Question

You see an ad on Craig's List for a Men's Silver-tone Genuine Diamond Dial Watch for $20. You contact the seller and say that you will buy the watch for $15 plus a package of baseball cards. Does your acceptance meet the mirror image rule?

Why or why not?

Answer 1

The mirror image rule states the the offer and accptance terms must match equivocally and absolutely. In this case. the seller offers a watch for $20 while the customer comes up with entirely different terms to accept the offer. In this way, it is a counter offer and not the acceptance. Since the acceptance and offer terms differ, the mirror image rule is not met, and there is no contract.