Regarding advertisements, which statement is generally true?

Regarding advertisements, which statement is generally true?

• A. Ads are offers if they specify a quantity to be bought
• B. Ads are offers only if price is stated
• C. Ads are generally not offers
• D. Ads are immediately binding when published

Answer: (C)

Ads generally function as invitations to negotiate rather than binding offers. A contract requires a definite offer and an unambiguous promise that becomes binding upon acceptance, and a public advertisement typically lacks the specificity and directed intent to bind everyone who sees it. In other words, it’s usually up to the seller to decide whether to sell and to whom, rather than a concrete commitment to sell to any reader who accepts. There are rare exceptions—if the ad clearly and unambiguously states a binding promise to anyone who performs a specified act (a unilateral offer) or is framed as a reward—but these are the exception, not the rule. So, the typical truth is that advertisements are generally not offers.

Ads generally function as invitations to negotiate rather than binding offers. A contract requires a definite offer and an unambiguous promise that becomes binding upon acceptance, and a public advertisement typically lacks the specificity and directed intent to bind everyone who sees it. In other words, it’s usually up to the seller to decide whether to sell and to whom, rather than a concrete commitment to sell to any reader who accepts. There are rare exceptions—if the ad clearly and unambiguously states a binding promise to anyone who performs a specified act (a unilateral offer) or is framed as a reward—but these are the exception, not the rule. So, the typical truth is that advertisements are generally not offers.