Final answer:
A layaway option satisfies a customer's concern about affordability by allowing payments over time before receiving the product. Other strategies to reassure customers include offering money-back guarantees and warranties, which serve as promises of quality and reliability, particularly important in mail-order or online sales. Thus, the option A is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
A layaway option is a payment plan where a customer can reserve a product by paying a deposit and then paying the rest of the balance over time before receiving the product. This type of option directly addresses any concerns a customer might have about affordability. By allowing the customer to pay in installments without needing full payment upfront, sellers can reassure customers who may not be able to make a large purchase all at once.
In the goods market, sellers also use other strategies to reassure customers facing imperfect information, such as offering a money-back guarantee or a warranty. A money-back guarantee enables customers to return the product if they are not satisfied, providing a sense of security and trust in the quality of the good. A warranty, on the other hand, is a promise to repair or replace a product if there are any defects or issues within a certain time period, further enhancing the customer's confidence in their purchase decision.
These assurances are essential when the transaction is made through means where the buyer cannot physically inspect the goods beforehand, such as mail-order catalogs or online shopping. The opportunity to buy service contracts might also be offered, where the seller commits to repairing the product for an extended time beyond the standard warranty for an extra charge. This is often the case for large purchases like cars and appliances.