Tim receives a catalog in his email from the GREAT GUYS store advertising laptops. The catalogue shows the various products on sale and their respective prices. He visits the store and selects Premium RZ1 laptop displayed on a shelf and approaches the counter. It has a marked price of $600. He tells the salesperson he will definitely buy it provided he can purchase the laptop with the headphone set for $600. 

The salesperson informs him that the best price he can give the laptop and headphones for was $620. Tim thinks the headphone set is overpriced and says he will continue to browse, looking at other laptops. He notices a Jell S1 laptop in a separate aisle and takes it to the counter asking whether the Jell S1 had the same functionalities and efficiency as the Premium RZ1. 

The salesperson advises him that the item is not for sale as it was the last one left and it was reserved for sale for another customer. The salesperson advises him that a new line- Star SR9- is available with lots of stock at the back of the store. He is told Star SR9 is 'top of the line as far as laptops go and does not have the technical problems that some of the other lines do.' Impressed by this, Tim asks whether it comes with a 2 year warranty and the owner confirms this. Tim asks to have a look at the Star SR9 laptop and the shop assistant responds that Tim has made a good choice, returning a few minutes later with the laptop. However, on observing the price of Star SR9 being $800, Tim said he needed time to think about it. The owner advised him 'I will keep this offer open for one week. Let me know. Let me have your email address.' 3 days later, Tim received an email from the store informing him that the laptop had been sold to another buyer. 

INSTRUCTIONS: Tim is unhappy and insists that surely there must be a contract in existence between the store and him. 

Advise him to use the IRAC method. Please refer to relevant case law in support of the legal principles discussed

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

To provide advice to Tim we can use the IRAC Issue Rule Application and Conclusion method Issue The primary issue here is whether there is a legally e... View the full answer