“Yossi is getting married in three weeks,” Moshe said to Yehudah. “He mentioned that if a few friends wanted to chip in, he would be happy to get a washing machine as a gift. Are you interested?”
“How much do you expect it will come to?” asked Yehudah.
“$80-100 a person, depending on how many people participate,” replied Moshe.
“That’s fine,” said Yehudah. “Put me down. How many people are there?”
“I already have seven,” said Moshe. “I’ll ask a few more people and then place the order next week, so they’ll have it in time.”
The following week, Yehudah’s wife asked him what he suggested for the new couple.
“A few friends are chipping in to buy a washing machine,” Yehudah said to her.
“That’s nice,” she said. “But I prefer something they could use on their Shabbos table, like a challah cover or a fancy serving tray. I saw some nice things on sale.”
“If you prefer, we’ll do that,” said Yehudah. “I’ll tell Moshe to take us off the list.”
Yehudah called Moshe’s house but there was no answer. He left a message: “This is Yehudah. We’re going to get our own gift for Yossi and do not want to participate in the purchase of the washing machine.”
Meanwhile, that same day Moshe completed the order of the washing machine at the store. When he returned home in the evening, he heard Yehudah’s voice message.
“Too late,” Moshe said to himself. “I already bought the washing machine. Yehudah should have notified me earlier.”
Moshe called Yehudah back. “I didn’t hear your message until after I bought the gift,” said Moshe. “So it’s too late; you’ll have to pay. It comes to $82 for each of ten people.”
“What’s too late?” asked Moshe. “You were buying it anyway; just divide the cost into nine instead of ten.”
“But you were on the list when I made the purchase,” said Moshe. “It’s not fair to make the others pay more.”
“I called to cancel beforehand,” pointed out Yehudah, “but you were out.”
“The truth is,” said Moshe, “it’s possible that by the time you called I had already bought the washing machine.”
“Even so, if I’m going to give another gift and won’t benefit from the washing machine,” reasoned Yehudah, “I don’t see any reason I should have to pay for it.”
“Whether you want to give another gift is your own issue,” said Moshe flatly. “I bought the washing machine for you as well, so you have to pay.”
“Not unless Rabbi Dayan says I have to,” said Yehudah. “We’ll ask him whether I have to participate in the payment.”
“Great idea,” said Moshe. “Let’s go.”
The two went to Rabbi Dayan’s beis hora’ah. They explained what happened and asked: “Does Yehudah have to pay his share in the washing machine or can he back out?”
“You have to check the voice mail, what time Yehudah called to cancel,” said Rabbi Dayan. “Once Moshe bought the gift on behalf of those who signed up, they cannot retract.”
“Why is that?” asked Yehudah.
“When people signed up, they became partners in the purchase, and Moshe was their agent to buy the washing machine,” explained Rabbi Dayan. “Shelucho shel adam k’moso – a person’s agent is like him [Kiddushin 41b). Thus, when Moshe purchased the washing machine he did so on behalf of all those who had signed up, so you are already a partner/owner in the gift.” (C.M. 182:1; 200:12)
“What about the fact that Moshe used his own credit card to buy the washing machine?” argued Yehudah. “Isn’t it like he bought it, and we’re now buying it from him?”
