Question
Prestige Auto Care is considering the purchase of a new tow truck. The garage currently has no tow truck, and the $60,000 price tag for
Prestige Auto Care is considering the purchase of a new tow truck. The garage currently has no tow truck, and the $60,000 price tag for a new truck would be a major expenditure for it. Jenna Lind, owner of the garage, has compiled the following estimates in trying to determine whether she should purchase the tow truck:
Initial Cost | $60,000 |
Estimated Useful Life | 8 years |
Net Annual Cash Flows from Towing | $7,950 |
Overhaul Costs (end of year 4) | $4,950 |
Salvage Value | $14,990 |
Jennas good friend, Reid Shaw, stopped by. He is trying to convince Jenna that the tow truck will have other benefits that Jenna has not even considered. First, he says, cars that need towing need to be fixed. Thus, when Jenna tows them to her facility, her repair revenues will increase. Second, he notes that the tow truck could have a plow mounted on it, thus saving Jenna the cost of plowing her parking lot. (Reid will give her a used plow blade for free if Jenna will plow Reids driveway.) Third, he notes that the truck will generate goodwill; that is, people who are rescued by Jenna and her tow truck will feel grateful and might be more inclined to use her service station in the future or buy gas there. Fourth, the tow truck will have Prestige Auto Care on its doors, hood, and back tailgatea form of free advertising wherever the tow truck goes.
Reid estimates that, at a minimum, these benefits would be worth the following:
Additional annual net cash flows from repair work |
| |
Annual savings from plowing | 500 | |
Additional annual net cash flows from customer goodwill | 960 | |
Additional annual net cash flows resulting from free advertising | 500 | |
The companys cost of capital is 9%. | ||
a) Calculate the net present value, ignoring the additional benefits described by Reid.
b) Calculate the net present value, including additional benefits suggested by Reid. Should Jenna purchase the tow truck?
c) Suppose Reid has been optimistic in his assessment of the value of the additional benefits. At a minimum, how much would the additional benefits have to be worth in order for Jenna to purchase the new truck?
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