Final answer:
The statement 'A marketer relinquishes control of product when it is turned over to channel intermediaries' is not characteristic of direct marketing. Instead, direct marketing often eliminates channel intermediaries, making use of direct response advertising to generate immediate consumer response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic that is not representative of direct marketing in the options provided is: A) A marketer relinquishes control of product when it is turned over to channel intermediaries. Direct marketing often eliminates the need for channel intermediaries by delivering messages directly to the potential customers and allowing them to purchase without going through traditional retail channels. The other options are more aligned with direct marketing practices: B) Advertising serves to generate an immediate inquiry or purchase aligns with the goal of direct marketing which is to elicit a quick response from the consumer.
C) Repetition is used in individual advertisements is also characteristic of direct marketing efforts to reinforce the message. D) The customer experiences high perceived risk can sometimes be associated with direct marketing if the consumer is not familiar with the brand. Finally, E) Direct response advertising is used describes a key technique in direct marketing where the advertisement invites an immediate response from the audience.