Q: I work as an engineer and my job requires me to get quotes for items we need to purchase. I agree to a quote based on the price and the delivery date. For example; if I need to by piping I will get three quotes.
Quote A says our price is $10 per foot and we will deliver by May 5
Quote B says our price is $5 per foot but we will deliver by May 16
Quote C says our price is $2 per foot but we will deliver by May 28
I select for instance Quote A and the terms are agreed upon. Now, sometimes a company misses the agreed upon delivery date. If they miss the date by 1 or 2 days, we don’t have any problems. But sometimes they miss the delivery date by 2 weeks or more. In this case we tell the company that we will not pay the full price and that they must discount the price that was initially agreed upon because they did not meet the agreed upon delivery date. Is this permissible?
A: If the company voluntarily is prepared to give you a discount, then it will be permissible.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)