Final answer:
The student's question is about service contracts in the business context, specifically within a mobile phone company. It involves understanding how service contracts can be used as a strategy to deal with the cost implications of planned obsolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept brought up in the question pertains to business practices related to mobile phone companies and their optional care plans. This involves understanding the nature of service contracts, which are agreements where a customer pays an additional fee, and in return, the seller agrees to cover repair costs for a set period. Marcos and Amaya are involved with offering such plans, which can be seen as a strategy to mitigate the issues associated with planned obsolescence, where products are designed to become obsolete after a certain period. Customers may weigh the cost of such plans against the expense of repairs or replacement driven by planned obsolescence.
Sellers, like the mobile phone company in the scenario, often provide warranties or the option to purchase service contracts for extra protection. This is particularly common for pricey items like cars, appliances, and in this case, mobile phones. Planned obsolescence and service contracts are significant factors that change consumer behavior and the costs associated with maintaining or replacing technology.