Busy day in the kitchen today, my KitchenAid stand
mixer got a workout! I have only it had since the week before Christmas and
wonder sometimes how I got along with it.
My husband has wanted
to get me one for almost as long as we have married. I would not let him,
because KitchenAid stand mixers are so expensive. Between my KitchenAid hand
mixer, my brother bought almost twenty-five years ago, food processor and other
appliances all my needs were covered, or so I thought…
Enter DealDash. What is DealDash? It is a penny auction
company available here in the states. Many of us have seen commercials for
penny auction sites. A penny auction is where the starting bid starts at a
penny, every time a person bid the price goes up a penny.
You can great deals, as long you remember few
things: the first is don’t forget to
calculate the price per bid when you are bidding. It would seem really foolish
to spend over the amount an item is worth, just to win. The second put yourself
on a budget and don’t go over it. It is very easy to be caught up in bidding
and wanting to win an item.
A third thing, I suggest is look at all the auctions
and upcoming auctions before you bid. There maybe two or three things you would
like to win. If you start running low on bids, you might have to re-evaluate
which item you want to win the most and let the others go. This goes back set a
budget on how many bids you purchase and stick to it! If you remember those to major things, you can be successful at bidding.
I usually spend $30.00 a pay check. Over the holidays,
my husband had to be reminded a few times that I had a budget. Granted some of
the tools were worth adding more bids, but I had to stay on budget. You can
bid, to win additional bids if you would like, and I have won a few.
There are several reasons I like DealDash, the first is
the customer service. This “little” company had some major growing pains over
the holidays. I will be honest; there were a few items that I had won, that
were intended from Christmas gifts that had problems. The supplier for DealDash
did not have enough of the promised items. Even though I was disappointed, I
was offered other items. The biggest surprise was after the holidays and all of
the issues were work out, DealDash sent a letter of apology to its customers,
the bidders, and issued every customer free bids. What company now a day thinks about their
customers over the bottom line?
The second thing I like DealDash is they were smart
when coming up with their policies. They thought about people or other
companies coming in and buying everything up. Every week, DealDash puts a limit
on how many items you can. Big-ticket items, like my stand mixer, you can only
win once. This gives everyone a one a fair shot of winning.
There is nothing worse if you bid eBay, then some
person coming in the last few seconds and outbidding you. I think the folks at
DealDash, considered those situations as well. Unless there is a special
occurring most auctions, when the bidding reaches five dollars will not accept
any new bidders. Yes, there are still people who put in their one bid and come
back later. With those people, you know they already had put in their bid so it
is not as if they just log on and “stole” the item from you. You are only
competing with how many bids you have bought… again set a budget!
Who does not like free? If you use the bid buddy
system, you can earn free bids. The bid buddy is a proxy bid. You set how many
bids you would like to spend, and it will bid for you. Each bid has a thirty,
twenty, and ten second counter depending how long the auction has been running.
If the bidders let the time run down, they can earn free bids for the time they
were the highest bidder.
So what I have won? The KitchenAid stand mixer,
immersion blender complete with all the attachments, a Cuisinart meat
thermometer, gift cards, Wii games and a few other times. My goal is to win a
portable hot tub, a serger sewing machine; Kindle Fire or iPad, there is also an
icemaker that would come in handy for my kids tea addiction. Sometimes they
even have cruise you can win!
Most bids are sixty cents a bid, but they run sales on
the prices bids and can get them as low as ten cents. Every once and awhile
they have a crazy sale where the item you win is free. Yes, free! This is how I
won my KitchenAid Immersion blender. On days like those, I love watching the big-ticket
auctions. For items like flat screen TVs, ipads, and computers, the bidding
will go on for hours at a time.
Including the price of my bids, I was able to win my stand
mixer for less than $10.00. I priced the professional series mixer, according
to KitchenAid the retail price is $650.00. Wow, I know! All items are brand
new, not factory rehabs. If there is a problem with an item, DealDash will do
what they can to make it right.
If you shop on eBay you always have to remember to
factor in the cost of shipping, which is where some sellers add on extra
charges and fees. You win on DealDash and they pay the shipping.
I asked David, the community manager over at DealDash
what his favorite recipe was. He sent back this yummy, simple and flavorful
grilled shrimp taco recipe.
Grilled Shrimp Tacos
2
tablespoons olive oil
1 lime, juiced and grated
1
teaspoon cumin
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
6 flour tortillas
Salt and ground black pepper
Extra Toppings
Tomatoes
Olives
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Lettuce
Tortilla Chips
Salsa
1. Combine olive oil, limejuice, peel, and cumin in small
bowl. Thread shrimp onto skewers; season with salt and pepper. Brush shrimp
with lime mixture. Grill until shrimp are cooked through, about 3 minutes per
side, brushing occasionally with lime mixture. Roughly, chop shrimp.
2. Warm tortillas and top with sour cream, shredded cheese,
salad greens, shrimp and chips. Serve with other favorite toppings,
such as diced tomatoes, salsa, sliced olives and/or guacamole.
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