Is it permitted to polish and beautify brand-new utensils before selling them?
Improving the appearance of genuinely new goods (polishing, ironing) is permitted — there is no deception. The prohibition is specifically on making old or inferior goods appear newer or higher quality than they actually are.
Question 2
A merchant discounts his prices below the market rate to attract more customers. Can other market merchants prevent him from doing so?
A merchant may sell below market price to attract customers and increase volume. This is legitimate commercial competition — not geneivat da'at (deception). Other merchants may not prevent him.
Question 3
Water has mixed into a seller's wine. He wants to sell it to another merchant who will resell it. May he tell the merchant about the water and sell it?
Even with disclosure, selling water-diluted wine to a merchant is forbidden because the merchant will then pass the deception on to his own customers. The prohibition extends beyond the immediate transaction to protect the public.
Question 4
A person sells wheat. The buyer finds one quarter kav of legumes mixed in per se'ah. What is the seller obligated to do?
The accepted standard for wheat is up to one quarter kav of legumes per se'ah. This is within tolerance and the seller has no further obligation. Only when impurity exceeds the standard must the entire batch be sifted and replaced.
Question 5
In a city where custom requires all produce to be sold completely clean, a seller mixes in some impurities. What is the result?
Local custom is the governing standard. Where the custom is to sell completely clean produce, the Talmudic default tolerances do not apply. Parties transact against local norms, and the seller must meet the local standard.