Dropshipping

Q: Is drop shipping halaal? I intend to sell clothes online via a supplier. The stock resides with the supplier. I will link my online clothing store with the supplier. The client chooses from my brochure and makes payment, then the item will be shipped via courier to the client. Is this permissible?

A: The law of Shariah is that after purchasing any item, it is not permissible for one to sell the item before taking physical possession of it.

Hence, in your situation, you cannot get the supplier to deliver the goods directly to the client before you take possession of the goods.

However, if taking possession is difficult for you, then the solution is for you to act as a middle person in arranging the goods for the client and charging the client a stipulated fee for your service. In this case, since you are not selling the goods to the client but are only arranging them for him, you will not need to take possession of the goods.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)