Sales Chapter 3

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30. Green River ordinances require that industrial salespeople who sell complex machineries to organizations be licensed before approaching customers.

FALSE

31. Principle-based statements generally outline the procedures to be used in specific ethical situations.

FALSE

32. A person who engages in whistle-blowing is called an ethics ombudsperson.

FALSE

5. Individuals at the principled moral level base ethical decisions on laws and consequences.

FALSE

8. A sales executive makes decisions based upon what her boss says is right; this person is at the principled level of moral development.

FALSE

58. At the preconventional moral development level, an individual conforms to the expectations of others.

FALSE Answer: True Explanation: Individuals at the preconventional moral development stage break moral and legal laws when they can get away with no matter what others expect. Those at the conventional level conform to expectations and maintain laws.

51. An individual operating in the _____ level of moral development would disobey orders, laws, and consequences to follow personal ethics and values. A. voluntary. B. principled. C. conventional. D. habitual. E. preconventional.

B. principled.

48. Which of the following terms refers to an extra-large customer that generates significantly more revenue for a salesperson than other customers? A. Balanced account. B. Outsourced account. C. Retail account. D. House account. E. Key account.

E. Key account. Explanation: Key accounts are those that involve extra-large customers and generate a great deal of sales. House accounts are handled by a salesperson from the home office.

47. On the job, Jack acts purely in his own best interest. He follows company rules only to avoid being fired. At what level of moral development is Jack most likely functioning? A. Unrestricted. B. Principled. C. Conventional. D. Mature. E. Preconventional.

E. Preconventional

62. Josh Damon sells industrial-sized heating and cooling systems. His territory includes Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. Management at Damon's firm has decided to increase the number of territories in each sales region. Damon will most likely be excited about the opportunity this presents for him to earn more money.

False. Explanation: An increase in the number of sales territories usually necessitates splitting a single territory, which takes customers away from a salesperson. Josh will not be happy because his earnings will decrease.

68. It is easy to distinguish between a gift and a bribe.

False. Explanation: Distinguishing between gifts and bribes is problematic, which is why many firms forbid their buyers to accept any gifts from salespeople.

63. If a salesperson has a drug or alcohol problem, a manager has the ethical responsibility to fire the individual based on right-to-work laws.

False. Explanation: Right-to-work laws relate to unions and are irrelevant to a salesperson with drug and alcohol problems. An ethical manager would most likely offer support to the salesperson and require the salesperson to seek substance abuse treatment.

70. Generally, the more knowledgeable the customer, the greater the chances the court will interpret an incorrect statement by a salesperson as an actionable misrepresentation rather than as sales puffery.

False. Explanation: There is a subtle difference between sales puffery and statements of fact; they can be difficult to distinguish. In general, the courts interpret a statement as actionable when a customer lacks knowledge about a product sold by a salesperson.

11. A fixed point of reference refers to something that provides the correct action to take in any situation and never gets tailored to fit an occasion.

TRUE

12. Multiple world religions adhere to the Golden Rule.

TRUE

15. If management decides to increase the number of territories in a state, there is a possibility the earnings of the salespeople working that state will decrease.

TRUE

16. Today employers have the right to terminate salespeople for poor performance, excessive absenteeism, unsafe conduct, and poor organizational citizenship.

TRUE

17. The right to be free of sexual harassment is a part of the 1980 EEOC guidelines.

TRUE

4. An individual in the pre-conventional stage of morality asks, "What can I get away with?"

TRUE

6. Most sales people operate at the conventional level of moral development.

TRUE

7. Sales representatives at the preconventional moral development level would most likely be unconcerned about lying to customers if getting caught was unlikely.

TRUE

9. Morals refer to people's adherence to right or wrong behavior and right or wrong thinking.

TRUE

98. Which of the following statements about ethical dilemmas is true? A. Ethical dilemmas occur because many ethical standards are not classified. B. Friends and family are never the cause of an ethical dilemma. C. Cultural differences are never the source of ethical dilemmas. D. Ethical dilemmas occur when right and wrong are clearly identified. E. Ethical dilemmas are rare when the available choices all have unethical elements.

A. Ethical dilemmas occur because many ethical standards are not classified. Explanation: Because ethical standards are not classified, disagreements and dilemmas about proper behavior often occur. An ethical dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative choice or behavior has some undesirable elements due to potentially negative ethical or personal consequences. Friends, family, and culture may or may not play roles in ethical dilemmas.

37. Which of the following factors has the LEAST influence on an individual's core belief system? A. Physical appearance. B. Religious background. C. Family upbringing. D. Life experiences. E. Personality.

A. Physical appearance Explanation: Personality, religious background, family upbringing, personal experiences, and the situation faced are examples of factors shaping our core belief system. Physical appearance is less influential than the other factors on a person's core beliefs.

94. According to the text, a _____ would tell Rob Loughton he should return the stolen competitive information to its owner without examining it even though the information would more than likely result in a large commission for Loughton. A. fixed point of reference. B. frame of conventional reference. C. compass point. D. moral sextant. E. directional code of ethics.

A. fixed point of reference. Explanation: A fixed point of reference refers to something that provides the correct action to take in any situation and never gets tailored to fit an occasion. This fixed point of reference would guide Rob to make the most ethical decision.

42. An ongoing Barna Research study finds that all of the following are primary influences on the ethical and moral decision-making process of Americans EXCEPT: A. religion. B. books. C. the Internet. D. television. E. family.

A. religion. Barna Research is conducting an ongoing study of sources influencing Americans' ethical and moral decision-making processes. In early returns, Barna found the leading influencers in American society to be movies, television, the Internet, books, music, public policy and law, and family.

91. "I don't care what the boss said. It's wrong and I'm not going to do it. If I get fired, then that's just the way it'll have to be." The salesperson who just made this statement to a co-worker is apparently working at the _____ level of moral development. A. nondiscriminatory. B. principled. C. conventional. D. consensual. E. preconventional

B. principled. Explanation: A principled person does the right thing no matter what, even if it means getting fired. A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to receive rewards or avoid punishment. At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws.

53. The person who operates at the _____ level of moral development would adhere to the Golden Rule of Selling. A. intentional. B. principled. C. conventional. D. discretionary. E. preconventional.

B. principled. Explanation: The majority of sales personnel, as well as people in general, operate at the conventional level. However, a few individuals are at level 1, and it is estimated that less than 20 percent of individuals reach level 3.

83. How can an employer reduce its liability in sexual harassment complaints? A. Requiring thorough background checks. B. Encouraging cross-cultural training exercises. C. Implementing effective internal grievance procedures. D. Monitoring the social environment of employees. E. Utilizing effective recruitment and selection practices.

C. Implementing effective internal grievance procedures. Explanation: Many companies are concerned about sexual harassment, and they educate employees about inappropriate behavior with brochures and training. A key factor in determining liability is whether the employer has an effective internal grievance procedure that allows employees to bypass immediate supervisors (who are often the offenders).

40. According to the text, why do most employees in organizations succumb to questionable ethical standards or only follow formal policies? A. Most people are in the conventional and principled levels of moral development. B. Few organizations develop and enforce very stringent codes of ethics. C. Most people are in the preconventional and conventional levels of moral development. D. Few people in an organization are considered stakeholders or stockholders. E. Most people exhibit behavior that is close to the principled level of moral development.

C. Most people are in the preconventional and conventional levels of moral development. Explanation: The vast majority of people in our society are at the preconventional or conventional level. Therefore, most employees in an organization feel they must "go along to get along"; in other words, they acquiesce to questionable ethical standards to keep their jobs. At most, they only follow formal policies and procedures.

