Page 45 - A Banker Down the Rabbit Hole

9. Kick-backs on the way

Purchase of Electronic Inverters for Branches
A company approached me in General Administration in Department to
install electric inverters at our administrative office for a period of 2
months on trial basis and if satisfied we could buy the same for Rs.
18,000/- per piece for 50 branches in the Zone.

The representative of the company came to our office to install 2
inverters and took my address from a staff and reached my residence in
the evening. He told me that he had come to thank me for accepting
trial run of inverters. Then he indicated that in business, the marketing
of products was very difficult as many competitors were there in the
market. Generally, other suppliers would offer us up to 10% of the quoted
price to take care of our interest. He assured me that they also would
match up and even the interest of some higher ups could be taken care
additionally. I told him, "All this is not required. If your product is found
acceptable, we shall place order for all our 50 branches as well as Zonal
Office building looking at erratic power supply in the entire state. But
you would have to give your competitive bidding with other suppliers."

The next day, I met the Zonal Manager and told him what had transpired,
the previous evening. I wanted to convey that their offer of kickback had
been declined. The boss told me that if the equipment is found good
during trial period and if their quote is the lowest, we could give order
to them but I should ask them to pass on the commission offered on
the invoice. By chance, the product was not performing satisfactorily and
we did not place any order. I was happy that I resisted the temptation of
such an undesirable offer.

42 | A Banker down the Rabbit Hole