“FOR SALE Giant Contend 2 Racing Bicycle – One careful owner. Worth €1,000, will sell for €550 or the nearest offer: Legal Issues in Business Assignment, NUI, Ireland

Brian wanted to sell his bicycle and use the money to go on a holiday. Brian put an advertisement in the local paper on 14/03/2022 which read as follows:

“FOR SALE Giant Contend 2 Racing Bicycle – One careful owner. Worth €1,000, will sell for €550 or the nearest offer. Contact Brian by phone on 086 6666666.” Liam sent Brian an email on the morning of March 15th saying that he wanted to accept the offer to buy the bike for his son Michael and that he would pay €550 for the bike.

Liam asked for Brian’s bank account details so he could send him the money instantly. Brian was not at work on the 15th and did not get a chance to check his emails. Brian did not see Liam’s email until the morning of the 16th. On the evening of the 15th, Brian’s phone rang. It was his colleague Anna. They spoke about a social event that they would be attending for St Patrick’s day. At the end of the conversation, Brian asked Anna if she knew anyone who needed a second-hand bike.

Anna said that she did, and when Brian told Anna that his bike was for sale, Anna offered Brian €500 for the bike, which Brian accepted, and they arranged that Anna would give him the money when they met on St Patrick’s day. Liam now claims that he has an enforceable contract with Brian, as his email was sent before the phone conversation between Brian and Anna took place.

Brian is confused and asks you to answer the following questions for him.

• What does the term “offer” mean in the context of contract law?
• What does the term “acceptance” mean in the context of contract law?
• Does Brian have a contract with Liam?
• Does Brian have a contract with Anna?