What happens if an offer is made but never received by the offeree?

When an offer is made but not received by the offeree, the offer is generally considered void. This is because a fundamental requirement for the formation of a contract is that both parties must have knowledge of the terms being offered. If the offeree never receives the offer, there is no opportunity for them to accept or reject the terms presented.

In contract law, an offer must be communicated effectively for it to create a binding agreement. Since an offer that goes unreceived cannot lead to acceptance, it fails to meet the criteria necessary for the formation of a valid contract. Therefore, the lack of communication renders the offer void, as it cannot be acted upon.

Other concepts, such as whether a contract remains valid or if an offer is automatically revoked, hinge on the receipt of the offer by the offeree. Because the offeree has no knowledge of the offer, those scenarios are not applicable in this context.