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"The good quality can't compensate for the high price."
"Its high price can't be compensated with good quality."
"Its high price can't be compensated by good quality."
"Its high price can't be compensated for by good quality."
"Its high price can't be compensated for with good quality."

I am mostly confused whether this verb takes "for" or not especially in the 4th and 5th examples. (I can't edit the question myself doesn't work on phone)

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  • can't be compensated for... To compensate, and to compensate for, have different meanings.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Nov 22, 2016 at 11:55
  • what are those meanings? To me its to "equalize something" in all 3,
    – ChadThunder
    Nov 22, 2016 at 13:53
  • 2
    Someone can compensate you for work you have performed, that is, pay you. A young footballer, say, might compensate for being slightly underweight and below average in height by developing excellent foot skills and speed.
    – Tᴚoɯɐuo
    Nov 22, 2016 at 15:41
  • Did I split the fourth example correctly?
    – Jasper
    Nov 22, 2016 at 16:32

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"Compensate with" is the instrumental form: someone is using something as a compensatory agent.

"Compensate for" refers to the shortcoming for which compensation is needed.

Your example, slightly rephrased: "Its high quality cannot compensate for its high price". Or "Its high price cannot be compensated [for] by its high quality". The "for" in the second form is more US than Commonwealth usage.

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