Which of these is NOT one of the four distinguishing characteristics of services?

The distinguishing characteristics of services help to differentiate them from goods, and they are key to understanding how services are marketed and consumed. The four recognized characteristics are intangibility, inseparability, variability (or instability), and perishability.

Intangibility refers to the fact that services cannot be seen, touched, or owned in the same way physical products can. This means consumers cannot evaluate services in the same way they can tangible products prior to purchase.

Inseparability indicates that services are often produced and consumed simultaneously. This characteristic means that the customer is typically present during the service delivery, and their involvement can affect the outcome of the service itself.

Perishability denotes that services cannot be stored or inventoried. Once a service is performed, it cannot be saved for later use. For example, a hotel room not booked for a night is a lost revenue opportunity that cannot be reclaimed.

The term “unstable” is not one of the four standard characteristics defining services. While variability can sometimes refer to inconsistencies in service delivery, it is not typically described with the term "unstable." Consequently, the correct response identifies that "C" does not belong to the established characteristics of services, which enhances the understanding of how services are distinct from tangible