The article examines
the relationship between product quality and price from the consumers'
perspective. It emphasizes that customer preferences are primarily influenced
by their income but also by factors such as age, education, and region. Based
on the classification of consumers into four groups according to income and
purchasing behavior (snob, demanding, standard, and undemanding customer), the
article demonstrates that higher-income groups place greater emphasis on
quality. A study conducted on a sample of 380 respondents compares quality
preferences across nine types of products (food, clothing, and drugstore
goods), and statistical analysis confirms that individuals with higher incomes
choose quality significantly more often. The results indicate that quality
preference increases with income, yet price remains a key decision-making
factor for lower-income groups.