100. Which of the following questions is LEAST relevant to the level of pressure a manager places on a salesperson? A. What are the sales group goals? B. What motivates the salesperson? C. What is the industry standard? D. How big is the territory? E. What goals are realistic?

C. What is the industry standard? Explanation: Managers have to determine an appropriate level of pressure to place on salespeople. Factors to consider are the goals of the group, the personal motivation of each salesperson, the size of the territory, and the achievable nature of the goal.

84. Most federal laws regarding personnel files are directed at: A. large corporations. B. private firms. C. government employers. D. small businesses. E. publicly-traded companies.

C. government employers. Explanation: Although several federal laws influence record keeping, they are primarily directed at public employers. However, many private employers are giving employees the right to access their personnel files.

97. Ethical behavior: A. assumes that an economic level of social responsibility exists in the organization. B. assumes that the individual is operating at an unrestricted moral level. C. refers to following the rules and treating others fairly. D. assumes that human interaction is reciprocal. E. refers to adhering to a generic religious principle.

C. refers to following the rules and treating others fairly. Explanation: Ethical behavior means treating others fairly. It involves being honest, truthful, rule-abiding, and loyal.

93. The Golden Rule of Selling requires people whose personal character is at level: A. 0. B. 1. C. 2. D. 3. E. 4.

D. 3. Explanation: The Golden Rule of Selling requires people whose personal character is at level 3, which is the highest level of moral development. Such principled people have caring attitudes and recognize the rights of others, and they act based on personal, independently defined universal principles of justice and values.

54. Which of the following is LEAST likely an ethical issue faced by most sales managers? A. Employee rights. B. Sales territories. C. Sales pressure. D. Benefits flexibility. E. Personnel substance abuse.

D. Benefits flexibility. Explanation: Five ethical considerations sales managers face are the level of sales pressure to place on a salesperson, decisions concerning a salesperson's territory, whether to be honest with the salesperson, what to do with an ill salesperson, and employee rights. Employee benefits are unlikely to cause ethical dilemmas for sales managers.

80. Which term refers to the rights desired by employees regarding their job security and treatment by employers? A. Cultural acceptance. B. Human rights. C. Affirmative action. D. Employee rights. E. Workers' compensation.

D. Employee rights. Explanation: Employee rights are rights desired by employees regarding their job security and their treatment by employers while on the job, irrespective of whether those rights are currently protected by law or collective bargaining agreements of labor unions.

81. Suzanne, a sales representative at MedEx, a pharmaceutical firm, was being sexually harassed by her manager, Phil. After Suzanne refused to submit to Phil's advances, he threatened to fire her. Suzanne can most likely sue MedEx based on which type of sexual harassment? A. Hostile environment. B. Cooperative acceptance. C. De facto termination. D. Quid pro quo. E. Employment-at-will.

D. Quid pro quo. Explanation: Suzanne could sue based on quid pro quo, which is when an employee who refuses to submit to a superior's sexual advances is threatened with dismissal or other sanctions. The second type of sexual harassment is hostile environment harassment; it occurs when jokes, graffiti, and other behavior are directed at persons of the opposite sex.

36. Which term refers to the different beliefs people have about the world around them? A. Multiculturalism. B. Social morals. C. World ethics. D. Worldview. E. Citizenship.

D. Worldview Explanation: Because people have different beliefs about the world around them, referred to as a person's worldview, they tend to have different views on ethics and morality. Morals refer to a person's adherence to right or wrong behavior and thinking.

52. The majority of sales personnel operate at the _____ level of moral development. A. intentional. B. principled. C. discretionary. D. conventional. E. preconventional.

D. conventional.

46. All of the following are involved in the majority of sales people's ethical issues EXCEPT: A. co-workers. B. managers. C. customers. D. friends. E. employers.

D. friends. Explanation: Most ethical issues that sales personnel face involve other salespeople, employers, managers, and customers.

60. Ethical behavior refers to conducting yourself in the proper manner and treating others fairly.

True. Explanation: Ethical behavior involves treating others with fairness, being honest, and behaving in a proper manner.

155. What complaint could be lodged against a salesperson who claimed that if you bought the mattress she was selling, you would never have any more backaches?

Answer: Misrepresentation and breach of warranty

159. Which of the following is the underlying focus of the Golden Rule? A. Respecting the dignity of individuals B. Showing fairness with competitors. C. Being conscientious at all times. D. Showing trustworthiness. E. Recognizing good deeds.

A. Respecting the dignity of individuals Explanation: Respect for the dignity of the individual is at the heart of the universal moral code referred to as "the Golden Rule" by most people of the world. Salespeople with integrity, trustworthiness, character, and values are considered Golden Rule Salespeople and are sought after and needed in today's business world.

145. According to the text, what is the single most important factor in improving the climate for ethical behavior in a sales force? A. The actions taken by top management. B. The establishment of whistle-blowing procedures. C. Effective goal-setting programs. D. Quick disciplinary action against offenders. E. The development of ethics training seminars.

A. The actions taken by top management. Explanation: Studies show that it is critical for top management to guide the ethical character of an organization. Ethics training and committees are irrelevant if top managers do not exhibit and support ethical behavior from employees.

82. According to the U.S. Supreme Court, sexual harassment violates ________ if it is unwelcome and "sufficiently severe" and creates an "abusive working environment." A. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. B. Fair Labor Standards Act. C. Employee Privacy Law. D. Taft-Hartley Act. E. Wagner Act

A. Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Explanation: In 1986, the Supreme Court held unanimously that sexual harassment violates Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act if it is unwelcome and "sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment."

38. Which of the following questions would most likely be asked by a person at the preconventional level of moral development? A. What can I get away with? B. What does my family want me to do? C. What am I legally required to do? D. What is the right thing to do? E. What does society expect from me?

A. What can I get away with? Explanation: A person at the preconventional level makes decisions based on what he or she can get away with. A conventional level person is concerned about laws and the expectations of family and society.

130. If a manufacturer requires that its wholesalers and retailers buy merchandise only from it, the contract is a(n) _____ contract. A. exclusive dealership. B. reciprocity. C. product discrimination. D. deceptive slotting. E. price discrimination

A. exclusive dealership. Explanation:

55. A(n) _____ would tell Quinton that he should return unauthorized competitive information to its owner without examining it, even though the information would more than likely result in a large commission for Quinton. A. fixed point of reference. B. employee rights clause. C. mandatory cooling off period. D. preconventional moral maturity. E. directional code of ethics.

A. fixed point of reference

115. The salesperson promised the radio station manager that the new $30,000 computer system would be compatible with the equipment already used by the station. When the new computer system proved not to be compatible even after an additional $10,000 worth of new software, the station manager sued the salesperson and his company for: A. misrepresentation and breach of warranty. B. misuse of relationship marketing. C. violation of Title VII. D. violation of the Robinson-Patman Act. E. failure to adhere to the rules of full disclosure.

A. misrepresentation and breach of warranty. Explanation: Misrepresentation occurs when a salesperson provides false information to a customer. Companies around the United States have been liable for million-dollar judgments for making such mistakes, particularly when their salespeople sold high-ticket, high-tech products or services.

165. After Glenda promises a potential customer that a new office arrangement will increase productivity by 50%, the customer signs a contract with Innovative Installers for the furniture and service. However, Glenda made this assertion without any valid data as support. Glenda could possibly be guilty of: A. misrepresentation. B. bribery. C. reciprocity. D. exclusive dealership. E. sales restrictions.

A. misrepresentation. Explanation: When a customer relies on a salesperson's statements, purchases the product or service, and then finds that it fails to perform as promised, the supplier can be sued for misrepresentation. Glenda could be guilty of misrepresentation for her assertions.

