In: Operations Management
B. Which of the following statements if made by one person to another is an offer and which are not? Be sure to state reasons for your response.
Statement #1 – “I am thinking about selling my laptop computer and if I do, I probably would want at least $250 dollars for this lovely piece of equipment.”
Statement #2 – “I am selling my laptop computer and the asking price is $250 dollars.”
Statement #3 – “ Are you interested in buying my computer and if so, how much would you give me?”
Statement #1 – “I am thinking about selling my laptop computer and if I do, I probably would want at least $250 dollars for this lovely piece of equipment.”
The above statement is not an offer as the person is only thinking of selling the laptop and this may not be for sure whether he will be selling it or not. Secondly, the indented customer of this statement is also not clear. Thus it cannot be treated as an offer of sale.
Statement #2 – “I am selling my laptop computer and the asking price is $250 dollars.”
The above statement is again also not an offer to sell the laptop despite having the full intention of selling the laptop as the statement is not directed to the other person or the statement does not create any request to the other person to buy the laptop.
Statement #3 – “ Are you interested in buying my computer and if so, how much would you give me?”
The above statement is also not a valid offer as the seller is looking to sell the laptop to a certain buyer but the price of the laptop is not mentioned. In order to have a valid offer, it must contain the delivery date, price, terms of payment.