Is Temu legit and safe to order from? All you need to know

Published on

September 4th, 2023

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What is Temu?

Temu is a shopping app and website operated by Ireland-based company PDD Holdings that sells a range of items including fashion, home decor, handmade crafts, beauty items, chic clothes, shoes, and more.

Since launching in September of 2022, the online megastore has seen its popularity skyrocket. The most downloaded new app in America, Temu enables customers to take advantage of insanely low prices on almost every item imaginable, drawing shoppers in with the tagline ‘shop like a billionaire.’

With the cost of living at an all time high, Temu timed its entrance into the marketplace perfectly, offering people (especially kids and teenagers) the opportunity to purchase coveted products on a budget.

Temu

How Temu works

Temu works in much the same way as any other online retailer but with one unique twist — it offers customers the opportunity to earn extra credits by getting friends to sign up or through spin-the-wheel games.

Selling everything from Lenovo Airbuds at $10.26 to smartwatches priced at just $16.89, it’s not hard to see why so many people are turning to Temu and taking advantage of such heavily discounted products.

You can access Temu via the app or website and the process is the same as any other online retailer — simply sign up for an account using your email address or social media account, add products to your cart, and proceed to the checkout to complete your purchase.

Who owns Temu and where is the company located?

It’s difficult to pin down Temu’s exact origins as the company’s website gives limited information. While Temu itself says it was founded in Boston, its parent company, PDD Holdings, was based in Shanghai until earlier this year when they relocated to Dublin.

The move to Ireland isn’t an unusual one with many tech companies having made a similar move in the past due to the countries low corporate tax rates. And while Boston is listed as Temu’s head office, products are shipped from manufacturers in China.

PDD Holdings also owns Pinduoduo, a Chinese online retailer focused on the agriculture industry that generated more than seven billion dollars in first quarter of this year.

PDD Holdings also owns Pinduoduo, a Chinese online retailer focused on the agriculture industry

Which countries is Temu available in and where does it ship from?

Temu’s global ambitions have begun to come to fruition with the company expanding from just serving the US to delivering to 23 countries around the world.

These countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the US.

Most of the products you see on Temu are directly shipped from Chinese suppliers and warehouses, although some may also come from inside the US.

Is Temu a legitimate company?

The short answer is yes, the company is legitimate — the items are real and you will receive them. However, the longer answer is more complex.

Temu is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is used by most major retailers (such as Amazon) to build trust, advertise honesty, embody integrity and meet a range of other responsible business standards.

On the one hand, BBB accreditation does come with a fee, so that could be why Temu hasn’t yet sought it, but on the other hand, the lack of this backing does leave customers fearful of online scams.

Why is Temu considered controversial?

There are a few issues with Temu that have raised potential red flags, so let’s explore each of those briefly:

1. Privacy concerns: Temu’s sister-site Pinduoduo was recently suspended by Google for containing Malware and the US government has accused Temu of the same crime. An investigation was recently opened by the US-China Economic Security Review Commission to look into potential data risks, sourcing violations, and trade loopholes of fast-fashion sites like Temu.

2. Alleged Amazon store-front cloning: Temu offers products from third-party sellers in the same way that Amazon does and the company has come under scrutiny for cloning the storefronts of Amazon third-party sellers without their consent.

This has potentially allowed Temu to duplicate images and data from Amazon third-party sellers that they’ve then pasted directly into their own store. Temu has since stated that all infringing products have been removed.

3. Potential forced labor: This is a huge one that is causing a lot of people a great deal of concern. In June of 2023, US lawmakers warned consumers that there is a high probability that goods offered by Temu are being produced by forced labor.

Is Temu safe to use?

At the moment, Temu has a Trustpilot rating of 3.5 (out of 5) with just over 6,700 reviews. While many people state they’ve had a positive experience with the brand, receiving what they ordered in a timely manner, others say they feel scammed and ripped off due to orders turning up damaged or incomplete.

Although Temu does largely live up to its tagline of low cost and fast shipping, data security issues and product quality remain significant concerns. When prices are that rock bottom, it’s important to bear in mind that there is an element of ‘you get what you pay for.’

Why is Temu so cheap?

