Case study.
Matt wishes to sell his jet ski as he has upgraded to a newer model. He placed an advertisement in Cool Waves
magazine on Monday stating, ‘Pro 230 Jet Ski for sale, 5 years old, mint condition, £5,000’. Chloe sees the
advert on Tuesday and telephones Matt, offering £4,000 for the jet ski. Matt replies that the least he can
accept is £4,750. He advises Chloe to think about it and call him by 5pm Wednesday if she would like to buy the
jet ski, promising not to sell to anyone else before then.
Chloe decides that she will go ahead with the purchase and tried to call Matt on Wednesday morning but he is
unable to answer and so Chloe leaves a voicemail. Unfortunately, Matt’s partner Joe accidently deletes the
voicemail before Matt hears it.
On Wednesday lunchtime Matt is offered £5,000 for the jet ski by Mary who saw the advertisement in the
magazine. Matt accepts. Unknown to Matt, Mary is Chloe’s aunt and Mary calls Chloe to tell her how excited
she is about her new jet ski.
Chloe is furious and immediately writes a letter to Matt accepting the offer of the jet ski for £4,750 which she
posts in the post box at 3pm on Wednesday. Matt is confused when he receives the letter from Chloe on
Thursday.
Advise Matt whether he is in a binding contract with Chloe for the sale of the jet ski.