The subject of ethics in Purchasing is not restricted to Buyers.
Surprised? Unless you have encountered problems or dealt with this before, then you aren't likely to think about end users (especially those that are key stakeholders) and ethics.
End users can easily fall into the trap of accepting gifts/samples, etc. of inappropriate value. In fact, in RFP situations, Buyers should specifically instruct vendors that the rule is all communication is done with the Buyer – nobody else on the selection team should be contacted directly for any reason. Things are a bit trickier once a vendor relationship is underway. We often encourage direct contact between the vendor and the end users. In doing so, we lose a measure of control over what is taking place.
Key stakeholders who recognize their importance to the vendor may purposefully try to capitalize in the situation and demand special treatment. This puts the Buyer in a difficult and delicate position. Internal company politics are always a nuisance at best, but they can be deadly to a career in instances like this. Still, I believe one's choice of doing the right thing is more important than giving in to the easier solution of letting an end user behave unethically.
From a practical standpoint, where will it end? If a Buyer allows an end user to "get away with" something unethical with a vendor once, that will only be the beginning. Buyers should take action at the first sign of unethical behavior no matter where it originates. Allowing even the most minor infraction will start everyone down the slippery ethics slope.
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