Carlill V Carbolic Smoke Ball Company Case Summary

In the early 90s, the Hoover was under a threat as they had excess stock of hoovers and made a promotion if the customers spend over hundred pounds they were promised to be given two flight tickets to America. The problem was that the customers were only asked to spend hundred pounds to gain a reward of up to six hundred pounds. However, the free flight tickets weren’t given, as a result people decided to take the issue to the court and during this period Hoover`s reputation and publicity was ruined. The idea of a promotion was to attract the maximum attention at the minimum cost yet, Hoover company got this idea wrong and hoover ended up overwhelmed and the British division was sold to the Italian manufacturer Candy.
• Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company (1893) 1 QB 256 (CA)
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The case of Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Company is a similar case to the Hoover fiasco case in the way of signing contract, Carbolic Smoke Ball Company also made a unilateral contract and promise to whomever claim that got sick with influenza after using the ‘smoke ball’ by following the instructions will be rewarded hundred pounds. However, when Mrs Carlill claimed that she had influenza after using it two or three times daily, the company refused to pay the reward. Similarly, this was the issue in the Hoover fiasco, as the company did not give the customers free flight tickets to USA.
2. Harvey v Facey is also a similar case to Hoover fiasco, in the way not fulfilling the verbal promise; Facey refused to sell the Bumber Hall Pen to Harvey at the price he told him when they had a conversation through telegraph. Harvey sued Facey for not selling the Bumber Hall pen at the first price Facey said. Similarly, this was the case in Hoover Fiasco people sued the company for not giving the promised