Wright Water Co. is a leading producer of greenhouse irrigation systems. Currently, the company manufactures the timer unit used in each of its systems. Based on an annual production of 50,000 timers, the company has calculated the following unit costs.

Direct fixed costs include supervisory and clerical salaries and equipment depreciation.

Direct materials .................................... $13

Direct labor .......................................... 5

Variable manufacturing overhead ................. 4

Direct fixed manufacturing overhead ............. 7........ (40% salaries, 60% depreciation)

Allocated fixed manufacturing overhead.......... 8

Total unit cost....................................... $37

Clifton Clocks has offered to provide the timer units to Wright at a price of $34 per unit. If

Wright accepts the offer, the current timer unit supervisory and clerical staff will be laid off.

Required

a. Assuming that Wright Water has no other use for either the facilities or the equipment currently used to manufacture the timer units, should the company accept Clifton's offer? Why or why not?

b. Assume that if Wright Water accepts Clifton's offer, the company can use the freed-up manufacturing facilities to manufacture a new line of growing lights. The company estimates it can sell 120,000 of the new lights each year at a price of $12. Variable costs of the lights are expected to be $7 per unit. The timer unit supervisory and clerical staff would be transferred to this new product line. Should Wright Water accept Clifton's offer? Why or why not?