Another potential problem associated with transfer of technology, products and components between the product divisions is establishing a fair “transfer price”. The “seller” will want to maximize its return on investment by obtaining the highest price possible; however, this approach often unfairly penalizes a “buyer” that is part of the same larger company and may even place the affiliated buyer at a disadvantage in relation to external competitors who are free to purchase comparable inputs at more favorable prices on the open market. There are several ways to resolve this potential conflict of interest between the divisions. For example, the corporate managers may be assigned the task of setting and enforcing transfer pricing based on a formula that includes the objectively verifiable costs of the seller plus a fixed and predetermined profit margin. Another possibility is for corporate managers to set the price based on an independent analysis of the market price. Finally, transfer price may be kept competitive by allowing divisions to purchase from external vendors if they are offering a better deal.