Which of the following best describes order qualifiers?

Order qualifiers are the fundamental criteria that a product or service must meet in order to be considered by customers for purchase. They represent the minimum attributes or characteristics that allow a product to be part of the competitive set in a market. For example, if customers expect a certain level of quality, price, or delivery time, these expectations become the order qualifiers. Without satisfying these minimum criteria, a product is unlikely to gain any traction in the marketplace.

While the other options present concepts relevant to customer relationships and market dynamics, they do not accurately encapsulate the idea of order qualifiers. Value-added services offered to customers focus more on enhancing the value proposition and customer experience, which goes beyond just qualifying a product. Standards that exceed customer expectations align more with order winners, which are the attributes that truly differentiate products in the eyes of consumers. Factors influencing pricing pertain to cost and market dynamics but do not address the minimal requirements necessary for a product to be considered viable by consumers.