‘The Price Is Right’ in Hot Water With Fans Over Big Prize Issue
The Price is Right viewers are coming down on the producers after a contestant won an $11,000 hot tub. After the big win was shared on social media, fans offered their two cents on the prize, with many claiming it was not worth the advertised amount.
On November 25’s episode, a contestant named Brian took on the Vend-O-Price game, a grocery item game played on the turntable, which debuted on September 25, 2015. The segment entails a contestant being given a coin to put in the slot of a giant vending machine. Three grocery items are displayed, with a random number of that item in each row. The contestant must pick which row totals up to the highest price by pulling a big lever.
In the clip shared on TPIR’s Instagram and Facebook, Brian was presented with three snacks: Pringles potato crisps, sunflower kernels, and chocolate milk. Host Drew Carey explained that the Pringles were the least expensive and chocolate milk the most. “That’s the only hint I can give you.”
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There were eight cans of Pringles, six sunflower packs, and just three jugs of chocolate milk. Brian looked to the audience, and opted to go with the middle row. “If you get it right, you get an $11,000 hot tub,” Carey teased.
Brian pull the lever for the middle row, and he was correct as the sunflowers totaled to $22.74, by far the highest price. He won the wood-paneled hot tub that model Manuela Alvarez was standing next to. “Go get it, go get your hot tub!” Carey declared. Brian did just that, jumping right in to the (empty) jacuzzi as Carey burst out laughing.
When the big win was shared on Facebook, the majority of commenters weren’t celebrating, but instead calling out the price of the hot tub, saying it seemed quite a pretty penny for what was shown.
“That’s not 11k hot tub,” the top comment read with 11 likes.
“Exactly!,” a second fan replied to that user.
“THAT is an $11k hot tub?” asked a third.
“The Price Is Wrong!” roared a fourth.
“$11,000 hot tub…that hot tub is $399 at Walmart he meant pesos,” joked a fifth.
A quick Google search would back up those claims, as a “Scandinavian Premium 4-6 Person Wood-Fired Hot Tub” from Northern Saunas goes for $6,999. An “ALEKO Wood Fired Hot Tub and Ice Bath” from Home Depot goes for $3,199 (below).
Other fans in the comments section had to crack jokes about the impracticality of the prize, cost aside.
“They are giving junk if they don’t own a home where [do you] put that,” wrote a sixth.
“Mom’s house or sell it at a discount, pay the tax and go on vacation with the rest,” advised one more.
What did you think of the TPIR hot tub win? Does the price seem a little questionable, or are fans reading into it too much? Let us know in the comments below!
The Price Is Right, Weekdays, 11am ET/10am PT, CBS
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S
The prices are really off. A couple of days ago a lady almost won by picking items under $7.50. She picked a 8 oz can of WD-40 & was told it cost $9.99 making her lose. Walmart sells it for $5 and some change & Lowes sells it for $6 and some change. I think that wasn't fair because how could the price be off between $5-$6 or so.
26 3
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C
California prices are higher or Alaska 🤷♀️
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P
Same thing happened with the price for A-1 steak sauce. They had the price for not even a large bottle for almost $8 when you can get one for much less at Walmart or wherever. Some of the prices they have for things are so off! I definitely feel these games are rigged like at the carnival. The house always wins. They pick and choose which contestants they want to win. IMO
7 1
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R
Walmart might sell it at that ,but go to Dollar General !!! There are different stores with different prices. I love how people that get so much fun out of watching a free TV show still are complaining about it, Watch The show and quit complaining
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O
I agree. Just for fun and entertainment
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G
You need to remember they are in California. Everything is so much more there.
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G
It's a GAME show!! And why worry if the contestants can actually use the prize or not? If people can't watch for fun, then they should play Candy Crush and stop dissing a show that's been on over 50 yrs.
24 2
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S
I think this story is all drama. And what is $10 at one location might be $6 at another. I'm still watching the show, it's a happy show where all contestants are prepped before they even enter the studio audience... But whatever, it's been that way for 50 years.
Took me awhile to get used to what's his name... And most the studio audience doesn't seem to know what the show's about, but whatever.
22 5
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P
The hot tub price is reflective of California prices.
18 1
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J
The prices are always full retail and not what you would usually actually pay, and that's how it's always been. You have a real advantage of you regularly watch the show. That said, most of their hot tub prices are nuts, but if you go shopping for a hot tub you will find the same hot tub selling for vastly different prices and under different names at different stores. At 11 Grand I think I would pass on the tax bill for that basic through. I got an awesome machine for that money.
