Question:
Hi Rabbi,
I had a halachic question about purchasing from companies like Amazon or other large retailers with very lenient refund policies.
Is it permissible to buy an item knowing in advance that, because of the company's policy, you could request a full refund and keep the item without returning it? Does the fact that the retailer knowingly offers such a policy make it halachically permissible to buy from them with the intention to rely on it, or would doing so be considered problematic (e.g., because of geneivah, ona'ah, or another issue), even if the company voluntarily approves the refund?
Thank you.
Answer:
Hello,
No, you should not do this. It is fooling the seller, as they never would have consented to enter into a transaction knowing that you plan to fool them into keeping the item and not paying for it by manipulating the company's policies. This applies whether the vendor is a Jew or a gentile.
Best wishes
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