142) Clearwater Hampers is a small British company that sells luxury food and drink in various
combinations in picnic hampers. Food and wine are seen as classic, fail-safe gifts in a market
where present-buying is increasingly tricky. Corporate customers, both in the United Kingdom
and abroad, are important to the business. Clearwater has had several orders for more than a
quarter of a million dollars. The company’s leading salesperson is Peter Austin, who sees his
company “as a service company rather than a food and drink business. Our priority is to get the
hampers out on time, filled with the right products.” Austin often checks to see if his customers
are satisfied with his service.
One of Austin’s customers, Parson Pharmaceuticals, regularly purchases 100 large picnic
hampers each December. However, Parson has decided not to give gifts this upcoming holiday
season. Austin should most likely:
A) demand that Parson purchase at least half of the usual number.
B) identify Parson as an orphan and delete the sales records.
C) tell other customers that Parson has financial problems.
D) create a transactional relationship with Parson.
E) make a sales call to Parson in the future.