Quality - what is it, and how do you measure it?

Recently overheard in the showroom: "I don't want granite from India or China, because I think it is lower quality."
So, is every supplier in India sending rubbish?
Of course the answer is no. At some point a customer has to invest some time into investigating the credibility of their supplier.
I try to engage with our customers and define what they really expect from their new granite worktops. If you ask an open question about what is important in the purchase, most people cite price and quality as the two most important determinants.
If the two are mutually antipathetic, then which will dominate? This depends on the individual, but also on their understanding of the variable nature of a natural product, their willingness to pay at a price point commensurate with their desired quality, and the ability of the supplier to be open and transparent about their offer.
If I meet a customer who is determined to pay the least amount possible, then I can normally find some material to meet this need. It is not the same stone as we would offer to the person who values quality and is prepared to pay for it.
This equation applies to all supplies from all sources. We make sure that we buy excellent quality, and although we pay something of a premium for it, we do not want to be associated with less discerning importers who are happy to bring in tons of granite from China and India which they can only sell at a low price because of the desperately low quality.
Having built a relationship with our Indian supplier, we are sure that their understanding of quality is the same as ours, and once our customers see the value we place on this, they are normally prepared to pay the small premium to buy the right stone for their kitchen.