132. NewShine Floor Co. manufactures floor mats. It has agreed to buy all of its light bulbs and fixtures from Luminous Lighting if Luminous will agree to buy and use NewShine safety mats in its factory. This is an example of: A. reciprocity. B. tie-in sales. C. price discrimination D. a Green River dealership. E. an exclusive kickback.

A. reciprocity. Explanation: Reciprocity involves agreeing to buy a product from one person if they return the favor. A tie-in sale occurs when a buyer is required to buy unwanted products in order to purchase another product.

117. When the salesperson says to the new prospective customer, "I believe my company sells the best mattresses and that you can't find any better," it is an example of: A. sales puffery. B. an illegal act. C. a statement of fact. D. price discrimination. E. a breach of warranty.

A. sales puffery. Explanation: Sales puffery refers to statements made by salespeople that describe a product in glowing terms. Such statements are viewed as opinions and are generally not considered unethical.

85. Two major influences on the ethical behavior of sales personnel are: A. the organization's employees and the organization itself. B. the organization's production and finance departments. C. internal and external organizational environments. D. national and international policies. E. the organization's customers and stockholders.

A. the organization's employees and the organization itself. Explanation: The ethical behavior of sales personnel is influenced by co-workers and the organization. Top management at a firm has an especially strong influence on the firm and its employees.

152. What are the two major influences on the ethical behavior of sales personnel? Answer: Employees and the organization itself

Answer: Employees and the organization itself

109. Which of the following would be an example of a salesperson who is moonlighting unethically? A. A retail sales clerk who works Monday through Friday and is taking a weekend MBA program. B. A building supply salesperson who sells vacation real estate on company time. C. A travel agent who sells antiques on the Internet during the weekends. D. A fire equipment salesperson who demonstrates her equipment to prospects by setting real fires. E. A retail ad salesperson who tells his wife when store sales are scheduled before they are announced to the public.

B. A building supply salesperson who sells vacation real estate on company time. Explanation: Moonlighting occurs when an employee takes a second job or attends classes on company time. Employees who work second jobs or take classes during their off hours are not moonlighting.

111. Which of the following statements about bribery is most likely true? A. Bribes always involve money. B. Bribery accounts for more than half of all white-collar crimes in the U.S. C. Commissioned salespeople cannot be bribed because of the commission system. D. The difference between a business gift and a bribe is quite clear. E. Bar bills, meals, and entertainment are always considered bribes.

B. Bribery accounts for more than half of all white-collar crimes in the U.S. Explanation: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that bribes and kickbacks account for $27 billion of the annual $50 billion in white collar crime. Bribes, which can involve gifts and travel, are often hard to detect because in some cases they may be legitimate gifts.

134. What is reciprocity? A. Obeying the Golden Rule of Sales. B. Buying a product from someone if that person agrees to buy from you. C. Sharing competitive intelligence, D. Creating win-win buyinB. Buying a product from someone if that person agrees to buy from you. C. Sharing competitive intelligence, D. Creating win-win buying situations. E. A mutually-beneficial buying situation that does not lessen competition.

B. Buying a product from someone if that person agrees to buy from you. Explanation: Reciprocity involves agreeing to buy a product from one person if they return the favor. Reciprocity is considered illegal if it hurts competition.

28. U.S. salespeople competing in foreign countries are required to comply with the laws of the foreign country rather than U.S. laws, which are not applicable overseas.

FALSE

120. Which of the following statements about misrepresentation is false? A. When salespeople loosely describe their goods or services in glowing terms, those statements cannot be relied upon by the potential buyer. B. Courts tend to favor salespersons in misrepresentation cases when the customer lacks product knowledge. C. When a salesperson makes claims of a "factual nature" regarding a service's inherent capabilities, the law treats these comments as statements of fact and warranties. D. A salesperson's opinion of the quality of the product being sold is known as sales puffery and is not legally actionable. E. To "stay legal" a salesperson needs to understand the difference between general statements of praise and statements of fact.

B. Courts tend to favor salespersons in misrepresentation cases when the customer lacks product knowledge. Explanation: Courts tend to rule in favor of customers who lack knowledge about a product. In contrast, when a knowledgeable person makes a poor purchase the courts tend to favor the salesperson assuming that the buyer should have been more wary of the product and the salesperson's inaccurate claims.

96. _____ are the codes of moral principles and values that govern the behaviors of a person or a group with respect to what is wrong. A. Laws. B. Ethics. C. Principled heuristics. D. Sociocultural norms. E. Governing norms.

B. Ethics. Explanation: In a general sense, ethics are the codes of moral principles and values that govern the behaviors of a person or a group with respect to what is right or wrong. Ethics set standards for what is good or bad in conduct and decision making.

126. Which of the following marketing tactics would most likely trigger an ethical dilemma? A. Prospecting. B. Reciprocity. C. Cooperative acceptance. D. Seasonal discounts. E. Loyalty programs

B. Reciprocity. Explanation: Reciprocity involves agreeing to buy a product from once source if they agree to reciprocate and buy a product from you. Reciprocity can lead to ethical dilemmas unlike prospecting, discounts, and loyalty programs, which are ethical components of marketing.

140. According to surveys, which of the following statements about how managers view sales ethics is true? A. Sales goals force managers to act even more ethically than they ordinarily would. B. Some sales managers lower their ethical standards to meet job goals. C. Few managers feel that they face ethical problems in the workplace. D. Most managers are unaware of any unethical behavior in their industry. E. Most managers feel that they and their employees are operating as ethically as possible.

B. Some sales managers lower their ethical standards to meet job goals. Explanation: Surveys show that most managers want to be more ethical but they sometimes lower their ethical standards to meet sales goals. All managers feel they face ethical problems, and most are aware of industry and company ethical issues.

139. Which of the following statements about the international side of ethics is false? A. A salesperson competing in a foreign country may find himself/herself competing with foreign companies who are allowed to do things considered unethical by U.S. standards. B. Those parts of the world that do not conform to U.S. ethical standards are limited to just three geographic areas. C. Ethics related to employees and community are often more difficult to understand when doing business in another country. D. Every employee of a U.S. company is subject to U.S. law regardless of the country in which business is conducted. E. The vast majority of international companies have high ethical standards.

B. Those parts of the world that do not conform to U.S. ethical standards are limited to just three geographic areas. Explanation: Most international firms have high ethical standards, and the ones that do not cannot be defined to a specific region or culture. U.S. firms operating overseas must comply with U.S. ethical laws.

39. Which of the following questions would most likely be asked by a person at the principled level of moral development? A. What does society expect from me? B. What is the right thing to do? C. What am I legally required to do? D. What does my family want me to do? E. What can I get away with?

B. What is the right thing to do? Explanation: A principled person does the right thing even if it goes against the law or people's expectations. A person at the preconventional level makes decisions based on what he or she can get away with. A conventional level person is concerned about laws and the expectations of family and society.

127. If a video game manufacturer required its resellers to stock a line of games based on the financially-disappointing movie War of the Worlds in order to carry games based on the very popular TV show Survivor, it would be an example of: A. misrepresentation. B. a tie-in sale. C. reciprocal selling. D. a Green River dealership. E. discriminatory selling.

B. a tie-in sale. Explanation: Requiring a customer to buy one product when buying another product is known as a tie-in sale. Such actions are prohibited under the Clayton Act because they lessen competition.

41. According to a survey of adult Americans, people are most likely to base ethical and moral decisions on: A. legal outcomes. B. current situations. C. principles of justice. D. historical cultures. E. religious standards.

B. current situations. In a February 12, 2002, national poll, American adults said by a 3-to-1 margin that truth is always relative to a person's situation. People are most likely to make their moral and ethical decisions on the basis of whatever feels right or comfortable in a situation.

