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DealDash Review

Wednesday, November 6th

2024 Online Auction Site Reviews

DealDash Review 3.5 Star Rating

DealDash

3.5 Star Rating
  • Modern and high-end inventory
  • Traditional bidding-war auctions
  • Buy bids instead of pay directly
  • Find around 100 items in key item searches
  • Pay through credit card
  • Returns in 90 days for first purchase
  • "A” rating and accreditation from the BBB

In 2010, DealDash made its debut in the realm of online auctions. This site specializes in the sale of overstock and liquidation inventory. What sets DealDash apart is the promise of discounts, with products often going for up to 90% off their retail price. Plus, at this auction site, you'll find items ranging from the latest Apple products and fashions to kitchen appliances, gift cards, and much more. However, to unlock these tantalizing discounts, there's a unique twist to the DealDash experience: customers must purchase bids, and it's these bids that are used to vie for the items in the auction.

Pre-purchase your bids to buy

When you get started with DealDash, you need to make an account. DealDash asks for the basics: a username, email address, password, and credit card information. However, this is not your typical free sign-up process: DealDash operates on a pay-to-play model, and as such, you'll be asked to provide payment information upfront. To initiate your account, you'll be charged $30, which translates into 250 bids. While the website promises that each bid costs $0.12, a video on the platform claims that they are priced at $0.60 each. Furthermore, DealDash offers packages of bids at a rate of $0.60 per bid which makes the actual price of the bids more confusing. Yet another section of the website suggests that bids can be acquired for "normally" $0.20 or less. The conflicting information is unnecessarily confusing when you're just getting started with the DealDash experience.

Bids in intervals of ten seconds for great deals

The bidding process on DealDash adds an element of anticipation and strategy to your shopping adventure. After purchasing the bids that serve as your currency, you can "spend” those bids on the items that catch your eye. Every bid you place increases the item's price by $0.01, while simultaneously resetting the auction clock for ten more seconds. If no new bidders step into the fray before the clock winds down, the last bidder standing is declared the victor and must pay the final price listed for the item.

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You can get remarkable discounts

The purchase of bids is what allows DealDash to offer you such remarkable discounts. Since the platform makes money on bid purchases and not the actual items themselves, DealDash can offer you the best value for your money on the actual items. However, you can also lose money without obtaining the desired product. If you want to get your bids back, you can purchase the exact item you bid on at full retail price, but this could be very, very expensive depending on what you were bidding on.

Extremely low inventory

The inventory at DealDash includes a large range of modern items from technology to kitchen appliances, making DealDash a great place to grab items that are way too expensive at full price but fit in with a modern living style. You can find items from gaming consoles to office chairs, glasses, and gold earrings, and even packages of "bids” that you can bid on to win more opportunities to bid on other items.

How it stacks up against the other auction platforms

To compare the range of inventory at DealDash to other companies in our review, we checked out three common shopping searches (watches, autographed items, and iPads) to see how each company stacks up across its offerings. Here's what we found at DealDash:

  • Watches: 180 results
  • Autographs: 12 results
  • iPads: 31 results

Unfortunately, in terms of inventory, DealDash's items change out so often that there aren't a lot of options to browse through. Plus, the site lists completed auctions in the results, which means the items you can actually bid on are even fewer than they first appear.

Specializes in deals for modern items

While the specialty for DealDash is low-cost items that would normally be top-dollar, finding specific items may be difficult as the company has some of the lowest inventory we've found among online auction sites. So, while you can find stand mixers or Xboxes, there aren't a lot of auctions to pick from, and finding the exact item on your wishlist might be a bit of a struggle.

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Returns in 90 days for first purchase

DealDash extends an enticing offer to potential customers: the opportunity to dip their toes into the auction model risk-free. If you have reservations about this unique approach to online shopping, DealDash promises a full refund for your first purchase within 90 days if you find yourself dissatisfied with the experience. However, keep in mind this only works for your first purchase, and the return policy after that point is extremely vague.

Impressively high ratings

At first glance, the concept of DealDash might raise eyebrows, appearing too good to be true, given the remarkable bargains it offers and the low inventory. However, the ratings for DealDash are impressive. At the Better Business Bureau, DealDash holds an "A” rating and accreditation as well as an impressive 4.1-star average out of 5. That score is reflected in approval from customers across third-party verified review sites too. On three different sites, DealDash holds a 4+-star rating. Thousands of individuals attest to making DealDash their go-to platform for shopping, often securing high-quality items for less than $10.

Great opportunity for deals

DealDash, in our estimation, occupies a middle ground in the hierarchy of online auction sites. With tenacity and a bit of luck, you could potentially acquire high-value items like KitchenAid appliances, iPhones, or robot vacuum cleaners for just a few dollars (plus the cost of your bids). The flip side of the coin is a significant one: if you don't clinch the winning bid, you may find yourself at a financial loss without any tangible gains, unless you opt to purchase the item at full retail price and regain your bids. However, with so many rave reviews, it's definitely worth checking out.

Where's the Best Online Auction Out There Today?

If you're on the hunt for used items or rare finds, online auctions can be the best place to look. Just a quick search will reveal tons of online auction websites designed to help you sell or buy a wide array of goods. These digital marketplaces serve as the perfect arena for individuals to trade everything from household products and furniture to antiques, electronics, collectibles, cars, and clothing.

