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Should I sabotage a potential new competitor?

I work at a company that helps plan and execute in-store marketing programs like product samplings.

The largest chain we execute samplings in is piloting a new service in which the store would be executing these types of sampling with their own staff. The rumour is that if the pilot goes well, they will not allow companies like mine to execute tastings in their stores anymore. This would put a big dent in our business.

One of our larger clients tipped us off that they are testing this service in a few stores next month. I know when, where and what products are being featured at these samplings. This gave me the idea to try and influence the results of the pilot.

I’m planning on sending in secret shoppers to buy the featured products at other stores where no sampling is taking place, and then immediately returning the product to the stores during the sampling to throw off their sales numbers and make the samplings look ineffective.

Is this a good idea? What would you do in this situation?

    • Not the OP here, but why do you see this as a troll?

      I came across a company several years ago that actually does this as a business — sabotaging competitors.

      I’m just saying that the thought that people do this isn’t outlandish. Ever heard of Uber?

      Reply

      • The submitter essentially asks for permission to act unethically. The unethical behavior of others, i.e. nefariousjobs, can’t be used to justify your own immoral behavior.

        I called this trolling because it’s like asking on a relationship advice forum if it’s okay to cheat on your partner. Or asking on a pet owners forum if it’s okay to poison your neighbors dog.

        OP knows it’s immoral to sabotage the business of your own clients. So why ask? Pretending not to know what to do, makes OP totally insincere.

        Reply
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