Chapter-2---Offer--and--ACCEPTANCE(邀约与承诺)

Chapter2OfferandACCEPTANCE1OfferOverviewAGREEMENT=OFFER+ACCEPTANCEOfferITTDefinition1.1Anexpressionofwillingnesstobeboundonspecificterms.1.2Mustbecertain.1.3Onlythepersonoramemberoftheclasstowhomtheofferhasbeenmadecanacceptit.1.4Theoffermustbeopenforacceptanceatthetimethatacceptanceispurportedtooccur.Invitationstotreat1.5Offersmustbedistinguishedfrominvitationstotreat.(a)Thisisinvitingsomeonetomakeanofferorcommencenegotiations.(b)Itcannotbeaccepted.(c)Examplesofinvitationstotreat:(i)itemsdisplayedonshelves:PharmaceuticalSocietyofG.B.vBootsCashChemists.(ii)itemsinshopwindows:FishervBell.(iii)usuallyadvertsinnewspapers:PartridgevCrittenden.Notehoweveroffersmadetothewholeworld:CarlillvCarbolicSmokeBallCo.(iv)auctionnotices.(v)prospectuses.(vi)mailordercatalogues1.6Alsobecarefulwithotherexpressionsthatfallshortofbeing'offers'eg(i)advertiserspufforboastsnormallyfallshortofbeingpromisesoroffers(ii)aresponsetoarequestforinformationisnotnormallyanoffer(iii)adeclarationofintentiontosellisnotnormallyanoffer.OverviewMETHODSOFTERMINATINGANOFFERRejectionCounterConditionalLapseofRevocationDeathOfferacceptancetime1.7TerminationofanOffer(a)Rejection:ofanofferorrefusaltoaccept.(b)Counter-offer:HydevWrench.Acounterofferissimplyanewoffer.(c)Conditionalacceptance:NealevMerrett.Contrastrequestsforinformation:StevensonvMcLean.Aconditionalacceptanceisanattempttointroducenewtermsintotheofferandassuchcannotbeanacceptance.(d)Lapseoftime:(anexpressorimpliedperiod)willterminateanoffer:RamsgateHotelvMontefiore.(e)Revocationofanoffer:(i)iseffectiveanytimebeforeacceptanceoccursRoutledgevGrant;(ii)aslongasitisactuallycommunicated:ByrnevVanTienhoven;(iii)canbecommunicatedviaareliablethirdparty:DickinsonvDodds;(f)Death.2AcceptanceOverviewACCEPTANCEDefinitionRulesDefinition2.1(a)Anunconditionalassenttoallthetermsoftheoffer:NealevMerrett(b)Itisimportanttoidentifyaclearoffer,andunconditionalacceptance.Negotiationsmayconstituteaseriesofcounteroffers,eachpartytryingtoimposetheirstandardtermsonthecontract:thebattleoftheforms.Henceiffacedwiththistypeofquestionensurethatyouidentifywhatishappeningateachstageofthenegotiationsuntilyouhaveaclearofferandacceptance.(c)Acceptancemayonlybemadebyauthorisedperson:(comparerevocation).(d)Mustbemadewhilsttheofferisstillopenie:(i)beforerevocation(ii)beforeanytimelimitspecifiedhasexpired(iii)beforetheofferee'sdeathRulesofacceptance2.2(a)Itmustbecommunicatedbypositivewordsordeedshenceitcannotbeimposedbysilencebutmaybeinferredbyconduct.(b)Ifmethodofcommunicationismandatorythennoothermethodwillbelegallyeffective:HolwellSecuritiesvHughes.(c)Ifnomandatorymethodisspecifieditshouldstillbemadeinthewayspecifiedbytheofferor,butanequallyspeedymethodmaysuffice:YatesvPulleyn.Instantaneousmethodsofcommunication2.3However,ifmoderninstantaneousmethodsofcommunicationareusede.g.telephone,faxes,emailetc,communicationmustbereceived;EntoresvMilesFarEastCorporation.OverviewEXCEPTIONSTOTHECOMMUNICATIONRULENeedforPostalcommunicationruleiswaivedExceptionstothecommunicationrule2.4(a)Wheretheneedforcommunicationiswaived:CarlillvCarbolicSmokeBallCo.(Becarefulthisdoesnotnegatetheneedforacceptanceitself.)(b)Wherethepostalruleappliesacceptancewilloccuratthemomentofposting:AdamsvLindsell,HouseholdFireInsurancevGrant.Conditions:(i)Lettermustbeproperlyaddressedandstamped;(ii)putintothepostinthenormalway;(iii)thepostalrulewillnothavebeenexcludedi.e.itmustbeincontemplationofbothpartiesthatacceptancewilltakeplacebypost.Effect:Wemayhavea'communication'ofacceptancewithoutreceipt.