Response to Sean's Question: Although customer satisfaction and customer value are interdependent, which one is more important?

Sean has valid points for why customer satisfaction and customer value are interdependent but I believe the two are mutually exclusive. I would not be satisfied with a product if it wasn’t a good value. Sure I will pay more money for a better brand but in turn I will receive a better product and thus be satisfied with my purchase. To me sometimes paying the extra money makes the product a better value because I typically pay for the higher quality and a longer lasting product. In comparison to a cheaper product that some may think is a better value for what they paid but breaks easier and needs to be continually replaced, thus costing almost equal money to the higher priced product in the long run.

I think customer satisfaction is more important. As long as the customer is happy you will make a profit. A satisfied customer will recommend products to their friends and be a repeat customer. If I am satisfied with a purchase I will be more likely to choose that brand again, even over a cheaper brand that others may consider a better value, when making another purchase because I assume I will again be satisfied. This also proves that the two are mutually exclusive because if I am willing to pay extra for a product I still find it to be a good value because I am satisfied with my purchase. I may think an inexpensive product is a good value but if I am unsatisfied with the quality and need to purchase a new one I will not recommend that product and will not purchase it again.                                                   

Do you think it is better to originally purchase the higher priced item, or should you test the value of a cheaper product first to see if you are satisfied?

Can the marketing concept reach a point of diminishing returns?

There is a point where the marketing concept reaches a point of diminishing returns. Marketers try so hard to reach a broad range of people to satisfy their needs/wants but this only creates too many options for the consumers. If there were fewer options they could be of better quality and the consumer would be sure of their purchase, instead there are so many options and marketers are pushing to sell their products when it may not be what the consumer needs/wants.

 Marketers focus so much on selling their products they may be able to talk their way into a sale because the consumer is unsure of what they need/want. Marketing focuses on distinguishing products from competitors and focuses on the customer so who ever creates this illusion best will earn the sale over their competitors.

The proliferation of product choices may seem indicative of successful implementation of the marketing concept to some, but I do not agree. Yes each marketer has their own set of organizational goals they need to achieve by satisfying the customers needs/wants but they can do so in a way so the customer can clearly chose between organizations depending on what they stand for and what they need/want. 

Do you think this is a cut and dry subject or can it be possible that the many options confuse the customers but shows the successful implementation of the marketing concept?