Business and Misc.Halachos of Damaged Goods

For a seller who wants to hide the defects of his products, see {Interpersonal Active Mitzvos, Subsection D., Lying}.

If one bought an item and found that it is defective, he has the right to demand that the owner give him another one which is in perfect condition [1]אע"פ דע"פ שו"ע יכול לטעון להחזיר המעות, אבל המנהג אינו כן. .

If he found it is defective, in certain cases he cannot return it:

A. If he could have easily found that the item was faulty and he didn’t bother checking, it can be assumed that it didn’t really bother him, and he may not return it [2]סמ"ע רלב, י . However, if he didn’t check it because usually people wouldn’t check for this particular defect [3]ע' שו"ע (רלב, יח) כשמכר פרה שאין לו טוחנות, שיכול לטעון מקח טעות אע"פ שיכול לבודקו [ונראה שהטעם כמו שכתבתי, שאע"פ שיכול לבודקו, אבל אין רגילים לבדוק אם יש לו שיניים.] , or the seller guaranteed him that it is not defective [4]מהרשד"ם ס' שפה, ובית שלמה חו"מ ס' סב , he still can return it.

B. If, after seeing the defect, he decided to continue using the item, he may no longer return it. However, if he had first informed the seller that it is defective and he intends to return it, he may still return it. Additionally, even if he did not inform the seller, but he only continued to use it because it would be awkward or difficult to stop using it, he may still return it [5]פת"ש רלב, א . For example, one who realized that a car is defective and drove it back to the dealership, may still get a refund. One who realized a pair of pants he is wearing has a tear in it, may keep wearing it until he gets home to change pants, and then return it.

C. Although strictly speaking, there is no time limit within which one must return the item, general custom is that one may only return it within a certain time window. If the store has a posted policy to inform buyers before purchase of their return policy, one may not return it after the time on the policy. If the seller claims that, since the buyer waited to return it, he can no longer get a refund from the manufacturer, he may still be obligated to reimburse the buyer [6]נראה דלדעת רמ"א (רלב, יח) יכול להחזיר, ולדעת שו"ע שם אפשר שאינו יכול להחזיר. .

D. If the buyer damaged the item in an unusual manner, such as if he dropped it and it shattered, and then realized it was defective, the seller need not accept the return. However, if he damaged it in a normal fashion, such as tearing open the packaging on food or writing his name in a sefer, and then he realized that the food is spoiled or the sefer is missing pages, he may still return it [7]רלב, יג .

E. When real estate was purchased, and subsequently a defect was found in the building, the buyer may not return it, but he may demand that the seller pay for the repairs [8]סע' ה.

אבל אם צריך הבית מיד, הלוקח יכול לבטל (ב"ח סק"ד).

אם הבית נבנה ללא חוקי כגון שע"פ הטאבו הוא מחסן ולא דירה, יכול לבטל אפי' לאחר זמן, ואינו יכול לטעון דכיון שלא בדק אצל הממשלה אם הוא חוקי או לא הרי לא הקפיד, דהא כיון שיש טורח גדול בזה, לא אמרינן מסתמא שמחל (מנחת אשר ג, קט אות ב). ואם יש חוב לחברת החשמל, המוכר חייב לשלם (משיב בהלכה ס' לט). .

A “defective” item need not be unusable; even if it is good, but a lesser quality than what the customer had ordered, he may return it [9]רלג, א . If the item is kosher but the buyer is stringent not to eat it, he may not claim mekach ta’us [10]פמ"ג (אש"א תסז, כה) . However, if l’chatchila the item should not be eaten but it is permitted in case of necessity, the buyer has the right to return it [11]שו"ת חיים שאל, ח"א, ס' עד, לה) .

If one sold an item which is only slightly damaged, but because he did not inform the buyer, the item was further damaged or ruined, he must pay for the entire value of the item [12]רכז, ?, בענין מכירת פרה שאין לה שינים. . For example, if one sold a ring which he knew had a loose setting, and the stone was subsequently lost, he would have to reimburse the buyer.

[If one knowingly sold a faulty item, and it caused damage to the buyer’s property, he may be obligated to pay for it [13]? דהוי גרמא .

If one knowingly sold a faulty appliance, causing the buyer to spend money to have it installed and subsequently removed after he noticed its faultiness, the seller must reimburse the buyer for all costs. If he sold it unknowingly, he would have to reimburse the cost of installation, but not of having it removed [14]? כיון שידע שיעשה כן הוי כאילו נתן ביד והוי מזיק ממש, וחייב אפי' לא נתכוון להזיק .]