Final answer:
An agent in a business context does not maintain control over goods or services; instead, they facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers without being primarily responsible for the goods or services or exposed to the risks of holding inventory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question concerns the role of an agent in a business transaction, where an agent is a party that acts on behalf of another party, typically known as the principal. The characteristic that does not apply to an agent is A) Has control over goods or services. Agents normally do not have control over the goods or services; they simply facilitate the transaction between the buyer and the seller. Instead, the agent is:
- B) Not primarily responsible for providing goods or services to the customer.
- C) Not exposed to risks associated with holding inventory since they do not own the inventory they are selling.
- D) Primary performance obligation is to facilitate the transfer of goods or services, acting as an intermediary rather than a principal provider.
In summary, while an agent facilitates the sale and transfer of goods or services, they do not have the same responsibilities or risks as a seller who owns the goods or services outright.