Beginner tips from 10+ year DealDash veterans
Some DealDash fans have been bidding for over a decade. These tips are sourced from what we’ve heard from our veterans over the years: the habits that make the first few weeks easier, and a lot more fun.
1. Set a budget before you bid
Decide what you’re happy to spend on bids each week or month, and stick to it. Treat it like any other night out: it’s entertainment, and the wins are a bonus. Bids cost up to 15¢ each, so it’s easy to see where your budget goes.
2. Bid on things you’d buy anyway
This is the big one. If you don’t win, Buy It Now gets you the item at its regular price and returns every bid you placed on that auction. When it’s something you wanted, you come out ahead either way.
“I just love DealDash, I’ve been with you guys since 2016”
3. Watch an auction before you join it
Every bid adds a cent and resets the 5-second clock, and each auction has its own rhythm. Following one for a few minutes shows you how busy it is before you spend a bid. When you’re ready, set up Booked Bids: most auctions are won with them, and they keep you in the running while you get on with your day.
4. Look past the obvious
The most popular items tend to draw the most bidders. Gift cards, home goods, and experiences like skydiving or horseback riding for two can be just as good a deal.
5. Turn on alerts
The auction feed shows what’s live right now and what’s coming up next. Turn on alerts for the brands and categories you love so you know the moment an auction you want is about to start.
6. Look for special auctions
Some auctions change the rules in your favor. A few to watch for:
- Win-Win. The winner gets half of the bids they used back.
- Spoils. Win and collect free bids equal to the dollar amount of the Buy It Now price.
- Runner-Up. Second place gets a personal 50% discount on Buy It Now, and their bids come back.
- 1¢ wins. Whatever the clock stops at, the winner pays just 1¢.
7. Check today’s bid price
The price per bid changes with the offer of the day, so it pays to check before you top up. Bids stay in your account for 365 days, so you can stock up on the good days.
8. Collect your daily rewards
Bid on consecutive days and collect free bids every day, up to 30. Open the Rewards page daily for your daily reward, and finish challenges for extra bids.
9. Use your $50 credit to learn
New members get $50 of credit toward their first eligible bid purchase. Use those bids to try a few auctions, get a feel for the pace, and find the kinds of products you enjoy bidding on. How the credit works.
10. Keep it fun
DealDash is meant to be fun, fair, and rewarding. If an auction runs longer than you planned, it’s fine to step back. There’s always another one, and Buy It Now is there either way.
“I just won an auction for 1¢! Have been happily DealDashing for around 6 years now!”
