What is the general rule regarding revoking an offer before it has been accepted?

What is the general rule regarding revoking an offer before it has been accepted?

• A. The offeror can revoke at any time before acceptance.
• B. The offeror cannot revoke once the offer is made.
• C. Revocation requires additional consideration.
• D. Revocation is possible only if the offeree has started performance.

Answer: (A)

Offers can be withdrawn at any time before the other party accepts, because no contract forms until acceptance. The offeror’s power to revoke exists so long as the offeree has not accepted, and the revocation is communicated to them. This is why the general rule matches the option stating you can revoke before acceptance. There are well-known exceptions that change this, such as an option contract where the offeror pays to keep the offer open, or a firm offer under the UCC by a merchant that remains open for a stated period. Outside those situations, the other statements don’t fit: revocation doesn’t require additional consideration, and it isn’t limited to cases where the offeree has already started performance.

Offers can be withdrawn at any time before the other party accepts, because no contract forms until acceptance. The offeror’s power to revoke exists so long as the offeree has not accepted, and the revocation is communicated to them. This is why the general rule matches the option stating you can revoke before acceptance. There are well-known exceptions that change this, such as an option contract where the offeror pays to keep the offer open, or a firm offer under the UCC by a merchant that remains open for a stated period. Outside those situations, the other statements don’t fit: revocation doesn’t require additional consideration, and it isn’t limited to cases where the offeree has already started performance.