Final answer:
The cost of the toll-free telephone line would be classified as period cost.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cost of setting up a toll-free telephone line for customer inquiries regarding computer hardware would be classified as period cost.
Period costs are expenses that are not directly related to the production of goods or services, but rather incurred over a specific period of time. They are not included in the cost of goods sold and are expensed on the income statement in the period in which they are incurred.
In this case, the cost of the toll-free telephone line is not directly related to the production of computer hardware and is not considered a product cost, manufacturing overhead, or direct labor. Instead, it is a period cost as it is incurred over a specific period of time to support the company's customer service operations.