Reference no: EM13784858

"Used Car Sales." Walter sells used cars. He is seeking a way to increase sales and profits because he would like to take his girlfriend on a nice diving trip to the Grand Cayman Islands. The first thing that Walter does is say that during the first week of December, he will give a $500 rebate on used cars that are under two years old. To spice things up, he also offers to sell any car on the lot that is over five years old for $1,000 to the first three customers who can hula hoop ten hours straight on December 7th. (Hula hooping was a practice popular some years ago in which a large hoop would be swung around by a person, usually around the waist.) Walter was not very concerned about the hula hooping issue because he thought that no one would be able to hula hoop for ten hours straight. Walter put an advertisement pertaining to the rebate and the hula hoop opportunity in the local newspaper. The promotion went over very well. Although Walter had several cars available, he ran out of cars under two years old within one day. During the rest of the week shoppers were told that no cars of that description were available. Sam was very angry at Walter for not having a car available that was under two years old so that he could get a good deal and a $500 rebate. On December 7th, while Walter was watching the hula hoopers, Sally was shopping for a car. She was in college and did not have much money. She saw one, an older car, a real clunker, that she liked; but she really did not know if it could be repaired sufficiently to be dependable. Walter had not even put a price on it because he planned to have it crushed. Sally was going to talk to her parents about it. Walter eventually approached her, and Sally asked him if he would take $450 for the car. Walter said, "Yes, sold." Sally tried to explain that she needed to talk to her parents first, but Walter would not hear of it. While Walter was still fuming from his encounter with Sally, Zack walked up and started to criticize the nature of Walter's inventory. Walter told him that he had great cars. Zack pointed at an old jalopy that was banged up, had 200,000 miles on it, and a cracked windshield. Zack said, "Sure, I'll pay $100,000 for that car!" Walter said, "Sold." Zack said, "Wait a minute. I was only kidding." Walter said, "No way." Meanwhile all the hula hoopers dropped out well prior to ten hours of hula hooping except for Barbara. She completed the hula hooping and asked for her car for $1,000. Walter refused saying that the offer was revoked. Sam and Barbara sued Walter, and Walter sued Zack and Sally. Under the applicable law in Walter's state, common law will be applied, and there are no state statutes impacting the situation.

What is the most likely result in the lawsuit brought by Walter against Zack?

a) Walter will win because Zack properly made an offer that Walter accepted.

b) Zack will win because under a subjective standard he was joking.

c) Zack will win because he was merely expressing possible interest.

d) Zack will win because Walter did not properly accept.

e) Zack will win because under an objective standard, it appears he was joking.