The augmented product level
Currently, people are living busy lives that they end up forgetting about taking care of their pets. However, Petnet is an organization that has developed Smartfeeder that allows pet owners to monitor food intake, schedule feeding time, and personalize pet nutrition information. Concerning the different types of consumer products, Petnet’s Smartfeeder can be categorized as a shopping product. Shopping products are less frequently purchased consumer merchandise that consumers compare carefully in terms of quality, suitability, style, and price. The shopping products are usually of a higher price as compared to other consumer products. When purchasing this type of consumer product, the customer spends much effort and time gathering information about the product. The product can be marketed through advertisement and personal vending by both the reseller and manufacturer.
There are three levels that a product must undergo before it is exposed in the market. These levels include the core level, augmented, and actual level. When customers are purchasing a Petnet Smartfeeder they main thing that they are actually purchasing is the quality and features of the Smartfeeder product. At the core product level, customers are expected to ask themselves what they are really purchasing. Moreover, it is in this product level that consumers must identify the benefit of purchasing a product. Due to this, when customers are purchasing the Smartfeeder product their main purpose it achieve the satisfaction that the product will bring forth when monitoring their pets. In the actual product level, this is where Smartfeeder’s developers develop the product’s features, design, brand name, quality level and packaging. Lastly, in the augmented product level, this is where the developers of Smartfeeder product must offer warranty on some parts of the product to their customers. It is also in this level, that developers of Smartfeeder product are expected to deliver the product at the expected place and also offer quick repair services when required.
The augmented product level creates additional value for customers since it adds more services and features that distinguish it from similar products offered by their competition. The additional services may include a free trial of the product, and free installation of the product. For instance, in the augmented product level, discounts may be offered when a consumer is purchasing a product. A free manual book may also be offered when purchasing the Smartfeeder, thus creating an augmented product that creates value for customers.