Offer/Acceptance Question
Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 6:25 pm
Party A: I offer to sell you 5,000 widgets for 501 dollars. Acceptance of this offer is expressly conditional on the terms and conditions within. Also, my form has boilerplate terms stating that I'm not liable for any damages.
Party B: Sounds good dude, I like the quantity, the price, and the delivery date. Also, my form has boilerplate terms stating that you are liable for all damages. My form doesn't have any language that tracks the UCC's 'expressly made conditional' language.
Party A: Got your form, everything is in order. Also, this form also contains boilerplate terms stating that all my offers/acceptances are expressly made conditional on the acceptance of the terms within. However, this time, my form doesn't disclaim liability for damages resulting from late shipment.
My questions are: Was a contract formed? When? What are the terms?
My analysis runs like this: Party A made an offer, Party B's acceptance wasn't effective because it varied the terms so it acted as a counteroffer, Party A's confirmation actually functions as an acceptance of B's counteroffer. The additional term that the acceptance is conditional on the terms is effective unless it materially alters the contract or B objects within 10 days.
Party B: Sounds good dude, I like the quantity, the price, and the delivery date. Also, my form has boilerplate terms stating that you are liable for all damages. My form doesn't have any language that tracks the UCC's 'expressly made conditional' language.
Party A: Got your form, everything is in order. Also, this form also contains boilerplate terms stating that all my offers/acceptances are expressly made conditional on the acceptance of the terms within. However, this time, my form doesn't disclaim liability for damages resulting from late shipment.
My questions are: Was a contract formed? When? What are the terms?
My analysis runs like this: Party A made an offer, Party B's acceptance wasn't effective because it varied the terms so it acted as a counteroffer, Party A's confirmation actually functions as an acceptance of B's counteroffer. The additional term that the acceptance is conditional on the terms is effective unless it materially alters the contract or B objects within 10 days.