One
man was selling silk ribbons, asking six zuz, although they were
actually worth five, and it was apparent that he would take
five-and-a-half. Another man came along and said to himself, “If I give
him five-and-a-half, it will be considered an immediate waving of the
overpayment. I will instead give him six, and then summon him to
judgment for the entire overcharge of one zuz.”
When
he came before Rava for a ruling, Rava said to him, “The rules of
overcharging apply only to a merchant, but when buying from a
householder, the buyer has no claim of price fraud.” People consider
their personal effects dear and sell them for more than their worth.
