Trade

Informing the customers regarding the approximate thickness of the commodity

Q: I wanted to find out a fatwa regarding weights and measures in my business. 

We are steel traders. We buy steel a certain thickness say 0.2mm but the factories that produce it can’t get the exact thickness due to the production process. So the thickness varies from 0.195 to 0.205mm, sometimes more sometimes less. 

What is the ruling on this because we sell the product as 0.2mm. We sell as per the thickness that we order. We don’t order a lower thickness and sell as a higher thickness. This is purely a production tolerance level as the machines can never get it exact.

Confirming with the supplier the payment term for early payment discount

Q: I was receiving a 2.5% early payment discount. I contacted my Sales Representative and explained regarding the 2,5% discount not being allowed for me and to amend my pricing structure. 

1. I wanted to know if I should continue to make payment deducting that amount and then paying it over to the poor or some other institute that takes interest monies while my pricing structure is being amended? 

Taking a non-refundable deposit to special order an item for a customer

Q: In some businesses it is common practice to special order an item for a customer, when it is not in stock, by taking a non-refundable deposit, e.g., 25% or 50%. At times the following situations arise after the item is purchased from the supplier and it arrives: 

1. The customer pays the balance and the sale is concluded. 

2. The customer changes their mind and then wants a refund, which is refused because the item was specially ordered. 

Is it permissible to conduct business in this manner?

Selling scented candles and other scented products

Q: 

1. I wanted to open a candle making business where I make scented candles and candles using resin and epoxy with pearls and stones for decoration. Is this permissible? 

2. I also wanted to ask that my business will have everything to do with scents so sprays for the house and bamboo stick scents, candle massage oils and I’ll be selling to other companies like Checkers, YuppieChef and event planners to put as centre pieces for weddings. I would also like to do oud bars at weddings for customised weddings. I will also be selling ironing scents. Where, after the clothing is ironed it will be hanged and underneath it the bakhoor spoke will freshen the clothing. All of this will be from my home. 

Please remember me in your special duas, May Allah grant me barakah and Aafiyah.