Temu Is Taking Over, But Is the Shopping App Legit?
The internet can connect us with excellent shopping deals, but sometimes those deals seem too good to be true. Temu, the latest shopping sensation, has reached the top of Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, becoming the most downloaded app in the U.S. The online retailer seems to offer everything at meager prices. But is Temu legitimate, or is it a scam?
Need a portable blender? It is only $11.18. Need a pair of fashionable sunglasses? That will be $3.29. How about a stuffed Capybara plush toy? $4.85. These deals sound great, so we dived deeper into Temu to find out exactly how the site works and whether you should trust your money with the new retailer.
What Is Temu?
Let’s start with the basics: What is Temu?
Temu is an online marketplace that ships products directly from China to consumers. Temu is an American company based out of Boston; however, its parent company, PDD Holdings, is a China-based organization. Temu’s sister company is the shipping app Pinduoduo and is aimed at the Chinese market.
Temu ships products directly from China to consumers. Similar online marketplaces, such as Wish.com, have also set out to cut out middleman retailers to deliver the lowest prices possible. Rather than third-party sellers purchasing the products and reselling them on Amazon, you can obtain them directly.
The Temu website offers a wide breadth of products, so we recommend checking it out to see what’s available. Promoted categories include appliances, smart home gadgets, clothing, lawn and garden supplies, health and household, beauty, musical instruments, toys and games, electronics and pet supplies.
Is Temu a Scam?
Temu is a legit e-commerce retailer from which you can purchase nearly anything your heart desires (seriously, we looked, and Temu has a lot of stock). The prices are real and aren’t a trick, illustrating how much more money import companies charge for products they bring into the country for distribution.
However, sometimes it can be good to have an import company handling issues such as customer service. While we did find that the Temu app provides free returns within 90 days, there have been negative reviews on the site claiming that packages arrived damaged or delayed. Temu counters these claims by offering purchase protection if you receive an order that isn’t as described, arrives damaged or is lost in the mail.
Temu is focused on delivering low-cost items, so keep that in mind when it comes to quality.
One positive thing about Temu is its multiple payment options. One payment option you may want to consider when checking out with Temu is PayPal, as the company offers buyer protection for items that arrive damaged or not as described (or don’t show up at all). You can also use a buy now, pay later service such as Afterpay or Klarna.
How Do I Shop on Temu?
Shopping on Temu is simple, just like using a site like Amazon. Visit Temu’s website or download the Temu app to your iOS or Android device. Once on the site or app, you can begin perusing the store and finding deals.
If you see an item you like, add it to your cart. However, remember that many things available on Temu are limited, either in stock or in time. So don’t leave your cart idling too long, and check out as soon as you are ready.
As with any website, keep an eye out for scams. If you see an expensive brand-name product for an extremely low price, it likely isn’t real.
While the Temu app does offer free standard shipping, you may need to spend a minimum amount of money before being allowed to check out. Free shipping generally arrives within one to two weeks, but express shipping is available via FedEx, UPS and DHL for an additional fee.
At checkout, we recommend using a payment service, such as PayPal, which will provide you with an additional layer of buyer protection if anything goes awry. If you wish to pay directly using a credit card, we recommend using a virtual card. Services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are also available.
Temu Tricks and Tips
While browsing Temu, you’ll find that the app attempts to play some of its own tricks and games to get you to make additional purchases. When you open the app, you may be presented with a “bargain,” such as four items for free if you buy eight items. Or, you may be asked to share the app with friends for low prices.
While these offerings may be alluring if you were planning on purchasing several items, they can also quickly get you to spend more than you would have originally — not every deal is good, especially if you spend more.
Temu may try to pressure you into buying a product by saying it is available for only a limited time or that there are just a few items left in stock. So take a moment and consider if you really need that 30.7-inch squid plush toy before you hit the “Buy” button.
While some promotions and offerings from Temu can appear flashy and scammy, they aren’t inherently dangerous. Just take mental stock of what’s in your cart and whether you are simply buying excess products because you think you need them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Temu is cheap because it cuts out the middleman, the person who would normally import a product from another country and then resell it to you. When you shop on Temu, you are ordering products directly from China, sometimes from the manufacturer.
Temu’s headquarters is in Boston; however, Temu’s parent company is PDD Holdings, which is a China-based company. When you purchase from Temu, your products are generally shipped directly from China.
Temu and Shein are both e-commerce marketplaces that connect shoppers with low-priced goods from China; however, they are focused on different areas of the market. Temu has a much wider selection of products, while Shein focuses primarily on clothing.
Temu and Wish.com are similar websites, aiming to bring low-cost goods to consumers directly from China. We haven’t found one to be necessarily better than the other; we recommend you browse both sites to see which marketplace you prefer.
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Michael Archambault is a senior writer with The Penny Hoarder specializing in technology.
