What would you do?

[DanyalSAC]

Asalaamu alaikum

Back at the beginning of November I ordered 3 thobes from an online merchant. They proudly proclaim on their website "By Muslims, for Muslims!".

After my first month of not receiving anything, I wrote back to them and asked the status of my order. They replied (and this is a direct quote: "Its called being on BACK ORDER!!!!!").

A month later I received something, and what I received was what I called a "Bat-Thobe" because it looks like something Batman would wear - black and made of some shiny material that looked like a Glad garbage bag. When I wrote to them of their error, I got an apology saying they would get my order right out that week. That was January 6th. I have since written and written and the only reply I've gotten is silence.

I know that Muslims defrauding Muslims is not a Good Thing, and I also know that if they're the kind of Muslims who would do this to a brother without a second thought then they are the kind of Muslims who wouldn't care if I were to bombard them with ahadith or Qur'an quotes telling them the error of their ways.

I have posted on Facebook not to purchase from that company - after consulting with my shaykh, he affirmed that as I have given them ample time with polite warning to rectify their error not only is this NOT backbiting but I've almost a duty to warn people about shoddy business practices but I am not to exaggerate or go into any more detail than what I did here.

But I am still out my 80 bucks US. I know in his final Khutbah our Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salaam said "Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners", but I'm not sure in this case if that is the same thing.

 

[BrotherInIslam7]

Walaykumsalaam Akhi Danyal,

I would have been upset and felt cheated as well, were I in the same situation.

Brother, I think you should also take this matter up with the bank/credit union (who issued your debit card) and let them know about this type of 'fraud' transaction.

At times, the banks are able to credit money to your account and blacklist the organization.

Also, we should be cautious about buying from online stores. It is better to buy from known names that have good reviews from other customers. They are a lot of websites that cater to Muslim consumers, but it seems like most of them are overpriced or have poor customer service.


Wasalaamalaykum waa rahmatuallahi

 

[muslimda3ee]

:salam2:

I would be cautioned, about purchasing online in any sense. Just because they label as muslims, doesn't mean that they really are.

There are many jews lately who say they are muslim. This is not to say that these people are jews at all. But I mention that because I have noticed, in discussions in the past online.


When buying online stick to trust worthy vendors. You could always ask people you know.

anyways report it to your banking card that you used. And tell them that it was fraud. And ask them to take care of it with you.

 

[Frank_H_Smith]

As Salamu 'Alaykum,

I would write them one more letter and tell them that everyone has 500 people who will come to their wedding and their funeral and that people on the web communicate daily with many more than that number. Tell them if they do not satisfy your order and uphold their agreement you are going to start telling your five hundred people about their business practices and ask them to tell their 500 people and you will also communicate with the various Muslim forums and chat rooms to which you belong about their failure to fill a simple order. And, you might mention the better business bureau and any other avenues you have to hurt their business. Then remind them that failure to me an obligation is the same as lying, cheating, and stealing.

Was Salam

 

[weakslave]

You can contact the BBB and open a case with them.

 

[arzafar]

As Salamu 'Alaykum,

I would write them one more letter and tell them that everyone has 500 people who will come to their wedding and their funeral and that people on the web communicate daily with many more than that number. Tell them if they do not satisfy your order and uphold their agreement you are going to start telling your five hundred people about their business practices and ask them to tell their 500 people and you will also communicate with the various Muslim forums and chat rooms to which you belong about their failure to fill a simple order. And, you might mention the better business bureau and any other avenues you have to hurt their business. Then remind them that failure to me an obligation is the same as lying, cheating, and stealing.

Was Salam

yeah
make it 1000 people

but i think that's a problem with business dealings nowadays. In islam the recommended method for doing business is to pay the money by one hand and receive the goods with the other. If a delay is agreed upon then draw up a contract with exact dates, names and clauses etc.

 

[DanyalSAC]

You can contact the BBB and open a case with them.

This only works if its an American company, right?


I had a few replies to my post on Facebook, one brother said he had heard they were a fraud when he wanted to buy something for his wife from the site.

 

[DanyalSAC]

I just did a search online and found out they've been scamming folks since at least 2006. Most people getting hurt by them are sisters who order abayas or niqaab through them. It seems they have a habit of sending the wrong item and then never fixing it.

May Allah guide them...but I feel bad for our sisters who tried to buy something nice for themselves and ended up getting essentially robbed...in once case for over 600 dollars US.