Wheel of Fortune

[TLEberle]

For at least a couple of years now, it seems like every prize that's put on the wheel is a trip to somewhere-or-other.  Where did the living room sets, the jewelry packages and the baby grand pianos go?  When was the last time that a wheel prize wasn't a trip?  Is this just one more thing that "Wheel" just stopped doing over the past few years?

[Craig Karlberg]

Most wheel prizes seems to be trips, however, on occasion, they stick a shopping spree prize(not including the $10K gift cards offered as a mystrery wedge prize).  And even those are worth about $3,500 on average give or take a few hundred.  It seems Sony has really gone overboard with these trips these days.  I guess they must make a lot of deals with airlines & hotels to acquire those trips.

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 08:30 PM\']For at least a couple of years now, it seems like every prize that's put on the wheel is a trip to somewhere-or-other.  Where did the living room sets, the jewelry packages and the baby grand pianos go?  When was the last time that a wheel prize wasn't a trip?  Is this just one more thing that "Wheel" just stopped doing over the past few years?

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I would imagine that trips are far easier for the schlockmeisters to procure than actual real expensive prizes.

[zachhoran]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 10:30 PM\']For at least a couple of years now, it seems like every prize that's put on the wheel is a trip to somewhere-or-other.  Where did the living room sets, the jewelry packages and the baby grand pianos go?  When was the last time that a wheel prize wasn't a trip?  Is this just one more thing that "Wheel" just stopped doing over the past few years?

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Back on the Retro weeks in 2000 or 2001 they had a contestant take their choice of a prize package as the "prize on the wheel" in round two. One or two of the three choices was not a trip IIRC. That's the last I remember. However, the mystery round sometimes deviates from the econobox as the prize; we've occasionally seen a $10K shopping spree at Sony Style or even $10K in cash as that prize.

[The Pyramids]

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 10:30 PM\']   Is this just one more thing that "Wheel" just stopped doing over the past few years?

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So it would seem.

[starcade]

[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Apr 30 2005, 05:38 AM\'][quote name=\'TLEberle\' date=\'Apr 29 2005, 08:30 PM\']For at least a couple of years now, it seems like every prize that's put on the wheel is a trip to somewhere-or-other.  Where did the living room sets, the jewelry packages and the baby grand pianos go?  When was the last time that a wheel prize wasn't a trip?  Is this just one more thing that "Wheel" just stopped doing over the past few years?

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I would imagine that trips are far easier for the schlockmeisters to procure than actual real expensive prizes.

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Not only are trips easier to acquire, it also can be part of a package of trips for the show to acquire, not only for on the wheel or for a contestant, but for the home viewer contests as well.  (Wheel Watcher ID and the like...)

[uncamark]

Also, wouldn't it be possible that because trips are so frequently turned back because of taxes and restrictions, that it's something that the producers have less of a worry about actually giving away?