Online auctions offer a distinct advantage by granting you access to unique products that might otherwise be hard to find at traditional stores. Whether you're looking for rare collectibles or a very specific item that's not on the market anymore, online auctions are the best place to go. With the potential to score incredible deals or sell items at a price that feels fair to you, there are tons of benefits to shopping at an online auction.

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Online Auction Site FAQ

An online auction is where people from any geographic location can sell and buy items on the internet. Some items can be purchased outright while others require you go through a bidding process to see who will pay the most for that product. Time limits are set and anyone can bid a certain amount of money towards an item before time runs out. Someone may or may not offer more money (outbid), so the price of the item continues to rise until the time is up.
Not necessarily To list items, browse, and create an account is completely free. The only money you'll usually end up paying is the cost of an item if you win an auction. However, there are a few online auction sites that require you to pay a small amount for each bid you place. Also, if you're selling an item, the platform you use may take a small cut of the earnings.
The sky's the limit when it comes to what can be bought and sold through an online auction. Just a few of the many categories you'll find include electronics, collectibles, toys, sporting goods, household items, and business supplies. Pretty much anything and everything you find around you would fit into a category of what could be sold or bought at an online auction.
At an online auction, you'll discover unique products you won't find anywhere else. Whether it's an antique or new electronics that are out-of-stock through traditional retailers, you can find the best deals. You'll be able to buy everything you're wanting and more from the comfort of your home. The best part is that your new and exciting products will get shipped right to your door, so you don't have to pick them up from a store!
If an item up for bid is running out of time, a soft close ensures that everyone who wants to gets the opportunity to put in an offer. For example, if you're trying to buy a luxury watch and place a bid in the last couple minutes of a live auction, another minute or so will automatically be added to the bidding time to allow for anyone else to bid higher than you. This prevents people from placing bids at the very last second and closing an item before someone else gets the chance. It also helps guarantee that the seller is able to get the highest dollar amount possible for the item they are selling.
Some auctions have bidding increments to prevent people from outbidding each other by insignificant amounts like a penny. It makes it so that people have to be serious about placing a bid because they are offering a reasonably higher price than the person that bid before them. For example, if an item is currently listed for $1,600, a bidding increment might be set at $100, which means the next bidder must offer at least $1,700 in order to participate.
Participating in an online auction is as easy as creating a free account on the auction platform and browsing the site for items you're interested in. Once you find something you want to bid on, you'll most likely need to provide payment information upfront and then you can select your item and enter the amount you'd like to bid. It's important to keep watching items you really want in case someone else outbids you and you want to bid again. If you want to sell an item, you will list it by providing a description of the product, a starting bid amount, setting a bid increment, and other relevant information.
The short answer is no. Once you place a bid on an item, you're locked into paying for it if you win the auction. Make sure you are always willing to pay what you say you will and that you seriously consider any purchases before bidding. Some auctions might get outrageous as far as what people are willing to pay, so be sure not to get caught up in the action if you don't have the funds to pay for an item. If you do find yourself unable to buy what you've won in an auction, it is best to contact the seller and ask if they will cancel the transaction and either re-list the item or offer it to another bidder.
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Continued from above...

If you're looking to sell, you wield the power to showcase your items in an online auction. You can rest assured that thousands (maybe even millions) will see your items, helping you get the best deal out there. However, what truly defines the charm of these platforms is the democratic nature of the bidding system. Anyone can partake by placing their bids, each incrementally elevating the price of the item. Once the curtain falls on the auction, the highest bidder emerges victorious, earning the privilege to claim their prize. This means you might even make more money on your sale than you expected if a bidding war ensues.

If you're on the other side of the auction - looking to buy, or simply an enthusiastic shopper in search of that elusive, one-of-a-kind item - you can tailor your choice of online auction sites to your needs. Whether you're looking for a vintage locket or the newest Apple Watch, you can find anything and everything on these platforms. Plus with low starting prices, online auctions transform seemingly unattainable items into tangible acquisitions that you could win at the click of a button. You'll have access to great deals and rare finds that you might not stumble upon in your local stores.

As you venture into the realm of online auctions, you'll find that not all platforms are created equal. The key to a fulfilling online auction experience is finding a platform that offers a top-notch user experience.

If you're not sure how to start narrowing down your options, here are some criteria to bear in mind as you browse:

  • User-friendliness. Look for websites that are a breeze to navigate. A clutter-free, intuitive interface, coupled with clear product descriptions and transparent auction rules, will help you have a hassle-free experience. After all, the last thing you need is to waste time learning to use a website while trying to explore items and place bids.
  • Product selection. The array of goods varies from one online auction site to another. While some may specialize in liquidated items, others may cater to antiques, collector's items, or offer an eclectic mix of products. The choice of a site should reflect the category of items you're seeking to buy or sell.
  • Reputation. Place your trust in well-established platforms with a reputable track record. Finding auction sites that are verified by the Better Business Bureau or those that have verified user reviews can help.

To help you find the best online auction site out there today, Top Consumer Reviews reviewed and ranked different platforms so that you don't need to worry about it. We hope that our reviews will serve as a compass, guiding you to the platforms that best align with your selling-and-shopping pleasure, so that you can focus on what's most important: uncovering those new and exciting items at outstanding prices (or connecting with buyers who will pay top dollar for what you have).

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