Business and Dealings

Earning through Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Q: Amazon Affiliate Marketing is part of the Amazon Associates Program. It allows you to promote Amazon products through your unique affiliate links. When someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. 

Question is, is it halal for earning money through Amazon Affiliate Marketing, if the product is halal? Would the money be halal for the affiliate marketers?

Payflex

Q: Is it permissible for a merchant to offer the Payflex payment option to their clients? Similarly, is it permissible for one to use the Payflex payment option when purchasing from a store which offers the Payflex payment option? 

Below are the details regarding how the Payflex payment option operates: 

A customer wishes to purchase an item costing R2000 from an online store. Instead of paying for the item in full immediately, he has the choice of using Payflex when concluding his purchase. 

Payflex allows the customer to split the cost of the purchase into 4 equal, interest-free and fee-free payments. When checking out, the customer completes a quick form and is instantly vetted. Upon Payflex approving the customer’s credit rating, Payflex will immediately pay the merchant in full for the sale at the time when the customer buys the item from the merchant. 

The customer will pay Payflex the first 25% of their purchase (R500) at the time of the purchase. Payflex will then collect the other 75% of the amount in three instalments of R500 each over the next six weeks. 

Payflex charges the merchant a fixed fee for processing the transaction between the customer and the merchant. Is this transaction permissible in Shariah?

Purchaser demanding a refund one month after purchase

Q: I advertised a hunting scope on an online platform. In the description I wrote the name and the condition of the scope been fair condition. An individual messaged and on 20 March 2024 and I sold the hunting scope to this individual. 

On 25 March he confirmed receiving the scope and was happy. A month later he messaged saying the scope is not working and demanding a refund. I said its one month later and I can't do anything as its a second hand item and was bought and sold as second hand goods. Then he demands a receipt for the item which could not be provided as its second hand goods with no warranty. 

Apparently he wanted the receipt as the company of this scope has a lifetime warranty which he could claim if he had an original receipt which could not be provided. The scope was sold for R2000 which was in fair condition. All pictures of the scope was shown to the individual before purchasing. A scope brand new is about 8 to R10000. Its been around 5 months since the purchase. What do I do in this situation?

Responsibility of fixing a car that broke down while test driving it

Q: Please advise me on how to go about this problem: 

I smashed my brothers car so I decided to replace him with a very similar car. I saw the car in some pictures which was being sold by a reputable trustable person. After speaking to the seller on the phone I was happy with what he told me about the car. But the seller told me its better I first have a look at the car, drive the car then we will speak about method of payment. We agreed on a meeting point. 

The seller drove for about 150km. My brother went to pick up the car and drove it for another 200km and as he entered the town before reaching home, the car broke down. 

Am I responsible for the breakdown? Please advise on whats the way forward.