Man claims he lost his life savings playing a carnival game

[Contrary1]

I find myself without words.

EPSOM, NH - Henry Gribbohm says he lost $2600 playing a carnival game and all he has to show for it is a stuffed banana with dreadlocks.



Gribbohm said he wanted to win an Xbox Kinect at a game called 'Tubs of Fun'.

In the game, contestants toss balls into a tub. When he practiced, it was easy but something changed when he started playing- the balls kept popping out.

Gribbohm kept trying to win back his money by going double or nothing, WMAR reported.

He dropped $300 in just a few minutes, then says he went home to get $2300 more and soon lost all that as well.

"It's not possible that it wasn't rigged," he said. "For once in my life I happened to become that sucker."

He went back the next day to complain, and the man running the game gave him back $600.

He split with the banana and the cash, and filed a report with police.

Gribbohm says he's considering a lawsuit.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/daily-extras/henry-gribbohm-claims-he-lost-his-life-savings-playing-a-carnival-game

[actslikeacarrot]

1. He could have bought the xbox kinect...

...for a hundred bucks.


"For once in my life I happened to become that sucker."

It is not In my nature to judge, but I have a hard time believing this.

At least he has SOMETHING to show for it!

[geomon666]

2. Be glad you got the Rasta Banana

That shit is dope!

[snooper2]

3. I went out in public to show off my stupid

and all I got to show for it is this fucking banana

[hobbit709]

4. TSTL. good luck with that lawsuit, stupid.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. His life savings is 2600.00?

which he apparently kept "at home"...

but he and banana DO lookgood together.

[teenagebambam]

28. That's more than I have in savings

and I don't even gamble.

[Honeycombe8]

34. But you're a teenager? There's a difference. That guy is no teenager.

You'll build up your savings in time. Time makes a HUGE difference.

A few dollars monthly, no matter how small....by the time you're old and no longer healthy, those few dollars you saved decades ago will have grown and will give you a very welcome and probably needed extra monthly income. Maybe the income you need to pay for your medication, or pet care, or supplement your food allowance.

One thing's for sure....if you don't save now, you won't have it later.

[teenagebambam]

42. Don't be deceived by the username

I'm pushing fifty. Lost a house in 2009 after sinking $50,000 into it. And work in higher education so I'm never likely to recover it. Will be working til I drop dead.

[Honeycombe8]

45. Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Really. That sucks.

Most of us will be working long past our parents did, looks like. At least you have a job where physical condition isn't necessarily a bar to working, like someone who does manual labor. If you want to consider the bright side.

[teenagebambam]

47. Well, yes

and I AM doing what I love. I just wish I loved something a little more lucrative :/

[Fumesucker]

46. That's 2/3 of the average American *family* savings, seriously

http://www.statisticbrain.com/american-family-financial-statistics/

Average American family savings account balance $3,800

[Marrah_G]

6. Dear Mr. Gribbohm:

You can't sue someone because of your own stupidity.

[KittyWampus]

10. Gambling involves much more than "stupidity". It's easy to write someone off as stupid for doing

such things.

But it goes much deeper into how humans behave and why.

[rurallib]

7. who is he going to sue? Himself? his parents? The school system?

[KittyWampus]

8. Gambling is embedded in our genetic makeup. It's hardwired. And the psychology of gambling

goes much further than someone who simply did something "stupid".

[MattBaggins]

13. Could you list this gene?

[KittyWampus]

19. http://www.science20.com/news_articles/gambling_evolutionary_function_say_psychologists-106713

BTW, I'm not going to play stupid semantics games with you because I wrote DNA. You can play with yourself if that's your goal.

http://www.science20.com/news_articles/gambling_evolutionary_function_say_psychologists-106713

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200603/gambling-the-pipe-dream-payoff

[Honeycombe8]

35. It doesn't seem to be in my genes. I'm too cheap to gamble.

I work too hard for my money to blow it. I hate gambling. I view it as a racket. The reason gambling places exist is because...most gamblers lose!

[KittyWampus]

36. We all take risks and gamble. It isn't always about money. Risk… Reward

[Honeycombe8]

37. No, I don't think I do gamble in any way. If by gamble you mean bet money on a chance.

Even if something is risky, that's not gambling, if there's some logic or reasoning or research that can be used. Gambling is just risk. Betting money on a chance of a win. I never pay money on a chance, I don't think.

[richmwill]

11. Stupid at this level should be mocked.

The complete and total moron spent $2600 to try to win a $300 video game console. And now he wants to run to the police and file a lawsuit for what, his own stupidity? Hard lesson learned, sir. As an earlier poster said, he could have gone to any video game store and purchased this system for a LOT less than $2600. Fools and their money are soon parted, and this guy is a prime example of that.

[HappyMe]

12. Hoo boy!

Dumbassery at it's finest.

[Buns_of_Fire]

14. Wow. That's one special banana.

Obviously, he didn't check out this site before playing: http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2003/fair/ . If carnival games were fair, there wouldn't be any carnival games!

But then, if he's willing to drop $2600 trying to win a $300 item, we're probably not talking about the sharpest knife in the drawer in the first place.

[Nye Bevan]

15. I always hate it when I spend more on a game than what the prize is worth.

I've done it with my kids a few times but never to this guy's level.

[Demo_Chris]

41. You are always paying more than the plush is worth

Just because there's something more expensive in the joint doesn't mean you can win it.

[liberal N proud]

16. Does he have SUCKER on his forehead?

[erpowers]

17. Should Not Have Gotten Any Money Back

The guy running the game should have kept all the momey. No one made this guy spend his money on that game. Even if the game was rigged he could have stopped playing the game anytime he chose to stop playing.

[benld74]

18. Insert P.T Barnum line here, " "

[cigsandcoffee]

20. That banana seems racist, somehow. n/t

[0rganism]

21. It's RL Carl from ATHF

c'mon he pals around with anthropomorphic food items, it's Carl for sure

[madokie]

22. stupid ass dumb shit

Go ahead and see if I give a rats ass dude.
You just can't fix stooopid

[justanidea]

23. LOL @ the banana

LOL @ $2,600 "life savings"

I had a higher life savings than that when I was 16 lol.

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. lots of people have less than $2600 saved

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. lol

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. He was given $600 back.

[Apophis]

27. Wow. What an idiot.

He could have purchased a kinect.

[Generic Brad]

29. Sorry. No "Take Backs"

It is not fraud if you willingly hand your money to someone and get nothing in return. Stupidity is not fraud.

[MrSlayer]

30. Carny games are all fixed.

And this dude is an idiot. Why compound the problem by going public?

[Renew Deal]

31. They don't build casinos off of winners

Same with carnival games apparently.

[Incitatus]

32. A 40 something had $2,600 as his life savngs and lost it in a carny game.

I'm shocked!

[Historic NY]

33. What a moron...he could have bought one for $419 at Best Buy.

[Tree-Hugger]

38. Thanks, Obama eom

[Enrique]

39. he looks happy

they both do actually.

[Cali_Democrat]

40. Ya but that banana looks badass

I'd say it was worth it.

[lpbk2713]

43. Yeah, but he still has his chair ...

?w=290

[cbdo2007]

44. The expression on the banana's face is how I feel reading this.