To whom is a purchase order sent?

• A. The supplier
• B. The customer
• C. The distribution center
• D. The regulatory agency

Answer: (A)

A purchase order is the formal request a buyer sends to a seller to procure goods or services. It specifies exactly what is needed, including item details, quantities, prices, delivery dates, and terms. The recipient must be the supplier, because the supplier is the party that can fulfill the order, confirm availability, and ship the items. Sending the order to the customer wouldn’t initiate a sale or trigger fulfillment, and the distribution center, while involved in receiving goods, isn’t the party that negotiates or authorizes purchases. Regulatory agencies oversee compliance, not day-to-day purchasing.