136. A Green River ordinance states that: A. door-to-door sales are illegal unless being made for nonprofit organizations like schools and Girl Scouts. B. door-to-door salespersons who are not residents of the city in which they do business must purchase sales licenses. C. all persons selling directly to consumers must pay a bond. D. door-to-door sales are not allowed within city limits. E. all salespeople in a city must obtain a sales license.

B. door-to-door salespersons who are not residents of the city in which they do business must purchase sales licenses. Explanation: Under Green River ordinances, cities require persons selling directly to consumers to be licensed by the city in which they do business if they are not residents and to pay a license fee. A bond also may be required in some places.

90. Courtney Lee works for a travel agency. The company has spent several hundred dollars promoting a trip to a country that is undergoing a great deal of political unrest. Lee has been told that if she wants to keep her job, she needs to get at least three couples to sign up for this trip. Instead, Lee handed in her letter of resignation because she refused to sell a potentially dangerous trip to her customers. Lee is functioning at the _____ level of moral development. A. biblical. B. principled. C. conventional. D. discretionary. E. preconventional

B. principled. Explanation: A principled person, such as Lee, does the right thing no matter if it means losing her job. She is guided by internal morals and values. A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to receive rewards or avoid punishment. At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws.

131. "I'll tell you what," said Tim. "I'll buy all my building supplies from your company if you'll make sure your people rent generators from my firm." Tim is proposing: A. receivership.. B. reciprocity.. C. a tie-in sale.. D. price bartering.. E. discriminatory selling.

B. reciprocity. Explanation: Reciprocity involves agreeing to buy a product from one person if they return the favor. A tie-in sale occurs when a buyer is required to buy unwanted products in order to purchase another product.

128. "I'll let you sell the Harley-Davidson designer clothes only if you'll also sell a new line of clothes designed by Paula Abdul, too." This statement made by a salesperson to a specialty retailer is potentially an example of _____ and may be in violation of the Clayton Act prohibition if the action substantially lessens competition. A. misrepresentation. B. tie-in sales. C. reciprocity. D. price discrimination. E. kickbacks

B. tie-in sales. Explanation: Requiring a customer to buy one product when buying another product is known as a tie-in sale and is prohibited under the Clayton Act. Reciprocity involves agreeing to buy a product from one person if they agree to buy a product from you.

122. Which of the following statements, if false, would most likely have legal consequences? A. "You're going to love this new mattress!" B. "We are the metropolitan area's low price leader." C. "We offer a 100 percent order-fill rate; you'll never experience a back-order." D. "Our employees have extensive training in how to pamper our customers." E. "Your own mother can't care for you as well as our staff!"

C. "We offer a 100 percent order-fill rate; you'll never experience a back-order." Explanation: Making claims or predictions about specific results can lead to misrepresentation lawsuits if failure to uphold the claim occurs. Exaggerations are considered sales puffery and are typically not upheld by the law as statements of fact.

50. A salesperson has been given the intellectual property of a competitor. The salesperson, who is uncertain how to handle the situation, seeks the guidance of an attorney. The salesperson is most likely operating at which level of moral development? A. Philanthropic. B. Principled. C. Conventional. D. Restricted. E. Preconventional.

C. Conventional.

88. Tina perceives herself to be a responsible person because she does not misuse company assets, she is always truthful, and she treats others fairly. She upholds moral and legal laws and conforms to the expectations of others. At which level of moral development is Tina operating? A. Consensual. B. Principled. C. Conventional. D. Discretionary. E. Preconventional

C. Conventional. Explanation: At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws. A principled person does the right thing no matter what and is guided by internal morals and values. A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to receive rewards or avoid punishment.

89. A salesperson asks, "What am I legally required to do with this?" when deciding whether to return competitive intelligence that was gathered by stealing company data. At which level of moral development is this salesperson operating? A. Economically. B. Principled. C. Conventional. D. Restricted. E. Preconventional.

C. Conventional. Explanation: At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws. A principled person does the right thing no matter what and is guided by internal morals and values. A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to receive rewards or avoid punishment.

92. Most salespeople operate at what level of moral development? A. Consensual. B. Principled. C. Conventional. D. Discretionary. E. Responsive

C. Conventional. Explanation: The majority of sales personnel, as well as people in general, operate at the conventional level. However, a few individuals are at level 1, and it is estimated that less than 20 percent of individuals reach level 3.

105. Which of the following statements about employee rights is true? A. Employee rights are based on what the employer deems is fair and equitable. B. The terminate-at-will rule first came about during a 1940 court case, C. Cooperative acceptance is an employee right referring to fair treatment. D. Privacy is only an employee right with private firms not public entities. E. Reciprocity is an employee right guaranteed by federal laws

C. Cooperative acceptance is an employee right referring to fair treatment. Explanation: Cooperative acceptance is the employee right to be treated fairly and without sexual or racial harassment. Termination-at-will was established by the courts in 1903. Employee rights apply to private and public employees.

119. Which of the following statements about sales puffery is true? A. The difference between sales puffery and statements of fact is easy to distinguish. B. Misrepresentation cases are judged on the use of standardized words and phrases. C. Generally, the less knowledgeable the customer, the greater the chances the court will interpret a statement as actionable. D. A salesperson's statements of puffery should be taken at face value and considered factual. E. Puffery typically occurs when a salesperson deliberately makes erroneous statements.

C. Generally, the less knowledgeable the customer, the greater the chances the court will interpret a statement as actionable. Explanation: Courts tend to rule in favor of customers who lack knowledge about a product. In contrast, when a knowledgeable person makes a poor purchase the courts tend to favor the salesperson assuming that the buyer should have been more wary of the product and the salesperson's inaccurate claims.

95. According to the text, businesses use the _____ to serve as a universal, practical, and helpful standard for businessmen. A. Hindu Mahabharata. B. sayings of Confucius. C. Golden Rule. D. Beatitudes. E. Torah

C. Golden Rule. Explanation: The Golden Rule means doing to others without expecting anything in return, and it is used by businesses as a standard for morality in the workplace. Many religions follow the Golden Rule in one form or another.

43. According to the text, your conscience is usually not the best guide for making moral and ethical decisions because it: A. is at the conventional level. B. remains too stationary. C. changes based on the situation. D. is too distant from the circumstances. E. relies on conflicting belief systems.

C. changes based on the situation. Explanation: A fixed point of reference refers to something that provides the correct action to take in any situation and never gets tailored to fit an occasion. This fixed point of reference must be separate from you; otherwise you will be changing the rules based upon your best interest in various situations. This is why your conscience is usually not your best guide to making moral and ethical decisions.

101. Linda Moore is a commission salesperson whose territory for the last nine years has been the entire state of Virginia. Through hard work she has greatly increased her company's business in the region. Now her manager has decided to split the state into two territories. Moore can most likely expect to: A. receive additional key accounts. B. earn more sales revenue. C. earn less sales revenue. D. gain more customers. E. be fired from her job.

C. earn less sales revenue. Explanation: Reducing the size of Linda's territory will most likely cause a loss of revenue for Linda because she'll have fewer customers and accounts. Key accounts are extra-large customers, and Linda will probably have to share some of those with another salesperson.

162. Managerial concern about the solvency of Innovative Installers has led to excessive pressure on salespeople to sell unneeded services to customers. The issue of whether the company should be more concerned about maintaining its existence or providing the best possible service to its customers produces a(n): A. social impasse. B. discretionary responsibility. C. ethical dilemma. D. policy-based moral development. E. sales dilemma.

C. ethical dilemma. Explanation: An ethical dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative choice or behavior has some undesirable elements due to potentially negative ethical or personal consequences. Salespeople want to boost sales for the firm but also need to be ethical with their customers.

