Using company's resources to promote sales

18-6-2000 | IslamWeb

Question:

Can you answer the following question for someone here. A man is working as outdoor salesman. His manager has asked him to give 1 carton free, on the purchase of every 12 Cartons (1 Dozen)He is doing that. But sometimes, some small shops buy 6 cartons only. (He is supposed to give half a carton free for such a purchase) as a gift from the company or sales promotion. Since the shop (buyer) is small, and the salesman doesn't expect more business from him in future, he does not give this half carton free to him. Instead, the big shop, who is buying more from him, and hasmore business in future, he gives him 2 cartons free instead of 1 carton for every dozen purchase.Basically: He is stealing 2 half cartons from 2 small shops, and giving them free to 1 big shop.The salesman has no direct benefit from the above trading, but HE HAS TO MEET HIS SALES QUOTA. So, he keeps the big shops happy, so that they buy more from him in future. The Company doesn't want him to do the above. Company expects the salesman to do what they have asked, and yet fulfill the quota. Is the above allowed from the Islamic point of view? Please give advise,Thanks for your guidance. JazakAllah.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is obvious from your question that the manager asked you to give I carton free to every one who purchases twelve cartons, to encourage the customers to increase their purchasing. Therefore, this encouragement gift (sales promotion) should not be given except to the one who purchases the
particular quantity or more. Whoever purchases less than the specific quantity does not then deserve any gift. On the other hand,the salesman does not have any right to take a carton after selling twelve cartons to various shops and give it to a given shop to have more business in future. In fact, the carton is a property of the owner of the company, so the salesman should not freely dispose of it. He should act only in the limits of the agreement. Therefore, the salesman should inform the owner of what he has done in the past and should ask him to forgive him for what he has done out of the limits of the agreement. If he forgives him he becomes free; if he does not excuse him, then he should give
back the cartons or their price. Allah Knows best.