The Price Is Right’ Fans Debate the ‘Dumbest’ Prize on the Show

The Strangest and Most Useless Prizes Ever Featured on The Price Is Right

When contestants step onto the legendary stage of The Price Is Right, they usually expect to walk away with life-changing prizes—cars, cash, dream vacations. But not every reward is a jackpot. Sometimes, contestants end up winning something so impractical, so bizarre, that it becomes a running joke online.

Recently, a viral Reddit thread asked the burning question:
“What’s the dumbest or most useless prize that The Price Is Right frequently gives away?”

The responses were both hilarious and brutally honest. Let’s take a look at some of the strangest prizes ever offered on the show—and why they might just be the ultimate definition of buyer’s remorse.

The $7,500 Camping Trailer – A Tent in Disguise?

One Redditor didn’t hold back when they nominated the treehouse-style camping trailer as the worst offender. On paper, it sounds like a great prize: a mobile outdoor experience for the adventurous spirit. In reality? It’s a logistical nightmare.

First, you’ll need to register it, get license plates, buy insurance, install a trailer hitch, and deal with the fact that towing this beast will slash your fuel economy by at least 5 miles per gallon. Parking and reversing? Good luck with that.

And what do you get for all that hassle? Essentially, a glorified tent. There’s no bathroom, no shower, no fresh water, no stove, no kitchen, no refrigeration, no lighting, no power outlets—just a four-person tent that you could buy at Costco for about $250.

One Redditor summed it up perfectly:

“It’s aggressively useless.”

Portable Photo Booth – Party Fun or Dust Collector?

Another popular nomination for “dumbest prize” is the portable photo booth. Sure, it looks cool at first—perfect for weddings, birthdays, or holiday parties. But let’s be honest: how many parties does the average person host that require an actual photo booth?

One former contestant admitted:

“It was one of the prizes when I played the Race Game. I wasn’t sad I didn’t win it.”

Another added that many of these modern gadgets, like digital photo booths or exercise mirrors that require a subscription, are more trouble than they’re worth.

Some commenters argued you could rent it out for weddings or events, but realistically, most winners will stick it in a corner, where it will collect dust 99% of the time.

Party-Themed Prizes: Tiki Bars, Dance Floors, and Karaoke Kits

If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your living room into a nightclub, The Price Is Right has you covered—with prizes like cheap bamboo tiki bars, light-up dance floors, and karaoke packages.

While these might sound fun for one night, the reality is most people don’t have the space to store them, let alone use them regularly. As one Redditor joked:

“I guess I need to build an extra room just for all these prizes.”

Home Spa, Boats, and Giant Arcade Machines

Then there are the truly outrageous items—steam showers, home saunas, boats, and oversized arcade machines.

Take the boats, for example. Owning a boat isn’t just a prize—it’s a lifestyle. You’ll need a dock, maintenance, insurance, and storage. And unless you live near water, congratulations, you’ve just won yourself a very expensive problem.

And what about those giant arcade machines? Sure, they look awesome in a man cave, but for anyone living in a small apartment, they’re basically a giant paperweight.

Vacations… to the State You Already Live In

One of the funniest examples of “unfortunate luck” happens when contestants win a trip to… their own state. One fan recalled:

“I saw a woman win a trip to Vermont. That’s great—unless you already live in Vermont.”

Imagine the disappointment when your “dream vacation” is just a two-hour drive from home.

Odd-Looking Kitchen Appliances

Another category of weird prizes? Massive or oddly styled kitchen appliances. Sure, a high-end refrigerator sounds great—until you realize it doesn’t match anything in your kitchen and you’d have to remodel just to make it fit.

One Redditor pointed out:

“You’d have to redesign your whole kitchen just so it matches.”

Why Does The Price Is Right Offer These Prizes?

So why does a show with decades of experience and a massive fan base keep giving away such impractical rewards? The answer lies in entertainment value.

These quirky prizes create funny moments, memorable reactions, and conversations that keep fans talking long after the episode airs. Plus, many of these items are donated by sponsors, who want their products featured—even if they’re not exactly universal crowd-pleasers.

Final Thoughts – Jackpot or Joke?

At the end of the day, The Price Is Right is about excitement, surprise, and fun. But sometimes, those surprises come in the form of a tiki bar, a dusty photo booth, or a camping trailer that’s really just a tent on wheels.

So next time you hear someone shout, “Come on down!” remember: you might win a car… or you might win a sauna that doesn’t fit through your front door.

What’s the weirdest prize you’ve ever seen on The Price Is Right? Share your thoughts in the comments—we promise, we won’t make you spin a wheel first.