Are newspaper ads enforceable

Answer 1

It depends on the prevailing law where you live and exactly what was in the newspaper ad. The general answer is usually no. An ad in a newspaper is generally not held to be an offer for purposes of contract law, where you show up to accept that offer. Ads are just solicitations for you to make an offer to buy or shop somewhere, unless the ads are extremely specific and you fulfill those very specific requirements. For instance, in one case 80 years ago, a store offered up free furs to the first 50 people through the doors. The first person through the door was a man, and this store refused to give him a fur. The man sued for breach of contract and won not because as advertisement is always an enforceable contract, but in this instance the terms were well laid out to make it enforceable, and the man fulfilled his part of the bargain showing up. These days, most advertising circulars also disclaim away any liability or clerical errors as well, so if something in print is wrong they don't want their behinds on the line. So if you see avocados selling out of season at the Jewel/Safeway/Piggly Wiggly for .10 a piece in the ad, don't think you can legally force them into that price if it was a mistake.