99. Your brother Craig sells art collectibles. He knows that your boss collects early 20th century baseball memorabilia and he has asked that you introduce him to your boss and to endorse his background as an ethical antiques dealer. You know that in the past Craig has sold some items that were not what he claimed they were and you suspect that some of his baseball memorabilia might be forgeries. Your mother is pressuring you to help your brother make this sale. This is an example of a(n): A. social impasse. B. discretionary responsibility. C. ethical dilemma. D. policy-based moral development. E. sales dilemma.

C. ethical dilemma. Explanation: Because ethical standards are not classified, disagreements and dilemmas about proper behavior often occur even among family members. An ethical dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative choice or behavior has some undesirable elements due to potentially negative ethical or personal consequences.

114. While buying some land, Mike asked the seller's solicitor if there were any restrictive covenants on the land; the solicitor said he did not know of any. What the solicitor failed to mention was that he had not bothered to read the documents. This failure on the part of the solicitor to disclose the state of affairs to Mike amounts to: A. misuse of relationship marketing. B. sales puffery. C. misrepresentation. D. a warranty of fact. E. a statement of fact.

C. misrepresentation. Explanation: The solicitor is guilty of misrepresentation because he lied about reading the documents about the land. Mike relied on the solicitor to provide both knowledge and honesty.

143. A(n) _____ code of ethics generally outlines the procedures to be used in specific ethical situations. A. operational. B. tactical. C. policy-based. D. credo-based. E. principle-based

C. policy-based. Explanation: Policy-based statements generally outline the procedures to be used in specific ethical situations. Principle-based statements are designed to affect corporate culture, define fundamental values, and contain general language about company responsibilities, quality of products, and treatment of employees.

124. Which term refers to giving some customers promotional allowances and support while not making other customers aware of such opportunities? A. customer discrimination. B. selective discounting. C. price discrimination. D. exclusive dealing. E. functional discounting

C. price discrimination. Explanation: Price discrimination refers to selling the same quantity of the same product to different buyers at different prices. This can be illegal if it injures or reduces competition and is considered unethical.

129. Cooling-off laws apply only to: A. sales made in out-of-town offices, regardless of value. B. sales for which verbal guarantees are given. C. sales over $25, made door-to-door. D. sales over $50, made in hometown offices. E. sales made in hometown offices over the value of $100.

C. sales over $25, made door-to-door. Explanation: Cooling-off laws provide a cooling-off period (usually three days) in which the buyer may cancel the contract, return any merchandise, and obtain a full refund. The law covers sales of $25 or more made door-to-door.

California-based Innovative Installers, Inc. provides a variety of corporate services related to office space. The firm sells modular office furniture, offers space planning consultations, and provides office relocation services. The company was founded in 1992 and depended on the growth of dot.com companies for its early success. Innovative Installers has experienced cash flow problems during the recent economic recession, and top managers are eager for salespeople to obtain new accounts. Mierzett Evans and Glenda Heldris are two of Innovative Installers' salespeople. 163. Evans tells a potential client that Innovative Installers offers the most modern and stylish office furniture available on the market. Evans is most likely guilty of: A. reciprocity. B. profiteering. C. sales puffery. D. breach of warranty. E. misrepresentation.

C. sales puffery. Explanation: When a salesperson describes a product in glowing terms, it is viewed by the courts as sales puffery and opinion, which should not be taken at face value. If Evans had made a claim or promise of a factual nature, then misrepresentation could be proved.

157. According to the text, modern corporations seek salespeople with all of the following characteristics EXCEPT: A. character. B. integrity. C. synergy. D. values. E. trust.

C. synergy. Explanation: Salespeople with integrity, trustworthiness, character, and values are sought after and needed in today's business world. Being able to work well with others is important in sales but less desirable than the other four components.

149. Jason Montgomery, a hospital administrator in Montana, lodged a complaint against the hospital owners when he was asked to keep two sets of accounting records so that the hospital could reduce its tax liability. Montgomery was engaged in: A. reciprocity. B. preconventional moral development. C. whistle-blowing. D. consensual reporting. E. ethical declarations of wrongdoing.

C. whistle-blowing. Explanation: Employee disclosure of illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices on the employer's part is called whistle-blowing. Montgomery was asked to participate in a potentially unethical accounting practice, so he reported the practice to authorities, which made him a whistle-blower.

29. The single most important factor in improving the climate for ethical behavior in a sales force is the existence of a detailed code of ethics.

FALSE

49. Paula considers herself to be a responsible person. She upholds moral and legal laws and conforms to the expectations of others. Paula is functioning at what level of moral development? A. Unrestricted. B. Principled. C. Mature. D. Conventional. E. Preconventional.

D. Conventional.

106. _____ refers to the right of employees to be treated fairly and with respect regardless of race, sex, national origin, physical disability, age, or religion while on the job. A. Discretionary approval. B. Hire-at-will. C. Discrimination. D. Cooperative acceptance. E. Terminate-at-will

D. Cooperative acceptance. Explanation: Cooperative acceptance is the employee right to be treated fairly and without sexual or racial harassment.

154. Which of the following is legal according to the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936? A. Whistle-blowing. B. Exclusive dealerships. C. Reciprocity. D. Quantity discounts. E. Tie-in sales.

D. Quantity discounts. Explanation: Some customers may receive price reductions, promotional allowances, and support while others do not, even though, under certain circumstances, this violates the Robinson-Patman Act of 1936. The act allows sellers to grant what are called quantity discounts to larger buyers based on savings in manufacturing costs.

116. Which of the following pricing tactics is LEAST likely to be a source of an ethical dilemma? A. Tie-in sales. B. Reciprocity. C. Price discrimination. D. Seasonal discounts. E. Exclusive dealership

D. Seasonal discounts. Explanation: Salespeople use many tactics to encourage purchases, and some methods are unethical and perhaps illegal including tie-in sales, reciprocity, price discrimination, and exclusive dealerships. Reducing the prices of seasonal items to make room for new merchandise is a normal business practice.

121. A salesperson can minimize exposure to costly misrepresentation and breach of warranty lawsuits if he/she: A. never negotiates. B. avoids win-win sales situations. C. never sells the customer more than he/she wants. D. thoroughly educates customers before making a sale. E. offers opinions when the customer asks what result a product will accomplish.

D. thoroughly educates customers before making a sale. Explanation: A salesperson can minimize legal problems by educating customers about a product and its capabilities. Negotiating and offering opinions is not problematic for salespeople when done ethically and without exaggeration.

52. Sharon, a salesperson for a greeting card company, is responsible for sales in the northern part of California. Sharon's manager has decided to change Sharon's key account in the territory to a house account. Why would Sharon most likely dislike this decision? A. Sharon will have to monitor the key account for less pay than she usually earns. B. Sharon will be demoted from her position in the territory for losing the key account. C. Sharon will have to share commissions from the key account with the home office. D. Sharon will lose the commission for the key account. E. Sharon will have to work from the firm's home office. Answer: d Explanation: Key accounts are extra-large customers and generate a great deal of sales commissions for salespeople. House accounts are handled by a salesperson from the home office so that the firm does not have to pay sales commissions. Sharon will be upset because she is losing commissions for a large account.

D. Sharon will lose the commission for the key account. Explanation: Key accounts are extra-large customers and generate a great deal of sales commissions for salespeople. House accounts are handled by a salesperson from the home office so that the firm does not have to pay sales commissions. Sharon will be upset because she is losing commissions for a large account.

142. A(n) _____ is a formal statement of a company's values concerning ethics and social issues. A. social covenant. B. tying agreement. C. law of fairness. D. code of ethics. E. ethics ombudsperson.

D. code of ethics. Explanation: A code of ethics is a formal statement of the company's values concerning ethics and social issues. It states those values or behaviors that are expected and those that are not tolerated.

