Which of the following is a valid way to determine a customer's service needs?

• A. Survey customers in the area
• B. Place phone calls
• C. Send out surveys in local newspapers
• D. Talk with individuals interested in the service

Answer: (A)

Gathering direct input from a broad cross-section of potential customers in the area through surveys is the most effective way to determine what services are needed. It provides representative data on which services people want, preferred features, how often they’d use them, and what price ranges they’re willing to pay. Focusing on the local area ensures the findings reflect the actual market you’re serving, helping you tailor offerings, set appropriate levels of service, and plan staffing and timing.

Other approaches tend to be narrower or less reliable: talking with individuals who already express interest captures only a small subset and may miss broader needs; placing phone calls can be intrusive and yield lower response rates; and newspaper surveys often reach a non-target audience with uneven response, making the results less representative of local demand.