So the Digital Concepts ones aren't so great, huh?
You're not the only one I've heard asking about cost-effective slave flash options, so I did a little more digging.
There's a Zeikos model on Amazon for about the same price you paid, but I'm not sure it's any better.
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Bracket-P ... 001LBT18O/Or you can find a regular flashgun and buy a separate trigger to use like this $40 Sunpak unit. Sunpak is a good name brand.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunpak-Digital-Pr ... 000SJR7ZY/Or if you decide to upgrade to a camera with a single flash option or external hot shoe... you'll have all kinds of regular single-pulse slave trigger options. That's what I did.