An invitation to treat, also known as an invitation to negotiate or an invitation to bargain, is a legal concept in contract law that refers to a preliminary expression of interest in the possibility of forming a contract. It is a statement or conduct that indicates a willingness to enter into negotiations, but it is not a final offer or acceptance of a contract. Instead, it is an invitation for the other party to make an offer to form a contract.
In contract law, there are two types of offers: invitations to treat and offers proper. An invitation to treat is a preliminary or preparatory step in the formation of a contract, whereas an offer proper is a definite and final proposal for the formation of a contract. An invitation to treat does not create a legally binding contract, but it can lead to the formation of a contract if the other party makes an offer in response to the invitation to treat.
There are several situations in which an invitation to treat may occur. For example, a store owner may display items for sale in their store window or on their website, which is an invitation to treat for customers to make an offer to purchase the items. The store owner is not obligated to sell the items at the displayed price, but they are willing to enter into negotiations with customers who express an interest in purchasing the items.
Another example of an invitation to treat is when a seller lists items for auction. The seller is not making a definite offer to sell the items, but they are inviting potential buyers to make an offer to purchase the items. The highest bidder at the end of the auction will be the one who makes the successful offer to purchase the items.
It is important to distinguish between an invitation to treat and an offer proper, as this determines whether a legally binding contract has been formed. An offer proper is a definite and final proposal for the formation of a contract, which can be accepted by the other party to create a legally binding contract. An invitation to treat, on the other hand, is simply a statement of willingness to enter into negotiations and does not create a legally binding contract.
In conclusion, an invitation to treat is a legal concept in contract law that refers to a preliminary expression of interest in the possibility of forming a contract. It is a statement or conduct that indicates a willingness to enter into negotiations, but it is not a final offer or acceptance of a contract. It is important to distinguish between an invitation to treat and an offer proper, as this determines whether a legally binding contract has been formed.