To sell or not to sell?

John Smith wns a small marketing research firm in Cleveland, Ohio, which employes 75 people. Most employees are the sole breadwinners in their families. John's firm has not fared well for the past two years and is on the verge of bankruptcy. The company recently surveyed more than 2,000 people in Ohio about new car puchase plans. The study was done for the Ohio Department of Economic Development.  Because the study identified many hot prospects for new cars, a car dealer has offered John $8,000 for the names and phone numbers of people saying they are "likely" or "very likely" to buy a new car within the next 12 months. John needs the money to avoid laying off a number of employees. Questions: Should John smith sell the names? (Be sure to answer the poll to the left of this post.) Also, Does the AMA Statement of Ethics address this issue? Go to the AMA website (American Marketing Association) to see whether their statement of ethics relates to John  Smith's dilemma.  Do you think this is a common dilemma?  You can blog on this issue.