What is a characteristic of services compared to products?

Services are distinct from products primarily because they offer value through actions rather than through tangible physical items. This characteristic highlights the intangible nature of services, which is a critical aspect of service marketing. Unlike physical products, which can be touched and measured, services are experiences or performances that the provider offers to the consumer. For instance, services like haircuts, educational courses, and medical check-ups involve interactions and experiences that fulfill consumer needs without resulting in ownership of a physical object.

This distinction is essential for understanding how services are marketed and consumed. Businesses must create an experience that conveys quality and value since customers cannot evaluate the service in the same way they would a physical product. The focus on actions and experiences makes service marketing strategies different from product marketing, emphasizing aspects like customer service, relationship building, and the overall service experience.