Nanette was new to her job as administrative assistant at the Barefoot Resort & Golf in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Alone in the office one morning, she answered a phone call from Chas, who said he was the country club’s copier contractor. “Hey, look, Babydoll,” Chas purred, “the price on the toner you use is about to go way up. I can offer you a great price on this toner if you order right now.” Nanette knew that the copy machine regularly needed toner, and she thought she should go ahead and place the order to save the country club some money. Ten days later two bottles of toner arrived, and Nanette was pleased at the perfect timing.

The copy machine needed it right away. Three weeks later Erika, the bookkeeper, called to report a bill from The Toner People for $960.43 for two bottles of toner. “What’s going on here?” asked Erika. “We don’t purchase supplies from this company, and this price is totally off the charts!”

Nanette spoke to the manager, Forrest Vartanian, who immediately knew what had happened. He blamed himself for not training Nanette. “Never, never order anything from a telephone solicitor, no matter how fast-talking or smooth he sounds,” warned Forrest.

He outlined an office policy for future supplies purchases. Only certain people can authorize or finalize a purchase, and purchases require a confirmed price including shipping costs settled in advance. But what to do about this $960.43 bill? The country club had already begun to use the toner, although the current copies were looking faint and streaked.

Your Task. As Forrest Vartanian, decide how to respond to this obvious scam. Should you pay the bill? Should you return the unused bottles? Write a persuasive claim to The Toner People, 1218 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Suite 100, Charleston, SC 29407. Supply any details necessary.