19. While reviewing a division's accounts, an internal auditor becomes concerned that the division's management may have shipped poor quality merchandise to boost sales and profitability and thereby increase the manager's bonus. For this reason, the internal auditor suspects that returned goads are being shipped to other customers as new products without full correction of their defects. Which of the following engagement procedures is the least effective in determining whether such shipments took place?
A. Examine credit memos issued after year end for goods shipped before year end.
B. Physically observe the shipping and receiving area for information of returned goods.
C. Interview customer service representatives regarding unusual amounts of customer complaints.
D. Require the division to take a complete physical inventory at year end, and observe the taking of the inventory.
Answer (D) is correct.
REQUIRED: The least effective procedure to determine whether merchandise returned has been reshipped without the correction of defects.
DISCUSSION: Taking a complete year-end inventory is an ineffective procedure because goods returned and reshipped without the correction of defects would not be on hand to be counted.
Answer (A) incorrect. Credit memos provide the customer with proof that returned goods have been received by the organization and posted to the customer's account. Examining credit memos issued after year end for goods shipped before year end would show that customers are returning inferior goods.
Answer (B) is incorrect. Physically observing the shipping and receiving area might reveal goods returned that are not yet accounted for.
Answer (C) is incorrect. Unusual amounts of customer complaints may suggest a condition not explained by normal spoilage rates.