Trade

Getting an item invoiced at a lower price when purchasing from a foreign country to pay less tax

Q: Many people do business and import items from foreign countries. Due to our country charging tax on the items imported, many people get the item invoiced at a lower price in the foreign country so that less tax is paid. I would like to inquire regarding the permissibility and rulings regarding this.

Using freelancer.com website

Q: There is a website called freelancer.com , where a person can hire graphics designers, website designers and the like, to do work for him. One option available is called a contest, where one posts ones requirements and the price he will pay, the money is charged by the website, then various graphics designers who want to offer their services (optionally) create mock ups / designs which the person can then choose between. Sometimes over 50 different designs are made. The person then chooses the one he likes the most. The website transfers the money to that designer, together with taking a small percentage fee for using their platform. The one designer who's design was chosen, will be paid. The remainder who's designs weren't chosen, and had voluntarily posted designs in the hope of winning the contest, get paid nothing. Is this type of contest / ijaarah permissible?

Unintentionally purchasing a heart shaped doughnut on Valentine's day

Q: I bought a donut from Dunkin Donuts because I was hungry and it ended up being heart shaped because of Valentine’s Day. I do not celebrate Valentine days and did not know that it would be heart shaped. I was not sure if I should return the doughnut but did not want to waste food so I ate it. Did I commit kufr or a sin ?

Online retailers selling items they do not keep in stock

Q: Online retailers often sell items that they don’t keep in stock. They conclude the sale and take payment immediately and thereafter acquire the item from the supplier and deliver it to you. Similarly, when hardware stores sell bricks to customers, they conclude the sale and accept payment immediately. Thereafter, they buy the bricks from the supplier and ask the supplier to deliver directly to the customer. Is it permissible to deal in this manner?

Drop shipping

Q: Is the trading concept of ‘drop shipping’ permissible? In ‘drop shipping’, the trader does not keep stock of any item. Instead, he accepts payment for the goods and then forwards the customer’s details to the supplier who will deliver directly to the customer. ‘Drop shipping’ is commonly found in online shopping. Is this permissible?