Source: https://www.docsity.com/en/contracts-law-mailbox-rules-and-examples-restatement-2nd/2217814/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:24:37+00:00

Document:
A. Generally, acceptance is effective when sent, regardless of whether it reaches the offeror. See Restatement (2nd) § 63.
c. to acceptance under an option contract, which is effective upon receipt by the offeror.
2. Note also that id. § 40 modifies the mailbox rule when an earlier rejection arrives before a later acceptance (see below).
B. Generally, revocation is effective when received by the offeree. See Restatement (2nd) § 42. But note that an exception applies in the case of option contracts, per id. § 37.
2. operates as an acceptance if the offeror receives it before the earlier-sent rejection or counter-offer.
D. A useful mnemonic: Acceptance on answer; revocation or rejection on receipt.
A. Reading the illustrations: In the illustrations that follow, the vertical distance between the offeror and offeree represents the space across which they communicate. Time progresses from left to right along the horizontal axis. Relatively slow communications appear as slanted lines, therefore, while relatively instantaneous ones appear as vertical lines. Unless otherwise noted, "rejection" stands for "rejection or counter-offer."
B. Caveats: These illustrations address generic contract formation; that is, they assume that the offerors have not put special conditions on the proper mode of acceptance, that acceptance is in a manner and by a medium invited by the offer, and that option contracts are not at issue.
NB: But see Comment c and Illustration 7 to Restatement (2nd) § 63, providing that the offeree may be estopped to enforce the contract against an offeror who reasonably relies on the earlier-received rejection.
NB: Even though here the acceptance is sent before the receipt of the rejection, Restatement (2nd) § 40 modifies the mailbox rule to provide that a prior-sent rejection or counter-offer will, if received before the putative acceptance, render that acceptance a mere counter-offer.
K. A Puzzle: Rejection, Revocation, or Acceptance?
NB: E, supra, suggests that the acceptance sent prior to the receipt of the revocation will trump that revocation. G, supra, suggests that the prior-received revocation will trump the later-received rejection or counter-offer. J, supra, suggests that the rejection or counter-offer sent prior to and received before the acceptance will trump that acceptance.

References: § 63
 § 40
 § 42
 § 37
 § 63
 § 40