Temu is a cheap and more-affordable online store that sells products of various types. It has attracted so much attention since it was introduced in the US in September 2022. Overall, we can say that Temu is a direct competitor to AliExpress, because it is offering low prices for its items made in China. However, the question that has been in the mind of people is this; Is Temu legit? what are the pros and cons of shopping with Temu?
In recent years, e-commerce is accounting for about 21% of global retail sales. From e-commerce giants like Amazon, AliExpress to obscure and sometimes sketchy product ads on Instagram, digital marketing has transformed into what I call the leader of online activity.
The most recent of all digital stores gradually saturating the market is the Chinese-owned digital marketplace, Temu. Standing tall as the number one free shopping app in the App Store, outshines Shein, Amazon, and Walmart, amongst others.
Take a look at Temu’s webpage below
What is Temu?
Temu is an online store for buying and selling any product you can think of. You can buy various items such as: T-Shirts, Wristwatches, Kitchen utensils, home appliances, clothing, electronic accessories, and many more.
Where is Temu located?
Temu is based in Boston, but its parent company is in Shanghai. Temu is incorporated in Delaware.
Temu Reviews
The most incredible thing I love about Temu is that many of the site’s products are cheap and affordable. Here is a screenshot of how much items cost on the Temu app.
Temu advertises products for a very cheap price and this is favoured by the of lower manufacturing costs in China.
Following it’s launch in late 202 Temu has since experienced a significant acceptance in the global market. This made it to quickly rise to the top spot in the App Store and Play Store’s shopping categories. Most customers and merchants found out about Temu from display ads and were attracted to the site’s low prices. According to Meta’s Ad Library, Temu has run about over 3,400 Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger ads since November 19, 2022.
But according to MIT Technology Review, similar apps like Shein and AliExpress only promote dozens of ads once.
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Is Temu a legitimate shopping site?
According to the various customer reviews we have gathered from across the net, most of the products on Temu are real, and you will receive them after a successful purchase. However, just like every other online shopping sites, it could take some time before any purchased item (product) reaches you.
What are Temu’s reviews?
According to TrustPilot Reviews, Temu has 1,298 total reviews and three stars. However, one-star reviews have a slight majority over any other amount of stars. Most clients complain about long shipping duration, low-quality items, and poor customer service.
But, there are also lots of five-star reviews about Temu on TrustPilot, most reviews has been about it’s low prices and a large selection of items. However, It’s unclear how many of those rave reviews are authentic or verifiable.
Temu is not Better Business Bureau accredited and has an average rating of two out of five stars. Many recent complaints about Temu on the BBB’s website say that items never arrived or took weeks to months to arrive.
Temu’s standard shipping policy in the U.S. is free but your items aren’t expected to ship for seven to 15 business days. Temu says that if your package never arrives or it says it’s been delivered but hasn’t been, you should contact customer service within 90 days of purchase.
Who owns Temu?
Temu is owned bt PDD Holdings, a multinational commerce group headquartered in Shanghai, China. PDD owns Temu and its sister company, Pinduoduo.
Why are products on Temu so cheap?
The items on Temu are amazingly cheap and affordable. For other Chinese e-commerce company, Shein, Temu make its products affordable by connecting merchants and manufacturers directly to suppliers. Temu is responsible for shipping the items to customers.
Temu’s parent company, PDD Holdings, has built an great network of cost-efficient global suppliers, opening the opportunity to access millions of products. Temu also follows a reverse-manufacturing business model that removes the middle layer of product distribution, eliminating the cost of go-betweens.
In creating a balance for making good sales and establishing trust, Temu relays on customer’s feedbacks to alert manufacturers, telling them what consumers want and when to produce the desired product. With these considerations, the company can keep prices astonishingly low.
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Does Temu ethically produce its products?
With over 11 million merchants and brands utilizing the platform, Temu sources its products from suppliers all over the world. As part of Nasdaq-listed PDD Holdings, Temu is able to directly source goods from a network of high-quality manufacturers.
But according to many online reviews, many products bought from Temu are poorly made, unusable, or break easily, increasing the likelihood of Temu products ending up in landfills.
Temu’s Third Party Code of Conduct stresses that the company has a zero-tolerance policy for vendors that use forced labor to manufacture their products. All Temu vendors must comply with local wage and hour laws, and their working conditions must be safe and non-abusive.
Sites like Temu, Shein, and AliExpress say they’re committed to environmental sustainability by digitalizing the economy, cutting supply chain waste, and offsetting carbon emissions.
