Ethical Decision Making in Sales and Lease Contracts

Welcome to this weeks discussion! This conversation is your chance to engage deeply with the course concepts while connecting them to real-world situations and your own professional experiences. By sharing your thoughts and insights here, youll not only strengthen your understanding of the material but also gain new perspectives from your classmates, each bringing unique experiences and viewpoints that can expand your thinking. Active participation helps you build communication skills, professional connections, and a collaborative mindset that are valuable in any career field.

For context on key concepts or connections to learning goals, visit this module’s Learning Goals page.

Complete Your Work

Initial Post

Jordan Miles signed a written purchase agreement to buy a 1995 Honda Civic from Blue Ridge Auto Sales, a used-car dealership in Maryland, for $4,995. Blue Ridge agreed to keep the vehicle on layaway for up to 21 days if Miles put down $1,200 and then made additional payments according to a payment schedule. However, the schedule required Miles to pay $100 per week for six weeks (a total of 42 days), which extended beyond the 21-day layaway period. The contract labeled these weekly payments as non-refundable storage and prep fees and stated that they would not be applied toward the purchase price. Miles paid over $1,000 under this arrangement before asking for his money back. When Blue Ridge refused to issue a refund, he filed suit in Maryland state court. At trial, witnesses gave conflicting testimony about the mismatch between the timing of the layaway period and the payment schedule, as well as the fee provisions in the contract.

Answer the following:

1. From an ethical standpoint, what is problematic about this arrangement? Explain.
2. Using the IDDR framework, evaluate whether Blue Ridge Auto Sales has an ethical responsibility to revise the type of contract it uses with consumers.
3. If you were managing Blue Ridge Auto Sales, how would you resolve this situation, and why?

Reply Posts

After creating your own original post (worth 15 points), review your classmates posts and reply to at least two of them with substantive responses (worth 7.5 points each). A substantive response goes beyond simply agreeing or offering brief praise. It meaningfully contributes to the conversation by:

1. Expanding on your classmates ideas or experiences
2. Offering alternative viewpoints or solutions
3. Identifying potential challenges or questions to consider
4. Respectfully disagreeing and supporting your perspective with reasoning or evidence

Engaging thoughtfully with your peers helps deepen everyones understanding of the topic and builds a more collaborative learning environment.

Guidelines

• Your initial discussion post should be 200300 words, demonstrate understanding of the topic, and include APA-style citations for any sources used. Post early in the week to allow time for engagement. You must also respond to at least two classmates with substantive replies (about 100 words each) that add to the discussion by expanding on ideas, offering new perspectives, asking thoughtful questions, or providing respectful feedback. Use clear, professional writing with proper grammar and punctuation. Follow netiquette by being courteous, open-minded, and respectful of differing opinions. All work should be original, and any sources referenced must be cited appropriately.