Two rival companies, Ajax and Zenon, offer trash and recycling pickup

Question

Two rival companies, Ajax and Zenon, offer trash and recycling pickup service to homes in a certain neighborhood. The costs for the two services are identical, as is the number of times that the trash and recycled materials are picked up each week. Despite this, Zenon consistently has a higher level of customer satisfaction among homeowners than does Ajax.

Which of the following, if true, does most to explain the difference in customer satisfaction between the two companies?

(A) Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled.
(B) Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks.
(C) Zenon has a greater media presence than does Ajax.
(D) Zenon has increased the number of homes it serves by 14% over the last 12 months.
(E) Zenon offers the removal of large items for businesses more cheaply than does any other competitor in the area Zenon serves.

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Question 30: Ajax vs. Zenon

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gmatcafe · Answer

IMO  A) 
The cost of services of both companies are the same and they pick up trash and recycled materials the same number of times each week. However, Zenon consistently has a higher level of customer satisfaction among homeowners than does Ajax. Something unique that Zenon offers to its customers may explain the difference in customer satisfaction between the two companies.

(A)  Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled.  Correct.  This is unique service offered by Zenon.
(B) Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks.  Incorrect. . The two companies make the same number of rounds.
(C) Zenon has a greater media presence than does Ajax.  Incorrect.  Media presence cannot lead to higher customer satisfaction.
(D) Zenon has increased the number of homes it serves by 14% over the last 12 months.  Incorrect.  Higher customer satisfaction cannot be related to the total number of customers.
(E) Zenon offers the removal of large items for businesses more cheaply than does any other competitor in the area Zenon serves.  Incorrect. . The service offered to  businesses  cannot result in higher customer satisfaction among  homeowners .

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Official Explanation:

Two rival companies, Ajax and Zenon, offer trash and recycling pickup service to homes in a certain neighborhood. The costs for the two services are identical, as is the number of times that the trash and recycled materials are picked up each week. Despite this, Zenon consistently has a higher level of customer satisfaction among homeowners than does Ajax.
 
 Which of the following, if true, does most to explain the difference in customer satisfaction between the two companies? 
 
 (A) Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled. 
 (B) Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks. 
 (C) Zenon has a greater media presence than does Ajax. 
 (D) Zenon has increased the number of homes it serves by 14% over the last 12 months. 
 (E) Zenon offers the removal of large items for businesses more cheaply than does any other competitor in the area Zenon serves.

Question Type:   Explain / Resolve Paradox
  Boil It Down:   Ajax and Zenon offer the same price and number of recycling pickups each week. Zenon has better customer satisfaction. 
  Goal:    Find the option that best explains WHY Zenon’s customer satisfaction is better than Ajax’s.

Analysis:  
The question asks for a piece of information that would help resolve an apparent discrepancy: One business has higher levels of customer satisfaction despite offering similar services for the same price. Note: This isn’t a logical argument with a conclusion and evidence (premises).
 
There must be something about Zenon that people prefer. The services are similar, but if, for example, Zenon provided something beyond what Ajax provides, that would be a likely explanation for the higher levels of customer satisfaction. This is what choice A states.
 
(A) Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled.
 This is the correct choice. Zenon provides glass pick-up; Ajax does not. This would likely be viewed favorably by customers, especially since everything else about the two businesses are the same as far as we know.

(B) Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks.
 There is no known reason why this would lead to greater levels of customer satisfaction. We would need more information to explain why some people view this difference in pick-up days favorably.

(C) Zenon has a greater media presence than does Ajax.
 This is irrelevant to the argument. We can’t say with any certainty what effect this has on customer satisfaction.

(D) Zenon has increased the number of homes it serves by 14% over the last 12 months.
 This might be because of something that Zenon has done, but it would not be a reason why customers prefer Zenon. That’s all we care about: why do they prefer Zenon?

(E) Zenon offers the removal of large items for businesses more cheaply than does any other competitor in the area Zenon serves.
 This is outside of the scope of the argument since it deals with businesses, not homes. Note that the scope of the argument is limited to “a higher level of customer satisfaction among homeowners.”

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EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Great explanation gmatcafe ! Kudos to you!

sayan640 · Answer

MartyMurray  Is this Q legit?
Option B is really close.

Posted from my mobile device

EMPOWERgmatVerbal · Answer

Hi sayan640,

Happy to help! While Option B might seem appealing, Option A is the definitive option because it directly explains the higher customer satisfaction with Zenon.

Let me clarify why:
 Option A:   "Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled."

Direct Benefit:  Zenon offers an additional service by collecting recyclable glass, which Ajax doesn't. 
  Customer Value:  This extra service is highly valued by environmentally conscious homeowners who want to recycle glass without extra hassle. 
  Clear Explanation:  Since both companies have identical costs and pickup frequencies, this added convenience from Zenon directly accounts for the higher customer satisfaction.  
 
Option B:   "Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks."

No Indicated Impact:  There's no information suggesting that the later pickup causes problems like overflowing trash or scheduling conflicts. 
  Weaker Connection:  Without evidence that pickup timing negatively affects customers, this doesn't strongly explain the satisfaction difference.  
 
Summing it up why option A is correct: 
 
  Directly Addresses the Issue:  Option A pinpoints a specific service difference that benefits customers. 
  Stronger Influence on Satisfaction:  Offering glass recycling is a significant advantage that can greatly enhance customer satisfaction. 
  Option B Lacks Impact:  Timing alone, without negative consequences, is less likely to cause a consistent difference in satisfaction.

krishkohal · Answer

This qs seems so stupid.. how can you assume people like their glass picked up? What if the home owners value their glass and don't want it picked up..? Same way you can't assume in option B that providing a service before hand is better or not same way you can't assume people like glass..

KarishmaB · Answer

Responding to a pm:

Ajax and Zenon are identical in - cost and number of time they service in a week. 
Still homeowners prefer Zenon means there is some differentiating factor for homeowners in Zenon.

(A) Unlike Ajax, Zenon picks up glass that can be recycled.

Zenon provides this service which Ajax does not. When homeowners need to recycle glass (which is a standard packaging material of consumer items) Zenon provides the service but Ajax does not. So it makes sense that homeowners like Zenon better.

(B) Ajax trucks make their rounds 2 days later in the week than do the Zenon trucks.

The frequency of rounds is the same. We are not given any exact days on which the rounds are made that homeowners may prefer. Whether the truck comes on Monday or Wednesday makes no difference. Next week also it will come on the same day. 
For this to make some difference, we should have been given something like: Zenon trucks come on Sunday which homeowners prefer because they are at home to manage etc.

(C) Zenon has a greater media presence than does Ajax.

Irrelevant to customer satisfaction of homeowners.

(D) Zenon has increased the number of homes it serves by 14% over the last 12 months.

Irrelevant to customer satisfaction of homeowners.

(E) Zenon offers the removal of large items for businesses more cheaply than does any other competitor in the area Zenon serves.

The services offered to businesses are irrelevant since we are talking about homeowners only.

Answer (A)

Two rival companies, Ajax and Zenon, offer trash and recycling pickup

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

Two rival companies, Ajax and Zenon, offer trash and recycling pickup

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