Front Game Rules (1956-65 version)

Four players competed. During each round, a prize was shown to the group, and each player bids on what they believe the actual retail price of the prize is. Each bidder, must either add a minimum amount to the previous bid, or freeze on their amount. In some cases, only one bid was allowed to each player. After the bidding was over, the player who came closest to the actual retail price of the prize, without going over, won that prize. In some cases, a bonus prize package was revealed to the winning player after the round. At the end of the show, the player with the most merchandise returned the next show.

Front Game Rules (1972- version)

At the beginning of each show, four contestants were called out from the studio audience to participate in the game. Each round starts with the contestants bidding on the price of a small prize. The player who bids the closest to the prize's actual retail price without going over won that prize and was invited onstage to participate in another pricing game for more valuable prizes or cash. If all players bid over the price, the bids were removed and the players bid again. A few years into the run, a bonus of $100 was awarded to players who bid the exact price of the prize; this bonus has recently been upped to $500.

After each pricing game, another contestant is called up from the audience, and another prize is put up for bids. To list every pricing game played would be a fruitless task; for more information on the rules to each pricing game, head on over to Brad Francini's tribute page.

Since 1975, a special game is played after the third and sixth pricing games to determine who advances to the end game, known as the "Showcase Showdown". Each player is allowed up to 2 spins of a large wheel bearing money amounts from $.05 to $1.00. Each player attempted to get as close to $1.00 without going over; the one that did advanced. Hitting $1.00 exactly earned the player $1000 and a bonus spin for a chance at another $5000 or $10,000.

End Game Rules

At the end of the show, the two top winners of the day (1972-5) or the two winners of the Showcase Showdown (1975-) were shown two showcases filled with prizes. After one showcase was revealed, the top winner of the two had the option of bidding on the total retail price of that showcase, or passing it to the other player and bidding on the second. After both bids are made, the players are told the actual retail prices of each showcase. The player who comes the closest to his/her showcase without going over wins it. (If both player overbid, neither player wins.) Later in the run, if a player managed to get within $100 of the retail price (now $250), he/she won both showcases.