TPiR: Would You Rather…

[Dbacksfan12]

If you could control things…

Would you rather be called down as the last contestant, or come back another day and hope to get called again?

If you knew the price of something, but the next pricing game was undesirable, or would you forego the chance to go on stage in the hopes of something better?

[Brian44]

Something to keep in my mind: They no longer use the slate that listed the pricing games in order played on the show. That significantly changes the contestants' strategies for those "in the know."

In the old days, yeah, it would kinda suck if you were called last and you knew the last pricing game was something like Credit Card or Take Two. But nowadays, even if they've already played a car game and a grocery/SP game in the second half, they could still play a quickie game like Range Game or Safe Crackers for a car.

[Clay Zambo]

Would you rather be called down as the last contestant, or come back another day and hope to get called again?

You’re kidding, right?

Called down vs *maybe* be called down?

If you’re that concerned about an “undesirable” prize, let the rangefinder hit the top of the scale or bid $650 on a $20 flashlight in Cliffhangers. You’re still gonna spin for a grand (or 25) and possibly get to the showcase.

You take the call-down every time, is what I’m saying. You figure out what to do with the catamaran or the trampoline later.

[Mr. Brown]

You play to win. You don’t play just to play it. You can always redeem winning a lousy prize package for cash on the wheel and the showcase. I never considered deliberately throwing my one bid either time I’ve been on the show just because I knew there was no chance at winning a car or a boatload of cash in the potential pricing game to be played.

[Brian44]

Basically, yeah what the other guys said.

Plus, nowadays, instead of consolation prizes, the CNAOS receive $300 cash, which should pay for (much of) your plane ticket or hotel stay.

[Brian44]

If you’re that concerned about an “undesirable” prize, let the rangefinder hit the top of the scale or bid $650 on a $20 flashlight in Cliffhangers. You’re still gonna spin for a grand (or 25) and possibly get to the showcase.

You can also forfeit any and all prizes, which would be a more civil, less potentially embarrassing way to say thanks but no thanks. 

[TLEberle]

You take the call-down every time, is what I’m saying. You figure out what to do with the catamaran or the trampoline later.

I think the question boils down to "do I care about what I win or the game I play" or "do I want to be a part of the longest running game show in American history and have a memory I can share with loads of people and remember forever?"

Would I rather not play Double Prices for a bedroom set or outdoor barbecue? Sure, but the game's the thing, and ostensibly if I'm picked it is because the production team thinks I would be additive to their production.

This says nothing of coming back to see the show whether or not I'm eligible and just for fun. If I get one chance to bid and say hello to Drew then so be it, it wasn't meant to be anything more.

[Dbacksfan12]

You’re kidding, right?

Called down vs *maybe* be called down?

If you’re that concerned about an “undesirable” prize, let the rangefinder hit the top of the scale or bid $650 on a $20 flashlight in Cliffhangers. You’re still gonna spin for a grand (or 25) and possibly get to the showcase.

You take the call-down every time, is what I’m saying. You figure out what to do with the catamaran or the trampoline later.

It was intended to be two separate questions, not a two-parter.

Would you rather have just one chance at getting on stage?  Or come back another day and maybe have five or six shots to get on stage.

Something to keep in my mind: They no longer use the slate that listed the pricing games in order played on the show. That significantly changes the contestants' strategies for those "in the know.'

I'll admit I didn't know this was gone.  Which basically diffuses the second question.

[BrandonFG]

To answer the second question, I’m taking my $500 bonus for knowing the IUFB, and hoping like hell for a great SCSD spin. Even with something like a hot tub that I have no use for, it’s a cool story to tell the kids.

And because it’s my hypothetical I win $26K on the Big Wheel and a DSW.

[Mr. Matté]

This sounds like the situation on Classic Concentration where some guy blew the bonus game so that he could attempt to win more prizes in the main game (but lost the next game)

[jmangin]

Would you rather be called down as the last contestant, or come back another day and hope to get called again?

If called, there's a reason it was last and not first, and they're not likely to be called first the next time they show up. Take the call down FWIW and have something fun to talk about later in life, whatever the outcome.

[snowpeck]

Would you rather be called down as the last contestant, or come back another day and hope to get called again?

If called, there's a reason it was last and not first, and they're not likely to be called first the next time they show up. Take the call down FWIW and have something fun to talk about later in life, whatever the outcome.

One thing to remember is the order in which the contestants are called down is not random. The producers put the nine contestants in the order they want for various reasons. And in all likelihood, if they thought you were a #9 on one day, they would on another too... or not even one of the nine.

[JasonA1]

One thing to remember is the order in which the contestants are called down is not random. The producers put the nine contestants in the order they want for various reasons. And in all likelihood, if they thought you were a #9 on one day, they would on another too... or not even one of the nine.

This is a very astute point. Mark's hypothetical made a tiny bit of sense to me, until you reminded me of this. Getting called ninth isn't a bad random draw -- it's a sign of your chances to get called at all.

-Jason

[cmjb13]

Doesn’t Price have standby’s just in case the people who have been selected lose their enthusiasm?

[TimK2003]

My wife was the called down as the 9th "one-shot" contestant.

Yes she was at a disadvantage because you pretty much had to hit the IUFB price on the nose as any of the other 3 players can bid $1 more or wind up with a larger price range (bid vs ARP).

The one advantage is that we'll always know what game and what prize she could have played for (Dice Game/car).

And her parting gifts retailed at appx $800, which theoretically could be more in the end than someone who wins a $450 IUFB but loses their pricing game and SCSD spin.