Is Temu legit? Shopping app explained

TEMU, the online megastore with the promise to let customers ‘shop like a billionaire’ on a budget has onlookers wondering: Is it legit?

Here’s what you need to know.

1

What is Temu?

Temu is a the US offshoot of Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo Inc.

The marketplace offers just about any product you can think of for incredibly low prices.

You can buy anything from kitchen gadgets, electronics and outdoor furniture to makeup, baby clothes and power tools.

Most of it is up for sale for less than £10.

While Temu’s prices are cheap, many new customers can actually get products for free through the retailer’s promotional campaigns.

Customers receive credits from Temu if they invite friend and family to sign up.

The more people convinced, the more credits earned.

When was Temu created?

The shop emerged just last year.

But since then, Temu has become the most popular free app on the App Store, ahead of favourites like Tesco, Asda, Amazon and Shein.

Is Temu a legitimate website?

The website is legitimate in that customers usually get what they order, but there are some hang ups.

Goods can take weeks before they reach the doorstep.

According to the Better Business Bureau, an American non-profit, most complaints from Temu customers are over the long shipping times, low-quality items, and poor customer service. 

“They’re making delivery promises, and people aren’t getting their stuff when they’re supposed to be,” Melanie McGovern, the director of public relations and social media for the Bureau told TIME in December.

However, Temu will process refunds within 7 days after receipt of the return package from users – so customers aren’t completely short-changed if they’re unhappy with their products.

there have also been no complaints that allege the goods Temu ships are counterfeit or fake.

Is the Temu app safe?

The Temu app does collect data from its users, but no more than the likes of Amazon.

It must also comply with US data protections laws.

However, it’s parent company, Pinduoduo, is reportedly a lot more sweeping with its data collection.

Pinduoduo gains full access to all your contacts, calendars, and photo albums, plus all your social media accounts, chats, and texts, according to a report by USA Today.

The Temu app and website has also been given an overall customer review of just 2.3 stars through the Better Business Bureau’s rating system.

There are a raft of five-star reviews for Temu on TrustPilot, with customers happy with the low prices and massive variety of items.

But it’s unclear how many of those reviews are authentic.

Recent complaints about Temu on the BBB website say that items never arrived or took weeks or even months to arrive. 

McGovern said it is unusual for such a new company to have received so many complaints in such a short time period.

It should also be noted that Temu’s promotional credits scheme has been picked up by cybercriminals online, who have created fake ‘free credits’ scams to lure in unsuspecting victims.

Why are products on Temu so cheap?

“It appears items ordered are typically directly shipped from manufacturers in China and other countries,” the Better Business Bureau writes on its website.

Like Shein, AliExpress, and Wish, Temu advertises products for cheap prices because of lower manufacturing costs in China.

But Temu is also able to offer unbeatable prices and a stream of deals due to its access to the Pinduoduo supply chain.

Because of Pinduoduo’s scale and factory network, Temu is able to sources a wide range of products at wholesale prices.

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