Rasta Banana (left)
While this story seems fake, it's not. There are actually people in the world this challenged.
Henry Gribbohm says he lost his life savings, a whopping $2,600, on a carnival game and all he has to show for it is a stuffed banana with dreadlocks.
Personally, I'm not seeing the problem. It seems to me to be a solid investment.
“You’re expecting the kids to win a few things, let the kids have a good time,” said Gribbohm. “It just didn’t turn out that way.”
Gribbohm says he attended a Manchester carnival run by New Hampshire-based Fiesta Shows and wanted to win an Xbox Kinect (currently available on Amazon for $157) at a game called Tubs of Fun where contestants toss balls into a tub. When he practiced he says it was easy, but something changed when he started playing for the prize and the balls kept popping out.
“It’s not possible that it wasn’t rigged,” said Gribbohm an experienced ball tosser.
The 30-year-old from Epsom says he kept trying to win back his money by going double or nothing. He dropped $300 in just a few minutes, then says he went home to get $2,300 more and soon lost all of that as well.
“You just get caught up in the whole ‘I’ve got to win my money back.'”
Blame it the sugar rush from the cotton candy or heckles from the carnival barkers or the smell of human misery that oozes from outdoor carnivals. So yeah, it's difficult not to get caught up in it all. It's happened to the best of us (just not me and maybe you). Who hasn't literally tossed away $2300 for a $150 Xbox?
Henry says he went back the next day to complain, and the man running the game gave him back $600. Henry split with the banana (also available on Amazon for $19.99 + $5.45 for shipping) and the cash and filed a report with the Manchester Police Department.
Manchester Police Lieutenant Maureen Tessier says the department is investigating to determine if there was any fraud.
The traveling carnival is now setting up in Derry, NH, but you will not see Tubs Of Fun.
Gribbohm says he is considering a lawsuit.
“For once in my life, I happened to become that sucker,” said Gribbohm. “It was foolish for putting up my life savings.”
Sorry Henry, but based on your personal style it seems like you've "tossed a few balls" and been a "sucker" more than once in your life.
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