Final answer:
A meal ordered at a restaurant is a product, while the presentation is a service. Goods are tangible whereas services are intangible and enhance the value of goods. Intangible aspects like reputation or advertising can differentiate products.
Step-by-step explanation:
A meal ordered at a restaurant is a product, whereas the presentation of the meal is a service. The correct answer to the question is therefore C. product; service. When you order a meal, you are purchasing the food itself, which is a tangible good that you can see, touch, and consume. The presentation of that meal, including how it is plated and served to you, is an intangible aspect of your dining experience, which is part of the service provided by the restaurant. While both goods and services are economic products that consumers pay for, the key difference is that a good is a tangible object, while a service is an experience or action provided to you, often enhancing the value of a good.Services can include a variety of intangibles that differentiate a product in the market, such as guarantees, reputations for quality, additional offerings like free delivery, or even a loan to make a purchase. Advertising can also shape preferences by highlighting these intangible aspects, which may not be physically tied to the product but nonetheless are crucial in differentiating it from competitors. Many times, consumers develop preferences for certain brands not purely based on the tangible aspects of the product but because of the intangible promises and reputation associated with it.