Final answer:
Customer attributes are features that help categorize customers based on factors such as demographics and behavior. Intangible aspects like guarantees, reputation, and advertising can also differentiate products and influence customer preferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Customer attributes are characteristics that allow customers to be categorized based on various factors. These attributes may include demographic information such as age, gender, economic status, and ethnicity, as well as behavioral patterns like purchasing habits and brand preferences. However, it is essential to recognize that these categories are to some extent artificial because real people often display a mix of attributes and do not always fit neatly into a predefined category. Additionally, on the topic of product differentiation, it's important to consider that intangible aspects can distinguish products in the competitive market. Aspects such as guarantees, reputation for high quality, free delivery, and financing options like a loan to purchase the product are ways to differentiate. Buyers' perception also plays a critical role as preferences for products, like ketchup, mayonnaise, beer, or cigarettes, can be strongly influenced by past habits and advertising, which shapes these intangible preferences. Hence, advertising is a powerful tool in influencing customer choice and preference even when product differences are not immediately discernible to consumers.