A frequently used framework for classifying products distinguishes between consumer and
industrial goods. For example, Samsung offers products and services to both consumers and businesses
worldwide. Consumer and industrial goods, in turn, can be further classified on the basis
of criteria such as buyer orientation. Buyer orientation is a composite measure of the amount of
effort a customer expends, tle level of risk associated with a purchase, and buyer involvement in
the purchase. The buyer orientation framework includes such categories as convenience, preference,
shopping, and specialty goods. Electronics products are often high-involvement purchases,
and many shoppers will compare several brands before making a decision. Products can also be
categorized in terms of their life span (durable, nondurable, and disposable). Samsung and other
electronics companies market products that are meant to last for many years; in other words, they
are durable goods. As these examples from the electronics industry suggest, traditional product
classification frameworks are fully applicable to global marketing.