The Price Is Right; The Prize Is Wrong

The Price Is Right is a television game show that has survived a myriad of public relations nightmares in the past related to sexual harrasment and more.  Bob Barker’s name came up on court papers more than once before he handed over the host’s microphone to Drew Carey earlier this year.  Now The Price Is Right is getting more bad press, but this time it’s related to claims of trying to pass off used and damaged prizes.

Here’s a recap of the lawsuit from Reuters:

Donna Tillman said she won the 2004 Pontiac GTO Coupe during her June 28, 2004, appearance on the game show. But she was told after she paid the taxes and license fees that the vehicle that appeared on the stage had mechanical problems, according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday in Los Angeles.

When the car was delivered about eight weeks later, it was not the model that had been displayed on the show and it had more miles on the odometer than the car she had been promised.

Despite those discrepancies, Tillman kept the car.  Several months later she was in what court papers describe as a fender bender.  While having the car serviced at a local dealership, it was discovered that there had been major damage done to the car previously which was repaired and covered up so the car appeared to be new. 

The Price Is Right’s authorized dealership, Thorson Motor Center, claims Tillman was given a new car and she damaged it herself.

Who’s telling the truth?  I guess this one will have to be decided in court.  In the meantime, The Price Is Right had no comment.

What do you think?  How should The Price Is Right respond to this new onslaught of negative publicity to its brand?