Selling greeting cards not yet printed

Everyday Islamic Finance Business and Career Questions
#1

Assalam alaikum

I am planning to set up a webpage to sell greeting cards in different designs. Customers will see the designs online and choose which one they want to buy. Once I receive an order, I’ll get the greeting card printed and shipped out. Since I don’t physically have the greeting card when a customer places an order and pays for it, how should I structure this transaction in a Shari’ah compliant manner?

Jazakallahu khayran.

#2

Assalam alaikum @Mufti_Faraz_Adam @Mufti_Billal

I’d be very grateful for your reply to this question.

Jazakumullah khayr.

#3

Assalam alaikum @Mufti_Faraz_Adam @Mufti_Billal

I’d be very grateful for your reply to this question.

Jazakumullah khayr.

#4

Wasalam

May Allah bless you.
Do you receive the ordered cards before shipping them to customers?

#5

Assalam alaikum Mufti Billal

Yes. The customer can see different design options online and has the choice to do some customizations. Once the customer places the online order, I will personally get them printed as per the customer’s requirements and will ship them myself.

#6

There should not be any issues as longer as:

  • you have given the correct description of the item,
  • the customer is aware that the card will be printed on demand
  • that there is no expectation from the customer, and you don’t lead them to think that you will make the card yourself.

And Allah knows best!

#7

Jazakallahu khayran, I really appreciate your reply.

With regards to point 2 (“the customer is aware that the card will be printed on demand”), is it sufficient if I mention this fact in my website FAQs, or must I specify it on each product page for the cards? Since I will have a lot of cards each with separate web pages, I would rather avoid copying this statement on every page. It can also cause doubts for the customers if I mention it repetitively.

Thank you.

#8

Yes in FAQs it will work.