Ashok goes to super market to buy a Air Conditioner. He selects a branded Air Conditioner having a price tag of ` 40,000 after a discount of ` 3000. Ashok reaches at cash counter for making the payment, but cashier says, “Sorry sir, the discount was upto yesterday. There is no discount from today. Hence you have to pay ` 43,000.” Ashok got angry and insists for ` 40,000. State with reasons whether under Indian Contract Act, 1872, Ashok can enforce the cashier to sell at discounted price i.e. ` 40,000.

An invitation to offer is different from offer. Quotations, menu cards, price tags, advertisements in newspaper for sale are not offer. These are merely invitations to public to make an offer. An invitation to offer is an act precedent to making an offer. Acceptance of an invitation to an offer does not result in the contract and only an offer emerges in the process of negotiation. In the instant case, Ashok reaches to super market and selects a Air Conditioner with a discounted price tag of ` 40,000 but cashier denied to sell at discounted price by saying that discount is closed from today and request to make full payment. But Ashok insists to purchase at discounted price. On the basis of above provisions and facts, the price tag with Air Conditioner was not offer. It is merely an invitation to offer. Hence, it is the Ashok who is making the offer not the super market. Cashier has right to reject the Ashok’s offer. Therefore, Ashok cannot enforce cashier to sell at discounted price.