Kuyu Company uses the periodic inventory system. Kuyu started the period with \(\$ 12,000\) in inventory. The company purchased an additional \(\$ 25,000\) of merchandise, and returned \(\$ 1,500\) for a full credit. A physical count of inventory at the end of the period revealed that there was an ending inventory balance of \(\$ 6,000\). What was Kuyu's cost of goods sold during the period?