Final answer:
Driving out to an apple orchard to purchase apples directly from the farmer is considered a direct channel, as it involves no intermediaries. Imperfect information varies among scenarios; it is low when buying apples or dinner locally, and high when purchasing a used laptop at a garage sale or ordering flowers over the internet.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purchasing form of driving out to the apple orchard every Saturday morning and buying directly from the farmer is considered a direct channel. A marketing channel refers to the pathway through which goods and services travel from the producer to the consumer. In the scenario you mentioned, since there are no intermediaries involved and the transaction occurs directly between the producer (farmer) and the consumer (you), it is a clear example of a direct channel.
Regarding the degree of imperfect information, here are some considerations for the given scenarios:
- b Low degree of imperfect information because you can easily see and assess the quality of the apples.
- b. Buying dinner at the neighborhood restaurant around the corner: Low degree of imperfect information because you can judge the restaurant by its location, reputation, and possibly by previou experiences.
- c. Buying a used laptop computer at a garage sale: High degree of imperfect information due to the potential unknowns regarding the laptop's condition and history.
- d. Ordering flowers over the internet for your friend in a different city: High degree of imperfect information because you cannot see the actual flowers and must rely on the vendor's description and reliability.