Final answer:
The correct option is 2). The best option for identifying customer buying preferences is to ask open-ended questions, as this approach allows for detailed and personalized responses. While surveys can be useful for gathering broader data, they may not provide the same depth of understanding, and other techniques like the foot-in-the-door strategy focus more on selling than on customer needs assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
When trying to find out what a customer wants to buy, Option 2: Ask open-ended questions is typically the best approach. This method allows for detailed responses that can give insight into the customer's needs and preferences. Conducting a survey would also be a valuable tool, especially if looking to aggregate data from a large number of people, but it may be more structured and not as personal as direct communication.
Surveys gather quantitative and qualitative data, and they are best suited for obtaining a broad understanding of customer demographics or opinions. They are useful in situations where anonymity is desirable or a large sample size is needed. However, surveys can have drawbacks such as non-response biases or misinterpretation of questions.
In contrast, the foot-in-the-door technique can be an effective selling strategy but doesn't necessarily focus on understanding customer needs. Offering the most expensive option first or assuming based on appearance can misjudge customer needs and lead to dissatisfaction.
As part of responsible and effective market research, understanding customer needs through direct interaction and open-ended questions will likely lead to more accurate results and higher customer satisfaction, which aligns with conducting business in a way that seeks the greatest resulting happiness and the greatest number of interests being satisfied for the greatest number of people.