Let me bring another dose of sanity into this discussion.
Trading post, is for trading. Taboo has items listed for sale. Taboo can sell those items, or not.
1) Taboo can practice common courtesy and sell to the only buyer who has made an offer matching his listed criterion for beard creams (Mens Rea).
2) Taboo can adopt a socialist type ideology and split the sale/barter of his items equally out to all buyers. Everybody's a winner!
3) Taboo can refuse to sell/barter to somebody on this thread, e.g. Drunk'n Disorder or Mens Rea.
4) Taboo can sell to a private buyer, this is clearly a non-binding advertisement.
5) Buyers can change their mind about buying items from Taboo since this is not an auction (with a buyout) or a contract; e.g. buying beard creams from Capitalist even though he has kind of hijacked Taboo's thread rudely -- advertising for himself. Pretty sure this violates the intention of this forum of discussion.
6) Taboo can change his mind about selling these items.
7) Taboo can do whatever else Taboo wants with his items.
Mens Rea, to respond to your claim directly. In short, this isn't a contract because you haven't paid for any item or services rendered yet, and this is not an auction with a buyout (acceptance requires two people in common law, e.g. a handshake, delivery of payment, express or implied
agreement, a signature).
From Wikipedia (
United States contract law): An offer is a display of willingness by a promissor to be legally bound by terms they specify, made in a way that would lead a reasonable person in the promisee's position to understand that an acceptance is being sought and, if made, results in an enforceable contract. Ordinarily, an offeror is permitted to revoke their offer at any time prior to a valid acceptance. This is partially due to the maxim that an offeror is the "master of his offer."
Differences Between an Advertisement and a Unilateral Contract: "...an advertisement typically does not constitute an offer to fulfill a contracted obligation; instead, it is an offer to establish a unilateral contract. An advertisement allows the party making the offer to revoke its willingness to enter into a contract. "
Can The Advertiser Withdraw an Offer If An Advertisement Is Considered An Offer?
"An offer is revocable unless the advertiser has already received a benefit or unless the other party has already acted in reliance upon the offer. For example, an advertisement which promises medical treatment for cancer patients will be revocable unless the advertiser has already received payment from the patient."
On the other hand, to provide a couple of examples of where Taboo not selling you items would be a violation valid agreement includes at the following cases:
1) Express agreement: In this case Taboo would
promise to sell said items on a first come first serve basis, or in a specified time period to a buyer(s) (e.g. an auction with a buyout). Then refuses to sell said items. This is a violation of an express agreement.
2) Implied agreement: In the case Taboo
agreed to meet you at a bank, and then refused to sell you the items after receiving another offer in PM. This is a violation of an implied agreement based on Taboo's behavior, any reasonable person would assume Taboo was going to sell you said item(s).