What is the ruling on acquiring goods and selling them to customers secretly from the company, and what is the ruling on increasing the price and then discounting it to reach the original price?

An employee is not permitted to bring goods for customers from outside the company he works for, except with the company's permission. This is because the employee's benefits during working hours belong to his company, and the company may have a reason for not selling those particular goods.

As for increasing the price of a commodity, the general rule is that it is permissible if the buyer agrees, especially if it is customary to raise the price and then lower it during bargaining. There is no harm for the seller in using the method known in his country. However, this is conditioned upon the company's permission; otherwise, it is not permissible due to its violation of the principal's order and deceiving the buyer. The increase in price belongs to the company, not to the agent.