Marketing101 taught me that the value that customer perceived of the product or service affects customer's acceptance of the prices that are set by buyers. The best price is to price your good that's equivalent to customer's value of your product. Of course, that's not always possible, how easy can it be to determine such an intangible thing as customer value? Some say that the price you pay, is the quality of product you get (Psychological pricing). While it may be true, some companies strive to deliver more than you were asked to pay. Is it only for consumers' benefit?No!That's a marketing ploy of the companies to gain your trust and loyalty in their efforts to build long-lasting relationship with you!

Marketing is in the business of building profitable customer relationships.When was the last time you stepped into the store and you were greeted warmly, given privacy to browse through the products and even when you leave the store without any purchase, you were still greeted warmly with a "welcome back again".Now I cannot really remember.Are companies increasingly not focusing on improving the other arms of marketing?Is marketing really all about advertising, promotion and direct selling?What about improving the sales force which represent the company to the consumers and represent the consumers to the company?Forgotten, neglected.It really shock me to know how a certain company is not building up its sales force and they leave this important customer contact point in the hands of inexperienced, untrained and uninterested sales personnel.

It takes all arms of marketing to be well integrated to provide a first-class shopping experience for consumers. So, it all about the price and promotion?