Business and Dealings

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.

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.

Accepting a car which is insured as a gift

Q: A person’s parents bought and gifted him a car. The car is under insurance. This person does not want the insurance and told his parents to take it out. His parents do not want to remove the insurance. 

1. Is it permissible for him to use and drive the car? 

2. If he meets in an accident and the insurance pays for the damages of the car and the car gets fixed, will it be permissible to drive the car after it has been fixed. This person does not want the insurance and he told his parents to remove it but they don’t want to.

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?