When are customers satisfied? What are the benefits of having satisfied
customers?
5.2 Customer Satisfaction
Defined: Customer satisfaction is the degree to which a
product meets or exceeds customer expectations.
The emotional experience that a customer has with a purchase
will fall within one of three categories; the experience will either be positive, neutral, or negative. A negative feeling,or dissatisfaction, is the result when the product's performance does not live up to expectations. A neutral outcome occurs when a product's performance matches expectations. In this situation, a buyer has reached the baseline level of satisfaction. If expectations are exceeded, then a positive experience has occurred, leaving the buyer highly satisfied. This high level of satisfaction is referred to as delighted. The varying levels of satisfaction, and likely outcomes associated with each, are shown in the Figure below:


