The Case of in the Trading Stamp Industry - When to Recognize Revenue

Bonanza Trading Stamps, Inc. was formed early this year to sell trading stamps throughout the Southwest to retailers, who distribute the stamps gratuitously to their customers. Books for accumulating the stamps and catalogs illustrating the merchandise for which the stamps may be exchanged are given free to retailers for distribution to stamp recipients. Centers with inventories of merchandise premiums have been established for redemption of the stamps. Retailers may not return unused stamps to Bonanza.

The schedule below expresses Bonanza’s expectations as to the percentages of a normal month’s activity that will be attained. For this purpose, a normal month’s activity is defined as the level of operations expected when expansion of activities ceases or tapers off to a stable rate. Bonanza expects to attain this level in the third year and an average $2 million per month in stamps sales throughout the third year.

	Actual Stamp Sales	Premium Purchases	Stamp Redemptions
Month	Percent	Percent	Percent
6	30%	40%	10%
12	60%	60%	45%
18	80%	80%	70%
24	90%	90%	80%
30	100%	100%	95%

Required: After reading the textbook chapter for this week on income concepts, discuss the factors to be considered in determining when revenue should be recognized in the measuring of the income of a business enterprise. Discuss when you think revenue should be recognized in the case of Bonanza Trading Stamps, Inc.

Your well-written paper must be 2-3 pages, in addition to title and reference pages. The paper should be formatted according to the APA REQUIREMENTS .Cite at least two peer-reviewed sources, in addition to the required reading for the module.

Chapter 5 in Financial Accounting Theory and Analysis: Text and Cases