The inventory of Coronado Company was destroyed by fire on March $1.$ From an examination of the accounting records, the following data for the first $2$ months of the year are obtained: Sales Revenue $$55,000,$ Sales Returns and Allowances $$1,000,$ Purchases $$33,000,$ Freight$-$In $$1,500,$ and Purchase Returns and Allowances $$1,700.$

Determine the merchandise lost by fire, assuming: A beginning inventory of $31,000$ and a gross profit rate of $44\%$ on net sales. What is the estimated cost of merchandise lost