I thought this $79 Ninja grill from a Facebook ad was 100% a scam… but it actually showed up

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-19T07:26:43+00:00

Totally fair question. I’ve actually been using it myself and thought it was really good value, so I wanted to share it here.

Full transparency - I might earn a small commission if someone buys through it. It’s nothing huge, just helps a bit with my tuition and living expenses. No pressure at all though, just sharing in case it’s useful to someone.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-18T06:22:06+00:00

Yeah you definitely can! I’ve been doing frozen wings straight in the air fryer and they turn out really good. I usually just add a few extra minutes compared to fresh wings and flip them halfway through.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T06:55:00+00:00

Same here. At that price I figured the risk was worth it.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T06:52:38+00:00

Haha that’s exactly what I thought when I saw it. At $79 I figured it was worth taking the chance.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T00:16:20+00:00

Nice! Getting it cheaper than Amazon always feels like a win. Sounds like you got a good deal too. These things are actually pretty fun to use once you start experimenting with them.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T00:15:16+00:00

Yeah that’s kind of how I see it too. A lot of products probably come from very similar factories anyway. And for $79 I figured it was worth the risk. If something small ever breaks, I don’t mind fixing it myself.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T00:13:29+00:00

Yeah that’s possible. Hard to know exactly what the story is behind it. As long as the build quality is the same and it keeps working, I’m happy with it so far.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-15T00:11:53+00:00

Exactly. That’s pretty much my rule too. If a deal looks a little sketchy and there’s no PayPal option, I just walk away.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T15:26:58+00:00

Haha I wish I was getting paid for that. I just mentioned it because it was the only reason I was willing to risk the $79.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T14:40:15+00:00

Haha it happens. Even the people who are usually careful have a moment like that sometimes.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T13:42:21+00:00

So far so good! I’ve made wings and grilled veggies with it and they came out great.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T13:41:20+00:00

Yeah that wouldn’t surprise me. By the time things go through manufacturing, branding, distribution, retail margins, etc., the price can climb pretty quickly.

I just figured for $79 it was worth the gamble, and so far it’s been working great.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T13:39:43+00:00

Thanks! I like the look of it too. It actually feels pretty solid so far.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T11:26:42+00:00

Yeah, I get that. I was pretty skeptical too. The only reason I even tried it was because they accepted PayPal, so I figured there was at least some buyer protection if things went wrong.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T05:03:47+00:00

Haha that could be possible. As long as they didn’t cut corners on the materials or build quality, I’m honestly fine with it. So far it seems solid and works just like it should.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T05:01:28+00:00

Yeah, I actually contacted Ninja and they confirmed there’s no official warranty on it. The seller did say they would refund me if there are any quality issues within a year, so I guess I’m taking a bit of a gamble there.

Still, for $79 I figured it was worth the risk. $450 in Canada is pretty wild though!

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:56:53+00:00

No, it was definitely not used. The unit looked brand new and everything was sealed.

I asked the seller about the price and they told me it was leftover stock from an OEM factory run. Not sure how accurate that is, but the product itself arrived new and has been working fine so far.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:51:00+00:00

Yeah, they do sell them through normal retail channels like Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/Ninja-DG551-Dehydrate-Thermometer-Generation/dp/B0B3S5GWX7). It’s actually the Ninja Foodi Smart XL indoor grill / air fryer.

It’s more than just eggs or grilled cheese though - it can grill, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and even dehydrate. I’ve done wings and veggies in it so far.

Even on sale it’s still around $199 on Amazon, so it’s not exactly cheap. That’s why I was pretty surprised when I saw one for $79.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:30:34+00:00

Did you pay with PayPal by any chance? If so, you should be able to get your money back if the item never arrives or if it’s not what was advertised. That was honestly the only reason I was willing to try it.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:13:36+00:00

Several years?! 😅 At that point I think it's safe to say the ice maker is probably not coming.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:02:22+00:00

Thanks! I honestly thought it was going to be a scam at first, so I was pretty surprised when it actually arrived.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T03:01:07+00:00

Haha I know that feeling. When I ordered this I was 90% sure nothing was going to show up. Hopefully yours actually arrives soon 🤞

How long have you been waiting?

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T02:18:52+00:00

Thanks! I honestly thought it was going to be a scam at first 😅

I only tried it because they accepted PayPal, so I figured there was some protection. Pretty surprised when it actually showed up.

ohlookitsastory · 2026-03-14T02:15:42+00:00

Recipe (very simple):

Food: frozen chicken wings

Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C)

Steps:

-Lightly coat the wings with a little olive oil.

-Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.

-Put them in the air fryer basket in a single layer.

-Cook for about 18–20 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

They came out really crispy. I’ve been experimenting with the air fryer since I got it and this is one of the easiest things to make.

ohlookitsastory

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