.
· Need
vs. Relationship– a product is specifically designed to satisfy the needs and
wants of the customers and can be carried away. However, with a service,
satisfaction is obtained but nothing is carried away. Essentially, marketing of
a service is primarily concerned with creation of customer relationship.
·
Perishability- services cannot be stored for later use or sale since they can
only be used during that particular time when they are offered. On the other
hand, it can be seen that products are perishable. For example, fresh farm and
other food products are perishable and these can also be stored for later use
or sale.
·
Quantity- products can be numerically quantified and they come in different
forms, shapes and sizes. However, services cannot be numerically quantified.
Whilst you can choose different service providers, the concept remains the
same.
·
Inseparability- services cannot be separated from their providers since they
can be consumed at the same time they are offered. On the other hand, a product
can be separated from the owner once the purchase has been completed.
·
Quality- quality of products can be compared since these are physical features
that can be held. However, it may be difficult to compare the quality of the
services rendered by different service providers
·
Returnability- it is easier to return a product to the seller if the customer
is not satisfied about it. In turn, the customer will get a replacement of the
returned product. IGNOU BCOE 141 Free Solved Assignment 2022 However, a service cannot be returned to the service provider
since it is something that is intangible.
·
Value perspective- the value of a service is offered by the service provider
while the value of the product is derived from using it by the customer. Value
of a service cannot be separated from the provider while the value of a product
can be taken or created by the final user of the product offered on the market.
·
Shelf line- a service has a shorter shelf line compared to a product. A product
can be sold at a later date if it fails to sell on a given period. This is
different with regard to a service that has a short shelve line and should be
sold earlier.
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