Q: When erev Pesach is Shabbos, how does the Rav arrange the sale?
A: In principle, chametz is permissible all Friday and on Shabbos morning (through the fourth hour), but the sale may not be done on Shabbos (C.M. 195:11).
Most Rabbanim arrange the sale on Friday morning, not afternoon, as in other years, but stipulate that the sale does not come into effect immediately.
Some stipulate that the sale take effect just before Shabbos but have a provisional clause to exclude or allow what will be eaten or otherwise destroyed on Shabbos and reduce the balance owed by the non-Jew accordingly (see Piskei Teshuvos 444:17; Nezer HaTorah, 5768, vol. 17, pp. 210-236).
Others stipulate that the sale take effect on Shabbos morning, in the fifth hour, as in other years. This ruling relies on the opinion of the Acharonim that it is permissible to make a contract and kinyanim on Friday that will take effect on Shabbos, because no action is done on Shabbos and the sale takes effect passively (Responsa R. Akiva Eiger 1:159; Ohr Sameach, Hil. Shabbos 23:12).
A store owner should consult his Rav about the details of his particular sales contract, and whether he may continue selling chametz on Friday afternoon, even after the sale is arranged.
