Question

Logan Distributing Company of Atlanta sells fans and heaters to retail outlets throughout the Southeast. Joe Logan, the president of the company, is thinking about changing the firm's credit policy to attract customers away from competitors. The present policy calls for a 1/10, net 30 cash discount. The new policy would call for a 3/10, net 50 cash discount. Currently, 30 percent of Logan customers are taking the discount, and it is anticipated that this number would go up to 50 percent with the new discount policy. It is further anticipated that annual sales would increase from a level of $391,000 to $603,500 as a result of the change in the cash discount policy. The increased sales would also affect the inventory level. The average inventory carried by Logan is based on a determination of an EOQ. Assume sales of fans and heaters increase from 15,000 to 22,600 units. The ordering cost for each order is $201, and the carrying cost per unit is $1.45 (these values will not change with the discount). The average inventory is based on EOQ/2. Each unit in inventory has an average cost of $11. Cost of goods sold is equal to 65 percent of net sales; general and administrative expenses are 15 percent of net sales; and interest payments of 14 percent will only be necessary for the increase in the accounts receivable and inventory balances. Taxes will be 40 percent of before-tax income. For average collection period, assume the customer pays on the last day possible (if they are getting the discount, that is day 10; if not, that is day 30 with the original policy and day 50 with the proposed policy).

Answer 1

Conclusion : Based on the below calculations the new cash discount policy is better to implement because the interest cost on the increased accounts receivable and inventory is less compared to the increase in net profit from the policy change.

Below are the detail calculations.