Final answer:
The term to describe customer care before, during, and after a purchase is 'customer service'. Good customer service is key to customer satisfaction and loyalty. Economists call the benefit of a good deal 'consumer surplus'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe how the customer is handled before, during, and after a purchase is known as customer service. This encompasses all interactions between a business and a customer, ensuring that the customer's needs are addressed throughout their entire buying journey.
Good customer service can lead to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty, which are crucial for a business's success. Prior to making a purchase, customers typically evaluate the expected satisfaction based on the information available to them. When the information is imperfect or unclear, it can result in a regrettable purchase decision or hesitance in future purchases.
Economists might describe the event of a shopper getting a 'good deal' on a product as consumer surplus, which occurs when individuals feel that the value they receive from a good or service exceeds the price paid.