Watching Sale of the Century tonight reminded me of how far from great the show became in this era. Too many themes weeks with the grand prize being a Jeep the other shows were giving at the time, and the totally out-of-place end game making it almost impossible to win the big $50,000 bonus, or even the car.
Maybe NBC should have put the show out of its misery a year or so earlier than when it did, replaced it with another game show, or even sitcom reruns or given the time slot back to affiliates.
Once a great show, this was a little shadow of its former self.
I agree with your sentiments, but the ratings show no change with the bonus game addition.
Sale took its biggest rating hit when NBC moved it from 10:30et against Card Sharks to 10:00et against Pyramid.
Dec'86 @ 5.3/18 to Mar'87 @ 3.3/15
That move did knock Pyramid off the schedule, though.
It creamed Blackout in '88 @ 2.3/9 vs 3.4/14
It was neck-and-neck with Feud both pulling 3.3/14 vs 3.4/14 for the time they ran against each other in 88 through Jan'89.
Holistically, from '87 - '93, every schedule change or pre-preemption NBC made in their morning lineup resulted in lower ratings.