QUESTION: I am a salesperson. There are some product lines that my company sells that are more profitable for our company than others. There are also product lines that may be more efficient or more economical that are carried by our competitors. My company, of course, would prefer that I sell our customers the more profitable product line, and the product line that we carry rather than the line of a competitor, even if the competitor’s product may be better or cheaper. My question is, “Is this permitted, or am I deceiving my customers (a form of Geneivas Daas) by selling what is good for them even if it is not what is best for them?”
ANSWER: The Halachic authorities (Poskim) have ruled (Choshen Mishpat, Chapter One) that when the customer has reason to assume that you are giving him the best advice that there is – then it is forbidden to promote a product that is not best for him. The Poskim have mentioned that if a seller is only selling one product or brand, then there is a tacit assumption that the customer is aware that the business tends to promote their own products and that there may be a better deal somewhere else. For example, if you are a salesperson for Toyota, then the customer assumes that you are naturally going to promote a Toyota, even though a Honda may be a better deal for him. However, even in this case, it is “best practice” to tell him that he should make himself aware of all the other car makes and models and make the decision that he feels is best for him.
Of course, it is always forbidden to promote a product to a customer that the customer does not really need. The underling prohibitions of doing so are Geneivas Da’as (deception) and Lifnei Iver Lo Sitain Michshol (do not place a stumbling block before the blind).
