Final answer:
The three types of goods based on consumer detection of product characteristics are search goods, with identifiable features pre-purchase; experience goods, whose quality is revealed after use; and credence goods, which may be difficult to assess even post-consumption. Intangibles like guarantees, reputation, and advertising play crucial roles in consumer perception and product differentiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When it comes to consumers detecting product characteristics, there are three types of goods: search goods, experience goods, and credence goods. Search goods are those with features and quality that can be assessed before purchase.
Experience goods, on the other hand, have qualities that can only be evaluated after use. Lastly, credence goods are products or services with characteristics that the consumer may find difficult to evaluate even after consumption, often requiring expert advice or guarantees.
Intangible aspects such as guarantees of satisfaction, brand reputation, and advertising influence the perceptions of these goods. Product differentiation can also occur in the minds of buyers through intangible preferences shaped by past habits and advertising.
An example of this might be a preference for a particular brand of ketchup or mayonnaise, even if blind taste tests show little difference between brands. Such preferences are not based on the actual taste but are influenced by brand loyalty and marketing efforts.