Bargain Hunters

''Is this (insert prize) a bargain at (insert amount)? Would you pay (insert amount) for (insert prize)? Is this (insert prize) a bargain at (insert amount)? We'll be checking these out and much more today on BARGAIN HUNTERS! And now, (insert title for prizes and host) PETER TOMARKEN!''

The short-lived daytime game show that combined The Price is Right with home shopping.

Premise
Six contestants played three games (two for each contestant) all focusing bargain prices of everyday items. The winners of each of the games played one final game called Super Savers (referred to by Peter as the Main Event).

Bargain Quiz
Host Tomarken asked "Yes or No" questions about several items with a price attached to each. The contestants' job was to buzz-in and guess if the price attached to the item is or is not a bargain. Here's a sample question: "Would a 10-speed bicycle with a price of $221 be a bargain?" A correct answer scored a point, but an incorrect answer gave the opponent a point (points were indicated by diamonds lit up on their podiums). The first player to score three points won a bonus prize package.

In the pilot, the two contestants secretly locked in their "Yes or No" choice using the two buttons in front of them. Each correct answer won $100 in cash, and it took two correct answers to win the game, $200 and the right to play a special game for two prizes. One of the prizes had a bargain price, while the other had the actual price. All the winning contestant had to do was to choose the prize with the bargain price to win both prizes.

Bargain Trap
The two contestants for this game were shown five prizes with prices for each. Four of them were bargains (prices under the actual retail price), one was not, for it had a price above the actual price, that prize was the trap. Players alternated turns picking prizes he/she thought were bargains. Picking a bargain won the prize selected by the contestant in control, but hitting the trap lost the game and gave the opponent the win. Hitting the trap on the first pick, gave the opponent the Bargain Trap prize and the game. If neither contestant picked the trap after all four picks (two for each contestant), then a tiebreaker was played to determine the game's winner. In the tiebreaker, the players wrote down how much they thought was added to the actual retail price of the trap. The closest guess won. The winner of the game got to keep all the prizes he/she selected.

Bargain Busters
Three prizes with closeout prices selected from stores across the nation were shown one at a time to the contestants. Host Peter would announce the store’s name and location before each item. On each item, the players were given three possible prices, then they locked in their answers as to what they think is the actual retail price and a correct answer from any of the players scored a point. The player with the most points out of three won the game. If there was a tie after the third prize, one last prize was brought out. No choices were given, the players simply wrote down their answers and the closest guess won. The winner of the game won all the prizes shown in the game.

Super Savers (The Main Event)
The day's winners of the three main games were shown seven prizes with bargain prices. Each contestant during the final commercial break (the prize plugs in the pilot) selected three prizes each (the ones they thought would save them more money than anything else). The differences of the prizes chosen by each player were then added together, and the player who has saved the most money won the game, all the prizes chosen plus a grand prize.

Home Shopping
After each of the first three games, a trumpet fanfare sounded signifying a "Bargain Shopper" segment. Home viewers were offered an item (usually the one(s) shown from the game just played) at a bargain price, and could call a number to order it. The three items were shown again at the end of the show.

Links
Screengrabs of Bargain Hunters

Rules for Bargain Hunters @ Loogslair.net

YouTube Videos
Contestant names are listed in order of games (Bargain Quiz, Bargain Trap, Bargain Busters).
 * May 28, 1987 pilot: Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Lisa vs. Dorothy, Sully vs. Mart, Mary vs. Tammie)
 * July 6, 1987 premiere: Part 1, Part 2 (Dorothy vs. Juanita, William vs. Joyce, Barbara Ann vs. Mary)
 * August 1987 episode #1: Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Mark vs. Debbie, Alan vs. Yvonne, Lisa vs. Donna)
 * August 1987 episode #2: Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Wendy vs. Doreen, Donna vs. Alicia, Linda vs. Willie)