164. Glenda is meeting with an Office Pro store manager. Office Pro is interested in purchasing a line of Innovative Installers' desks to sell in the Office Pro retail stores. Glenda tells the Office Pro manager that she has a limited supply of the desks; however, she can obtain more desks if Office Pro also purchases desk chairs. Glenda is most likely guilty of: A. establishing unfair sales restrictions. B. practicing price discrimination. C. setting an exclusive dealership. D. encouraging a tie-in sale. E. requiring reciprocity.

D. encouraging a tie-in sale. Explanation: A tie-in sale requires a buyer to purchase unwanted products, such as chairs, in order to purchase desired products, such as desks. Tie-in sales are prohibited under the Clayton Act.

56. A _____ refers to something that provides the correct action to take in any situation and never gets tailored to fit an occasion. A. conventional moral maturity. B. point of convenient reference. C. directional code of ethics. D. fixed point of reference. E. frame of conventionality.

D. fixed point of reference. Explanation: A fixed point of reference refers to something that provides the correct action to take in any situation and never gets tailored to fit an occasion. This fixed point of reference must be separate from you; otherwise you will be changing the rules based upon your best interest in various situations.

144. Fostering a climate that encourages ethical behavior by the sales force requires management to do all of the following EXCEPT: A. establish an ethics committee. B. ensure that top management behaves ethically. C. discipline wrongdoers. D. formally discourage "whistle-blowing." E. establish control systems.

D. formally discourage "whistle-blowing." Explanation: Encouraging an ethical climate requires managers to form ethics committees, discipline wrongdoing, establish control systems and encourage whistle-blowing. For such methods to have an impact, top management must exhibit support for high ethics.

113. A computer dealer induced a finance company to enter into a hire-purchase agreement by contributing false information about the amount of deposit paid by the customer unknowingly, who later defaulted and sold the computer to a third party. This is an example of: A. misuse of relationship marketing. B. sales puffery. C. a warranty of fact. D. misrepresentation. E. a statement of fact. Answer: d Explanation: Misrepresentation occurs when a salesperson provides false information to a customer. Such statements can lead to lawsuits even if they are unintentional.

D. misrepresentation. Explanation: Misrepresentation occurs when a salesperson provides false information to a customer. Such statements can lead to lawsuits even if they are unintentional.

110. Clark is a soft drink salesperson who is enrolled in a vocational technology program that meets at night. From time to time, he takes off most of the day before his night class meets in order to prepare assignments that are due that evening. From an ethical standpoint, it is correct to say that Clark is: A. guilty of misrepresentation. B. misusing company assets. C. cheating. D. moonlighting. E. acting quite ethically.

D. moonlighting. Explanation: Moonlighting occurs when an employee takes a second job or attends classes on company time. Employees who work second jobs or take classes during their off hours are not moonlighting.

133. The Clayton Act: A. prohibits sexual harassment. B. allows some customers to receive price reductions while others do not. C. defines sales puffery. D. prohibits tie-in sales and exclusive agreements if they substantially lessen competition. E. removes the employer's ability to terminate-at-will without justification.

D. prohibits tie-in sales and exclusive agreements if they substantially lessen competition. Explanation: The Clayton Act serves to prohibit sales tactics such as tie-ins and exclusive dealerships when such actions lessen market competition.

146. An ethics committee is typically: A. composed of employees from all functional areas and managerial levels. B. a nonessential organization in multinational corporations. C. assigned the task of writing employee handbooks. D. responsible for disciplining wrongdoers. E. charged with eliminating ethical dilemmas.

D. responsible for disciplining wrongdoers. Explanation: An ethics committee is a group of executives appointed to oversee company ethics. The committee provides rulings on questionable ethical issues. The ethics committee assumes responsibility for disciplining wrongdoers. This responsibility is essential if the organization is to directly influence employee behavior.

44. All of the following would most likely eliminate the need for additional laws governing right and wrong in business settings EXCEPT: A. stringent codes of ethics. B. moral organizational cultures. C. ethical examples from top management. D. standardization of fixed points of reference. E. support for corporate social responsibility programs.

D. standardization of fixed points of reference. Explanation: As principles of ethics and social responsibility are more widely recognized, companies can use codes of ethics and their corporate cultures to govern behavior, thereby eliminating the need for additional laws governing right and wrong. A fixed point of reference is an individual's tool for determining right and wrong and cannot be standardized.

104. Termination-at-will: A. is a modern judicial term that came from court decisions in the 1980s. B. refers to a firm's inability to terminate an employee without just cause. C. was designed to protect the rights of the employees. D. was designed to protect the rights of the employers. E. supports the strategy of downsizing.

D. was designed to protect the rights of the employers. Explanation: The termination-at-will rule stemmed from a 1903 case that protected employer's rights to fire workers for union activities. Courts in the 1980s favored employees in such cases.

148. All employees who observe or become aware of criminal practices or unethical behavior should be encouraged to report the incident to their superiors, to a higher level of management, or to an appropriate unit of the organization. This reporting process is called: A. reciprocating. B. tattling. C. intelligence gathering. D. whistle-blowing. E. fact-finding.

D. whistle-blowing. Explanation: Employee disclosure of illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices on the employer's part is called whistle-blowing. Companies can provide a mechanism for whistleblowing as a matter of policy.

150. Harold Williams was the Managing Director of Web Power, which was being merged with another company. He raised concerns that false invoices were being used to support the merger proposal. He was dismissed from the company unfairly for indulging in: A. breach of trust. B. intelligence gathering. C. tattling. D. whistle-blowing. E. fact-finding.

D. whistle-blowing. Explanation: Employee disclosure of illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices on the employer's part is called whistle-blowing. Employees who observe or become aware of criminal practices or unethical behavior should be encouraged to report the incident to their superiors, but in this case, Harold was unfairly dismissed.

26. Donna buys two laptop computers for $2,000. Jackson buys 15 units of the same laptop computer for $12,000. This selling situation provides evidence for price discrimination.

FALSE

107. Which of the following corporate actions would LEAST likely prevent racial and sexual harassment? A. Getting the active support of top management in preventing workplace harassment. B. Establishing compensation policies that reward anti-harassment behavior. C. Establishing harassment grievance procedures. D. Providing anti-harassment training to employees. E. Eliminating cooperative acceptance

E. Eliminating cooperative acceptance Explanation: Cooperative acceptance is the employee right to be treated fairly and without sexual or racial harassment. Top management support, policies, procedures, and training are methods for eliminating harassment in the workplace.

118. Which of the following statements about misrepresentation is most likely true? A. When salespeople loosely describe their product or service in glowing terms, those statements can be relied upon by the potential buyer. B. Generally, the more knowledgeable the customer, the greater the chances the court will interpret an incorrect statement by a salesperson as an actionable misrepresentation. C. When a salesperson makes claims of a "factual nature" regarding a service's inherent capabilities, the law does not treat these comments as statements of fact and warranties. D. A salesperson's opinion about the quality of the product being sold is known as sales puffery and is legally actionable. E. Even if the salesperson misrepresentation statement is made innocently, many courts will award damages to the customer.

E. Even if the salesperson misrepresentation statement is made innocently, many courts will award damages to the customer. Explanation: It's generally easy for customers to recover damages on the grounds of misrepresentation and breach of warranty. In many states, this holds even when a salesperson's statement is made innocently. Sales puffery typically does not lead to legal actions.

138. Which of the following statements about the international side of ethics is true? A. Agents but not distributors for U.S. firms operating in foreign countries are required to comply with U.S. ethical standards. B. Those parts of the world that do not conform to U.S. ethical standards are limited to just three geographic areas. C. The vast majority of international companies have low ethical standards. D. Ethics related to employees and communities are never difficult to understand when doing business in another country. E. Every employee of a U.S. company is subject to U.S. law regardless of the country in which business is conducted.