There’s no getting around it — the prices on Temu are exceptionally cheap. Temu says they’re able to do this by connecting customers directly with suppliers and thus cutting out the middle man.

However, the US House Select Committee has other thoughts, stating that Temu is able to offer its prices so cheap because it operates under the de minimis loophole, which allows all imports valued at under $800 to enter the US to escape having to pay any duties, taxes, or fees, and to avoid any kind of rigorous inspection.

Are Temu products good quality?

As mentioned above, Temu has a Trustpilot rating of 3.5 stars, with many happy customers raving about the huge selection of items and the super low prices.

However, over on BBB, it’s a slightly different story, with customers awarding Temu just two out of five stars. A lot of the negative reviews and complaints there are centered around the items being low quality and the customer service being poor.

So, if you shop on Temu, it’s worth bearing in mind that it might be a slightly mixed experience. Just like with any low-priced online retail giant (such as Amazon), expect to get some items that are of excellent quality, and some that are not so well made.

Is Temu ethical?

This is a hard question to answer because as you’re probably aware, ethics in business can exist along quite a continuum.

The company itself would of course say yes, with Temu stating that its reverse-manufacturing model helps the company to decrease waste.

It also claims to have a zero-tolerance policy for any company that uses forced labor to manufacture products and state that they have procedures in place to ensure companies comply with local hour and wage laws.

However, the US House Select Committee says that Temu does not have any auditing or compliance process in place so there’s no way of making sure that sellers are following its Code of Conduct.

How Temu uses your data

Just like any other e-commerce app, Temu gathers your data upon sign up. This includes your name, address, location, search history, payment information, and the ID of your device.

In recent years, more and more people have become concerned about the security of their data, specifically when it’s being stored by Chinese-based apps.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that all apps, regardless of location, can collect and store your data with very few limits, so it’s up to you to decide which apps you use and how much of your data you’re prepared to give up.

How payment is processed at Temu

Again, Temu is pretty run-of-the-mill on this front, offering up a range of payment options that are very similar to most online retailers. These include the option to pay by major credit/debit cards such as Visa or Mastercard, as well as third-party processors like Apple Pay, PayPal and Google Pay. Klarna is also an option if you’d rather pay something off over time.

When it comes to how safe it is to use a debit card, using one on Temu is no more risky than using one elsewhere. The company employs the usual state-of-the-art encryption technology and SSL certificates to ensure everything remains secure throughout your transaction.

Klarna can be used as a payment option on Temu if you’d rather pay something off over time

What are Temu's refund and delivery policies?

While Temu doesn’t currently offer an exchange service, you can initiate a return of an item that you’re not satisfied with or that doesn’t fit.

Almost all items are eligible for a return and refund provided this falls within the 90-day purchase window. The exceptions are:

Clothing items that have been worn or washed, damaged, or have had their tags removed.
Items that are labelled as non-returnable
Free gifts

When it comes to delivery, most items are shipped free of charge within 6-25 days or you can pay $12.90 for express shipping (this is also free if the items have a combined total of more than $129).

You can track your items on the app and if your order is late, Temu will issue you with a $5 credit for standard shipping or a $13 credit for express shipping.

Is Temu a good company to buy from?

There are always going to be risks with online shopping. Items can be lost in transit, arrive damaged, or look very little like the images displayed on the website. In this respect, Temu comes with the same issues as ordering from any other online retailer.

There are some potential ethical issues to be aware of, but again, these concerns are real and alive with a lot of companies these days, so Temu is definitely not the exception to the rule here.

Overall, with the cost of living what it is, Temu does provide customers with the opportunity to get their hands on products they may otherwise not have been able to afford.

As long as you’re aware that you’ll be exposing yourself to the usual risks around quality and the occasional shipping issue, Temu is worth checking out.

Comments (12)

Nitish Mutha

Co-founder and CTO at Genie AI

Well-written article.

Share 8mo ago

FinleyMcneil

I was curious about Temu too! 🤔 After some research, it seems like a decent option. But it's always smart to do your due diligence. I came across a helpful review on Have Clothes Will Travel that shed some light on it. Check it out for peace of mind!

Share 7mo ago