<P> Technically, traders are supposed to bring something to trade in, but this rule has seldom been enforced . On several occasions, a trader is actually asked to trade in an item such as their shoes or purse, only to receive the item back at the end of the deal as a "prize". On at least one occasion, the purse was taken backstage and a high - valued prize was placed inside of it . </P> <P> Prizes generally are either a legitimate prize, cash, or a Zonk . Legitimate prizes run the gamut of what is typically given away on game shows, including trips, electronics, furniture, appliances, and cars . Zonks are unwanted booby prizes (e.g., live animals, large amounts of food, fake money, fake trips or something outlandish such as a giant article of clothing, a room full of junked furniture, etc .). Sometimes Zonks are legitimate prizes but of a low value (e.g., Matchbox cars, wheelbarrows, T - shirts, grocery prizes, etc .). On rare occasions, a trader appears to get Zonked, but the Zonk is a cover - up for a legitimate prize . On rare occasions, a contestant who is Zonked is given an opportunity to play for the Big Deal of the Day; usually, this happens only if there are very few or no big winners during the show . </P> <P> Though usually considered joke prizes, traders legally win the Zonks . However, after the taping of the show, any trader who had been Zonked is offered a consolation prize (currently $100) instead of having to take home the actual Zonk . This is partly because some of the Zonks are impractical or physically impossible to receive or deliver to the traders (such as live animals or the guy in an animal costume), or the props are owned by the studio . A disclaimer at the end of the credits of later 1970s episodes read "Some traders accept reasonable duplicates of Zonk prizes ." Starting in the 2012--13 season, CBS invited viewers to provide Zonk ideas to producers . At the end of the season, the Zonk declared the most creative was worth $2,500 to the winner, and other viewers' Zonk ideas were also used . For every viewer - developed Zonk, the host announced the viewer who provided the Zonk . The contest has been continued throughout the past several seasons after its 2012 introduction . </P> <P> As the end credits of the show roll, it is typical for the host to ask random members of the studio audience to participate in fast deals . In the current Wayne Brady version, these are often referred to as "quickie deals", and are conducted by the host, announcer, and model each . CBS will post information on the show's Twitter address (@ LetsMakeADeal) days before taping to encourage audience members to carry certain items in their pockets in order to win an additional $500 cash, when one of the hosts approaches them at the end of the show and asks to see such items . The deals are usually in the form of the following: </P>

Do you get to keep the zonk prizes on let's make a deal