What does the term "customer satisfaction" measure?

Customer satisfaction is fundamentally about evaluating how well a product or service meets or exceeds the expectations of customers. This concept centers on the perceptions of those who use the product, taking into account their experiences and feedback. When customers indicate high satisfaction levels, it typically means that their needs and desires were effectively met or surpassed by the product.

In focusing on customer expectations, organizations can gain valuable insights into strengths and areas for improvement, making it a critical metric for overall business success and customer loyalty. Customer satisfaction is often gauged through surveys and feedback mechanisms that help businesses understand user experience and product performance.

The other options do not capture the essence of customer satisfaction. Costs of production relate to the financial aspect of manufacturing, while the quantity of products sold measures sales performance rather than user experience. The number of customer complaints can provide some insight into dissatisfaction but does not comprehensively reflect how well a product meets customer expectations. Therefore, the correct understanding of customer satisfaction is best encapsulated by how well a product aligns with what customers anticipate.