You are in charge of purchasing software that will be used for billing, there are three companies, they both provide product for you. Last week, you spoke with salespeople for two of the companies. The third company that you talked to, send a salesperson and a system expert. the expert named H. H was very knowledge and answered all your questions clearly. He was also honest about the strengths and weakness of the system. The three of you talked for about two hours, and then salesperson have meeting so he leaved, but H still here to answer you problem, then H suggested to take a lunch, at lunch, you found he is attractive and is single. Later the three company all give you bids, just H's company and another company has same price, the managers said since it is a toss-up between this two companies, you can make a decision. You chose the H's company, but later the company send another systems expert not H. It makes you wonder if you really made the best decision and if the company send H to work his charm on you.
Questions:
- Would it be wrong if company send H because it knew a single woman was making the decision on the software?
- Is this a conflict of interest on the purchaser's part, or is it just a case of her interests coinciding with the company's interests?
- Is there anything wrong with doing a little flirting to make a sale?