A flood destroyed a company's warehouse contents on September $12.$ The following information was the only information that was salvaged:

Inventory, beginning: $$28,000$

Purchases for the period: $$17,000$

Sales for the period: $$55,000$

Sales returns for the period: $$700$

The company's average gross profit ratio is $35\%.$ What is the estimated cost of the lost inventory using the gross profit method?

Select one:

a$.$ $$9,705.$

b$.$ $$25,995.$

c$.$ $$29,250,$

d$.$ $$44,000.$

e$.$ $$45,000.$