Which characteristic defines services compared to products?

The defining characteristic of services compared to products lies in their intangible nature. Services cannot be seen, touched, or physically owned, which sets them apart from tangible products. This intangibility means that services cannot be stored or inventoried like physical goods, as they are produced and consumed simultaneously. This aspect directly influences how services are marketed and delivered, as providers often focus on the experience and outcome rather than a physical item.

In contrast, options that suggest services have a specific duration, are consumed differently from products, or have different marketing requirements do not accurately capture the fundamental distinction between services and products. While services might indeed be delivered quickly or require marketing, these factors are not the core characteristics that differentiate services from tangible goods. The nature of intangibility and the inability to store services fundamentally defines what sets them apart from products.