ðeɪ wʊd ðˈɛn ˈɔfɚɹ ɐ ɡˈɛs æz tə hˌaʊ mˈʌtʃ ðɪ ˈaɪɾəm ˈædvɚtˌaɪzd kˈɔst ɪnðə jˈɪɹ ðə kəmˈɜːʃəl ˈɛɹd, ænd ðə klˈoʊsɪst bˈɪdɚ wɪðˌaʊt ɡˌoʊɪŋ ˌoʊvɚ wˈʌn ðə tʃˈæns tə plˈeɪ fɚðə ʃˈoʊkeɪs.
They would then offer a guess as to how much the item advertised cost in the year the commercial aired, and the closest bidder without going over won the chance to play for the Showcase.