Business and Misc.Halachos of Damaged Goods

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 this item for defects[3] , 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 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) .