E. Every employee of a U.S. company is subject to U.S. law regardless of the country in which business is conducted. Explanation: Each and every employee of a U.S. company is subject to U.S. law regardless of the country in which the business takes place. Even the agents or the distributors are subject to U.S. law.

112. Which of the following sales personnel activities is considered ethically acceptable behavior? A. Splitting commissions with fellow employees to win a sales contest. B. Taking the family to Disneyworld and writing it off on the expense account. C. Attending a college course on company time. D. Attending college in the evening but taking an afternoon off to prepare for class. E. Giving a $10 dollar gift to a $10,000 customer

E. Giving a $10 dollar gift to a $10,000 customer Explanation: Cheating to win a sales contest, misusing company assets, and moonlighting are unethical actions. Giving a small gift to a big customer is most likely not a bribe.

166. Evan's income is based on commissions at Innovative Installers, and his income has declined in recent months. As a result, Evans has taken an additional job renting apartments. Although Evans mostly works on weekends, he sometimes shows apartments to clients during the week when he works for Innovative Installers. Which of the following best describes Evans's actions? A. Misusing company assets. B. Accepting bribes. C. Misrepresentation. D. Sales puffery. E. Moonlighting.

E. Moonlighting. Explanation: Moonlighting occurs when a salesperson takes a second job or attends college classes during company time. It is often easy for salespeople to moonlight because they are not closely supervised; however, moonlighting is unethical.

86. On the job, Gary acts purely in his own best interests. He follows the company's rules only to avoid being fired. At what level of moral development is Gary functioning? A. Principled. B. Consensual. C. Conventional. D. Discretionary. E. Preconventional Answer: e Explanation: A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to avoid punishment. At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws.

E. Preconventional Explanation: A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to avoid punishment. At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws.

137. What is the primary purpose of Green River ordinances and cooling-off laws? A. Hold salespeople legally responsible for damaged products. B. Allow small businesses to compete fairly against large firms. C. Require persons selling directly to consumers to pay a license fee. D. Enforce federal laws regarding competition and monopolies. E. Protect consumers from high-pressure, unethical sales tactics.

E. Protect consumers from high-pressure, unethical sales tactics Explanation: Both the cooling-off laws and the Green River ordinances were passed to protect consumers from salespeople using unethical, high-pressure sales tactics. These statutes and others were necessary because some salespeople used unethical practices in sales transactions.

125. Sheridan decides to buy his first car. The car salesperson promises to arrange a car loan for him if he also purchases the auto insurance. This is a classic example of: A. misrepresentation. B. reciprocal selling. C. a Green River dealership. D. discriminatory selling. E. a tie-in sale.

E. a tie-in sale. Explanation: Requiring a customer to buy one product when buying another product is known as a tie-in sale. Such actions are prohibited under the Clayton Act because they lessen competition.

57. In order to be effective, a fixed point of reference must: A. change rules based on the situation. B. be identical to personal beliefs. C. use one's own conscience. D. relate to objects rather than people. E. be separate from the individual.

E. be separate from the individual.

135. A cooling-off law: A. gives the buyer three weeks to return merchandise. B. covers items sold through wholesale outlets. C. deals with purchases between $25.00 and $50.00. D. is in effect in all states. E. covers some door-to-door transactions.

E. covers some door-to-door transactions. Explanation: Cooling-off claws provide a cooling-off period (usually three days) in which the buyer may cancel the contract, return any merchandise, and obtain a full refund. The law covers door-to-door sales of $25 or more.

27. A cooling-off law gives the buyer three weeks to cancel the contract, return any merchandise, and obtain a full refund.

FALSE

141. A code of ethics that _____ is classified as a principle-based statement. A. communicates selection methods . B. affirms equal opportunities. C. defines conflicts of interest. D. outlines ethical tolerances. E. defines fundamental values.

E. defines fundamental values. Explanation: Principle-based statements are designed to affect corporate culture, define fundamental values, and contain general language about company responsibilities, quality of products, and treatment of employees. Policy-based statements generally outline the procedures to be used in specific ethical situations.

102. All of the following statements about employee termination are true EXCEPT: A. many early 20th century courts strictly applied the termination-at-will rule. B. many 1980s courts ruled in favor of employees by limiting the termination-at-will rule. C. employers have the right to terminate sales personnel for poor performance. D. employers have the right to terminate sales personnel for excessive absenteeism. E. employers have the right to terminate sales personnel for union participation.

E. employers have the right to terminate sales personnel for union participation. Explanation: Early termination-at-will cases favored employers and allowed them to terminate employees for any reason, even union membership. Current courts have favored employees, but terminations can still occur for poor performance and absenteeism but not union participation.

151. Which term refers to the adherence to a strict ethical and moral code? A. humility. B. courage. C. sincerity. D. honesty. E. integrity.

E. integrity. Explanation: Integrity means to be stand by a strict moral and ethical code of conduct at all times. People with integrity may also be humble, courageous, sincere, and honest, but none of these adjectives are directly linked to strong moral values.

147. An ethics ombudsperson: A. interacts with the organizational stakeholders on a daily basis. B. writes the company's code of ethics. C. is also called a whistle-blower. D. handles all negative publicity for an organization. E. is an official who assumes the role of corporate conscience.

E. is an official who assumes the role of corporate conscience. Explanation: An ethics ombudsperson is an official given the responsibility of corporate conscience that hears and investigates ethics complaints and informs top management of potential ethics issues.

45. All of the following are characteristics of ethical behavior EXCEPT: A. being honest with customers. B. following company policies. C. showing loyalty to co-workers. D. treating customers and peers fairly. E. maintaining personal sales goals.

E. maintaining personal sales goals. Explanation: Being honest, loyal, and fair are qualities of an ethical person as well as adhering to company policies. Maintaining sales goals is an action taken by hardworking employees, but it is not necessarily a characteristic of ethical behavior.

123. Edna Wallace is a little worried concerning all the talk she has heard recently about lawsuits due to misrepresentation and breach of warranty. To help her "stay legal," her sales manager should advise her to do all of the following EXCEPT: A. be accurate when describing her product's capabilities. B. thoroughly educate all customers before making a sale. C. avoid making exaggerated claims about product safety. D. know the technical specifications of the products she sells. E. make claims or promises of a factual nature.

E. make claims or promises of a factual nature. Explanation: Providing accurate information, educating customers, and avoiding exaggeration are tactics for avoiding legal problems after the sale. Making statements that appear to be factual are often determined legally actionable.

108. All of the following are employer benefits of respecting employee rights EXCEPT: A. creating a positive work environment. B. reducing employee turnover. C. attracting good employees. D. reducing legal fees and fines. E. minimizing union control.

E. minimizing union control. Explanation: Employers benefit from respecting employee rights by creating a high quality work life, attracting and retaining good personnel, and reducing legal fines. Union influence is less likely to be affected.

87. In Turkey, a salesperson wants to sell a block of 75 symphony tickets to an Armenian senior citizen center to hand out to its members. If he can sell these remaining tickets, he will receive a $500 bonus. When the center director asks him if there will be adequate security at the event, the Turk assures her the arena has doubled its security force for the event even though no special security arrangements have been made in spite of recent threats made against Armenians. The Turkish salesperson is most likely functioning at the _____ stage of moral development. A. postconventional. B. principled. C. conventional. D. discretionary. E. preconventional

E. preconventional Explanation: A person at the preconventional level of moral development follows rules to receive rewards, which in this case is a $500 bonus. At the conventional level, a person conforms to expectations and laws. A principled person does the right thing no matter what.