17 2
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P
I think it was tons of fun for the day. If you win something be appreciative or humbled. It's more than what you had before wether you keep it or sell it. You're still ahead. Winner winner chicken dinner. TPIR biggest fan here.
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R
California prices !!
11 1
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S
Whatever Elvis
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R
Truly reminds me of the old school wheel of fortune. Remember when they floated a head thruout the screen to buy extremely over priced items. Look it up. Lol...
9 1
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G
I remember that!
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P
Yesss! I couldn't stand that about the old show. Thank goodness they changed The Wheel to cash winnings. The items they had for you to choose were trash. It was like they had contestants on the show to use their "winnings" to unload unwanted things from their own warehouse. (Scam) I still believe they do that now. There's just more options of how to get rid of your "prizes" online, etc. I may like the entertainment value more on "Let's Make a Deal" with Wayne Brady. But it's much harder to win the cars on that show. And the prizes are so much more trash than on TPIR
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P
I think I wasted my time reading this article. Who really cares? Better yet, does it matter to anyone? With everything else going on around us, this is the shit people wanna take a stance on or argue about. We've lost ourselves in ridiculousness!
8 2
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G
People r always finding fault with every game show. My goodness. If it upsets u turn the channel.
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C
He won a prize. It's a prize. Who cares how much It's worth. If you don't like it. Send it back.
5
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G
It does matter as contestant has to pay taxes on their winnings, being the U.S.
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P
Exactly! There are a lot of people on here saying not to be concerned about the prize. It's just a fun game show. But as an accountant, I know that winning prizes is considered earnings and you have to pay taxes on everything. So it definitely matters! Smh. Lol
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C
I think they are required to use manufacturer suggested retail price. This is often much higher than what it is sold for in the retail markets. Add to that the fact that taxes are paid on this number, so it is possible to pay more in taxes than you might actually pay for the item on sale.
6 2
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P
Good observation. Some people are really going left with the discussion here. Some feel that people are hating on the game show when I don't see that's the case. The open discussion is about the prices of the prizes. Something to definitely consider in this economy when the contestants have to pay the taxes on them
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B
First of all always the manufacturers just retail price. However I do think that they do over value some of their prizes. I watch every day and I mean everyday and I remember a lot of the prices of items and sometimes the prices of an item is all over the map
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G
I really don't care it's worth what they say it is if you disagree with the price then just turn it down
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G
All the prices are about double what you can buy it for always been that way even in Barker days years ago.
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R
They offer numerous impractical prizes...ATVs, boats, trailers...I'm curious how many winners turn them down.
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P
They have always said the price is the suggested retail prize from the manufacturer. That is the price they want to get for maximum profit
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O
Prices are CAL. MSRP
Not what we peons
have in our pockets to spend!
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G
I think that they inflate the price because you cannot leave the show without paying the tax on the items you won first. When the inflate the price they inflate the tax. Therefore, they get a lot of their money back for the items that they give away. Just a guess.
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G
why can’t people just watch the show why does everything have to be picked apart? Relax it’s just entertainment
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G
I just want to say when the Price is Right is on the road. it is all a scam. I paid $176.00 to a farce of a show terrible never go to one of those
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O
I'd never go on this show. All prices are doubled and they say it's Manufactured Suggested Retail. It's the biggest rip-off on Television.
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R
First world problems.
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P
I was watching the show with that hot tub. I told my husband when I saw it that I could not believe it cost that much. I would have said about $5000 at most!
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R
What's the difference ,it doesn't change the fact that he won the prize
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R
I'm terrible with guessing prices so I usually believe whatever price they say it is but if people who looked it up say that the price is too much, maybe it should have been featured as the prize with the game THAT'S TOO MUCH instead (which usually features a car.)
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G
I think it was free that's what counts nothing is worth what you have to pay gbese days
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O
Remember people these are California rich people inflation prices lol
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B
Most people don't know what they are talking about, when it comes to prices
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P
They have always given winners the opportunity to either take the prize or the cash value of the prize!!
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P
Not anymore. I looked it up. They have contracts now where you can't exchange the prizes for cash value anymore. You either take the prize or don't take it if you don't want it
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C
The fans are hating
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P
Nah. Just expressing their thoughts. This is the Internet where things are discussed. Unfortunately, more people seem to post negative comments than positive. I believe because it's anonymous. I have my own rule of not posting anything that I wouldn't say to someone in person. But that's just me. Smh. Lol
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G
Its the Bidinflation price.
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