Steve Beatty, the Head Salesperson of a Computer Company, Contracts

question 217

Multiple Choice

Steve Beatty, the head salesperson of a computer company, contracts with a supplier for technical equipment. Just before the winter holiday, a greeting card comes to his home address from the president of the supplier. In it, he finds a Best Buy gift card worth $500, with a note that says, "Go buy some toys for the kids." His children are excited, because they had been looking forward to getting some newly released video game equipment. Beatty looks at his firm's formal code of ethics and finds that employees are cautioned not to accept gifts from suppliers for their own personal use. It does not specifically say that gifts for family members are included. He decides to keep the card.
Which of the following, if true, most clearly makes Beatty's action professionally unsupportable?

• A) The supplier's low prices have helped the computer company remain competitive with rival companies in its local market.
• B) The supplier needs continued business from the computer company to remain financially viable.
• C) Beatty is not the only person responsible for recommending which bids to accept from suppliers.
• D) Beatty's work contract states that employees must report all gifts from people associated with firms with which they do business.
• E) Rumour has it that other employees also received similar gift cards from the supplier and did not report them.