Temu’s Return and Refund Policy
If you are not satisfied with what you bought on Temu, you are be eligible to return it and get a refund by following the simple procedure set out in this Return and Refund Policy. You can make a return by following these steps listed below:
Ⅰ. First, go to your Temu’s account or on the app to request a refund. If you do not have a Temu account, please click on “Save your Order” in your Temu order email to make a return.
Ⅱ. Secondly, select the particular order in “Your Orders” and click on the “Return” button.
Ⅲ. Thirdly, select the item(s) you would like to return and t reason for the return. Now, based on the reason you selected, you may be required to provide further information related to the order. Click “Next Step” proceed.
Ⅳ. If there is no need to return your item, then your final step is simply to select your refund method. You may choose to receive your refund as a Temu credit balance or be credited back via your original payment method. Make your selection and click “Submit”.
Ⅴ. If you need to return your item(s), you will have the option to choose your return and refund methods. After you submit the request, we will provide you with a return label so that you can return the item(s). Shipping for return item(s) is free on your first return for EVERY order within 90 days from the exact date of purchase.
Ⅵ. Print and tape your return label we provided to the outside of your return package. Mail out your package at the nearest USPS or UPS location and you’re done!
Ⅶ. You can check the refund status of your item(s) on your order details page or through Temu’s SMS/Email/Push notifications.
Please make sure your return package is postmarked within 14 days after you submit your return, otherwise the return process will be terminated. The return label we provide only works if you are shipping within the United States (security-restricted areas such as military bases excluded).
Does Temu offer free shipping?
Temu offers free standard shipping for orders exceeding $20. But as part of a special promotion for 2023, standard shipping is 100% free for most items.
If you need your order sooner, you can choose Express shipping, which is free for orders above $129.00 USD, or $12.90 USD for orders below that amount.
How long does Temu shipping take?
Shipping usually takes from 7 to 15 business days to arrive. But, express shipping usually takes less than 7 days to arrive. Once your order has been confirmed, you will see the estimated delivery time and shipping cost on your order confirmation page.
What Payment Methods Does Temu Accept?
The screenshot above shows the payments method acceptable by Temu. Here’s a list of international payment methods you can use for your Temu orders:
- Afterpay
- American Express
- Apple Pay
- Cash App Pay
- Diners Club
- Google Pay
- JCB
- Klarna
- Maestro Card
- Mastercard
- PayPal
- Visa
How to terminate an order on Temu?
This is another easy thing you can do by yourself. It’s easy to terminate an order on Temu before your package is been packed. Here is what you should do:
- Sign in to your account and click on your user avatar in the top right corner of the screen.
- Select “Your orders” from the left menu panel.
- Find the order under “All Orders” and select “Cancel/Other help.”
- Follow the instructions on the screen and click “I want to cancel item(s).”
- Select “All” at the top of the product list.
- Scroll to the bottom and click “Cancel checked items.”
You should expect a refund confirmation in your inbox immediately after you cancel an order. But, If your order has already been packed, you won’t be able to cancel it. However, almost all items are returnable within 90 days of purchase. Once you receive your order, you can request a refund.
How To Get Free Products From Temu
To receive free products on Temu, you must refer others to sign up for the Temu app. The more referrals you make, the more credit you earn that can be applied to free items.
Temu’s referral program has allowed the app to spread quickly because influencers and users promote the app to get free stuff.
In other words, Temu has been purposely losing money in order to gain marketshare.
Pros of buying from Temu
- Low price: Temu offers affordable pricing on a wide range of products, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
- Easy to navigate: The Temu.com website has intuitive filters and search options to help you find what you need quickly.
- Shipping is free: Temu offers free shipping on almost all products, saving you even more money.
- Easy return process: The return process is hassle-free and straightforward.
- Free return shipping: Temu offers free shipping on your first return for every order within 90 days of purchase.
- Extensive catalog: Temu has millions of product listings across 29 categories and 250 subcategories.
- Promotional offers inclusive: Temu offers significant discounts and promotions. Right now, they’re running a “free shipping” promotion on all orders of any amount.
Cons Of Buying From Temu
- Slow shipping duration: Customers have reported that their orders took a month to arrive. The average shipping time is 7 to 14 days on Temu.
- Poor customer service: Temu’s customer support has a bad rep for slow response times or unhelpful representatives.
- Less protective packaging: A few customers have reported receiving items that were damaged during shipping due to inadequate protective packaging.
- Slow refund process: Temu initiates a refund only after they receive the return order, which can take anywhere between a week to a month. After that, it takes 7 to 30 days for the refund to be processed, depending on your payment method.
My final thoughts on Temu
If you are among those still asking the question, Is Temu legit? then I am very sure by now that you have seen for yourself. Temu will continue to dominate the market due to its palatable offers.