103. Under current U.S. laws regarding termination-at-will, it is illegal to terminate an employee for: A. excessive absenteeism. B. poor organizational citizenship. C. unsatisfactory performance. D. unsafe conduct. E. union activities.

E. union activities. Explanation: Early termination-at-will cases favored employers and allowed them to terminate employees for any reason, even union membership. Current courts have favored employees, but terminations can still occur for poor performance and absenteeism but not union participation.

1. The world views and belief systems of employees from the same country are typically identical.

FALSE

18. Salespeople who split commissions with co-workers or take customers away from co-workers to win sales contests are engaged in moonlighting.

FALSE

20. If sales personnel loosely describe their product or service in glowing terms, the law treats these comments as statements of fact and warranties.

FALSE

22. Generally, the more knowledgeable the customer, the greater the chances the court will interpret an incorrect statement by a salesperson as an actionable misrepresentation rather than as sales puffery.

FALSE

24. Customers can recover damages on the grounds of breach of warranty and other contractual breach; however, customers cannot recover damages in cases of misrepresentation.

FALSE

25. The Robinson-Patman Act of 1936 prevents sellers from granting quantity discounts to larger buyers.

FALSE

10. The Golden Rule of Selling requires people whose personal character is at level 2.

FALSE. Explanation: The Golden Rule of Selling requires people whose personal character is at level 3, which is the highest level of moral development. Such principled people have caring attitudes and recognize the rights of others, and they act based on personal, independently defined universal principles of justice and values.

72. Regardless of whether a buyer is knowledgeable about a product or not, he/she does not have a duty to look beyond the assertions of a salesperson and investigate the product individually.

False. Explanation: Just as salespeople should educated buyers, buyers are responsible for investigating a salesperson's claims about a product.

74. Reciprocity occurs when Mario trades a load of firewood for an oil change for his Toyota Tacoma.

False. Explanation: Reciprocity refers to buying a product from someone if the person or organization agrees to buy from you. Swapping firewood for an oil change is a bartering situation but not reciprocity because neither party is agreeing to future purchases.

77. The single most important factor in improving the climate for ethical behavior in a sales force is the existence of a detailed code of ethics.

False. Explanation: The single most important factor in improving the climate for ethical behavior in a sales force is the action taken by top-level managers. Sales managers must help develop and support their codes of ethics; however, a code of ethics by itself is not very influential

66. Although discrimination on the basis of a person's sex is illegal, there are no laws against sexual harassment.

False. Explanation: Though the right to be free of sexual harassment is found explicitly in fewer laws, it has been made a part of the 1980 EEOC guidelines, which state that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. The designation of sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII also is found in numerous court decisions.

158. What are the two types of codes of ethics?

Principle-based statements and policy-based statements

13. Ethical behavior specifically refers to carrying out one's share of the work and responsibility with 100 percent effort.

TRUE

14. An ethical dilemma arises in a situation when each alternative choice has some undesirable elements due to potentially negative ethical consequences.

TRUE

19. Eldon Hensley is a sales representative at Amass Innovations, a firm that manufactures tankless water heating systems. He gives travel certificates and gifts to purchasing executives who buy numerous products from him. This is an example of bribing.

TRUE

2. The ethical behavior of an employee is influenced by managers, co-workers, and the organization.

TRUE

21. The most often misused company assets are automobiles, expense accounts, samples, and damaged-merchandise credits.

TRUE

23. "This refrigerator will preserve foods in the warmest weather." This statement by a home appliance salesperson is legally actionable.

TRUE

3. In most cases, an individual's moral development becomes increasingly mature.

TRUE

34. Integrity and trust form the attributes that distinguish the organization and salesperson, often referred to as character.

TRUE

33. Control systems that monitor and penalize the ethical behavior of salespeople are a useful tool in creating an ethical work environment.

TRUE. Explanation: Control systems must be established to encourage ethical behavior. Methods should be employed to determine whether salespeople give bribes, falsify reports, or pad expenses. Dismissal, demotion, suspension, reprimand, and withholding of sales commissions would be possible penalties for unethical sales practices.

35. Integrity, trust, and character are the building blocks of a Golden Rule salesperson's values.

TRUE. Explanation: Integrity, trust, and character help form the values or moral code of conduct toward others. Respect for the dignity of the individual is at the heart of the universal moral code referred to as "the Golden Rule" by most people of the world.

161. What law protects customers from price discrimination?

The Robinson-Patman Act

160. What is the single most important factor in improving the climate for ethical behavior in a sales force?

The action taken by top-level managers.

153. At what level of moral development do most people operate?

The conventional level

76. A code of ethics formally states a company's values regarding social and ethical issues.

True. Explanation: A code of ethics is a formal statement of the company's values concerning ethics and social issues. It states those values or behaviors that are expected and those that are not tolerated.

78. A person with integrity is honest without compromise or corruption.

True. Explanation: A person with integrity is honest without compromise or corruption. People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.

65. Although several federal laws influence record keeping, they are primarily directed at private employers.

True. Explanation: Although several federal laws influence record keeping, they are primarily directed at public employers. However, many private employers are giving employees the right to access their personnel files and to prohibit the file information from being given to others without their consent

64. Cooperative acceptance means that employees cannot be discriminated against in employment practices and they have the right to be free of sexual and racial harassment.

True. Explanation: Cooperative acceptance refers to the right of employees to be treated fairly and with respect regardless of race, sex, national origin, physical disability, age, or religion while on the job. Not only does this mean that employees have the right not to be discriminated against in employment practices and decisions, but it also means that employees have the right to be free of sexual and racial harassment.

67. To prevent sexual harassment, companies rely on top management support, training for all employees, and clear procedures for filing grievances.

True. Explanation: Employers must prevent racial and sexual harassment, which they can do with top management support, grievance procedures, verification procedures, training for all employees, and performance appraisal and compensation policies that reward anti-harassment behavior and punish harassment.

75. A salesperson competing in a foreign country may end up competing with foreign companies that are allowed to do things considered unethical by U.S. standards.

True. Explanation: Often guidelines for conducting international business differ from U.S. laws and may be nonexistent. Salespeople overseas often compete with foreign companies allowed to do things considered unethical by U.S. standards.

61. An ethical sales manager should set realistic and obtainable goals.

True. Explanation: Realistic and obtainable goals eliminate excess pressure on salespeople to behave unethically. Pressure motivates salespeople, but managers must set reasonable ones to avoid unethical actions.

71. A salesperson should thoroughly educate all customers before making a sale to avoid future legal problems.

True. Explanation: Salespeople should provide as much information as possible about a product to customers to avoid misrepresentation charges.

59. Based on levels of moral development, a Golden Rule salesperson is in the minority among sales personnel.

True. Explanation: The majority of sales personnel, as well as people in general, operate at the conventional level. However, a few individuals are at level 1, and it is estimated that less than 20 percent of individuals reach level 3. Golden Rule salespeople are in level 3, which is a minority.

73. Durham Building Supplies requires anyone who wants to use its product to purchase only from it; this contractual arrangement is called an exclusive dealership.

True. Explanation: When a contract requires that a wholesaler or retailer purchase products from one manufacturer, it is an exclusive dealership. If it lessens competition, it is prohibited under the Clayton Act.

69. A salesperson who exaggerates about product capabilities may be guilty of misrepresentation.

True. Explanation: When a customer relies on a salesperson's statements, purchases the product or service, and then finds that it fails to perform as promised, the supplier can be sued for misrepresentation and breach of warranty. A salesperson's exaggerations may be unintentional but they can be costly.

156. Under what condition(s) is it illegal for a manufacturer to offer a reseller an exclusive dealership?

When the exclusive dealership lessens competition


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