Final answer:
The best response for a sales associate when a customer complains about the price of a T-shirt is to acknowledge the concern and suggest other options, as it showers attentiveness and customer care without dismissing the customer's budgetary constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a customer expresses concerns about the price of an item, such as saying 'this is an awful lot to pay for a simple white T-shirt', the best option for a sales associate is to acknowledge the concern and suggest alternatives (choice D). This approach is customer-centric and shows that the salesperson is listening to the customer's needs. It's empathetic and offers a solution without pressuring the customer into a purchase they might regret.
Option B, offering a more expensive alternative, does not take into account the customer's concern about price and may come across as insensitive. Agreeing with the customer and discouraging the purchase (option A) could result in the loss of a sale and might not be in line with the store's interests. Ignoring the customer's comment (option C) would likely lead to a poor customer service experience. Thus, alternative D is not only the correct response but also helps build a relationship with the customer by potentially identifying a product that better fits their expectations and budget.