A grocery store mails to a produce importer an offer to purchase for prompt shipment 50,000 pounds of bananas.The importer immediately ships the 50,000 pounds of bananas by truck to the buyer but does not send notification to the buyer that it is making the shipment.Which of the following is true?
A) There has been an effective acceptance merely by shipping the bananas.
B) There would be an acceptance only if the seller sends a written acceptance by mail since the offer was received by mail.
C) The seller must send an acceptance to the buyer by any commercially reasonable method.
D) When the bananas arrive at the grocery store, their arrival will be treated as an offer.
E) There has been no acceptance because perishable items are involved, and notice must be given prior to shipment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principle of the mailbox rule states that acceptance is effective upon dispatch. In this case, the importer has shipped the bananas immediately after receiving the offer, which constitutes an effective acceptance even though no notification was sent to the buyer. Choice B is incorrect because acceptance can be made by any reasonable means, not just by mail. Choice C is also incorrect because the seller has already accepted by shipping the bananas. Choice D is incorrect because the arrival of the bananas at the grocery store is not an offer. Choice E is incorrect because the perishable nature of the goods does not affect the principle of acceptance by dispatch.

A Grocery Store Mails to a Produce Importer an Offer