# Contest where winner gets a lifetime supply of (whatever). Fiction, UL or true? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 5, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474 "2003-11-05T02:57:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/1 "2003-11-05T02:57:17Z")
Did contest prize shows past or present ever really promise a “lifetime supply” of some product to the winner as a prize? If so, is this some “all at once” trailer load of product, or does the person get to keep coming back to the well when they need or want more? ---
**Author:** ![HeatherPA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heatherpa/32/3072_2.png) [@HeatherPA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeatherPA)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/2 "2003-11-05T03:25:36Z")
Usually in the fine print you’ll see something like “52 coupons for product x (MSRP x$) annually. Guaranteed value of (x$)” Which means if you kick off prior to receiving the guaranteed value your estate gets the remainder. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/3 "2003-11-05T05:06:50Z")
I remember seeing a documentary on games shows. It said virtually all of them offered cash equivelent of prizes. Most all people took the cash. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/4 "2003-11-05T14:11:46Z")
**ciscochick** is correct. Instead of saying “a lifetime supply of product X” they should say “a supply of product X for a lifetime” - a big difference. At an annual function I attend one of the door prizes is always “eat free at X restaurant for one year”. The actual prize consists of 52 coupons, each for an amount that may or may not pay for a full meal for one person. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/5 "2003-11-06T03:34:13Z")
What about the Aiplane Miles and the Pudding. As Adam Sandler’s character did in Punch Drunk love. Wasn’t this ‘true’ ? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/contest-where-winner-gets-a-lifetime-supply-of-whatever-fiction-ul-or-true/211474/6 "2003-11-06T07:30:33Z")
That one is indeed [true](http://www.snopes.com/business/deals/pudding.asp), **Meeko**. A guy sent in a whole bunch of pudding lids, and received 1.25 million frequent flier miles. Far more than your average human could use in a lifetime, I think.