I'm a recovering drug addict. In my therapy, I was told before Temu was even a thing, that fast fashion/ shopping is not something I can participate in. Thank you so much for this video. It really made me think why I was told that. I get it now. My hope is that others will see this and react the same way. I had to really concentrate, because I'm missing brain cells, but I got it!🎉
So am I! Congratulations on getting clean. I recently ordered from Shein but after reading your comment about how in therapy you were advised not to partake in online shopping I am deleting the app. Thanks 🙏
@leannewalker1422 Congratulations to you! I have an addictive personality. I've been therapy forever. My therapist always says, "Time + money = addiction." For me, anyways.
I've bought things from other websites that had shien tags on them. Really made me rethink where I buy my clothes. I mostly just thrift now unless there's a particular piece of clothing I need that I can't find, like for interviews or something
I hate temu, shein, etc. I’m not 100% sustainable over here, but I try really hard to reach everything that I buy. But these gross fast fashion/cheaply made and sweatshop companies are sooo incredibly horrible. I have steared away as many as I can from Temu and other companies.
I've started telling youtube to not recommend a channel if I see a thumbnail with a temu/shein haul. I'm moving towards including amazon, tbh. They're just not channels I wanna watch anymore.
@@JillofAllTrades-inMIi’m not defending temu but you realise that amazon sells the exact same products with same suppliers at a higher price. if anything, amazon is arguably worse
@@user-pv8xt2lx1o not evertything but def some sellers do drop ship from aliexpress, so I would look on aliexpress over temu any day due to the malware allegations that temu has
I dont watch shein or temu haul videos. TBH, this is the first time I see on my screen how temu website structure looks like. I have seen shein's but never bought anything from them. I know a lot of ppl (usually young) talking about shein or temu like is the discovery of the century
It’s so predatory to prey on people that are needing to get items in ways they can pay for. Preying on people that haven’t been able to buy the things they need, so a nice photo of the cheap item looking like the real thing, of course someone’s instinct would be to buy it. These companies tactics to get people to buy things are absolutely immoral My dad goes to a flea market and usually sells crystal and gem necklaces he’s made from buying from places online. Now he sells a bunch of ugly ash temu clothing and jewelry. Gone from something genuine to just another way to contribute to the fast fashion market Wow this was incredibly informative about addiction and dopamine
What’s wild about Tati shopping temu: she had a whole fit about revolution beauty and it was a scandal with another creator’s collab with them and stated in a video that they produce low quality, cheap products that copy other brands… literally what temu does.
But they do not copy brands that are really good high quality. Their trainers are all made of foam. Hrls disintegrate in two steps on our pavements. Fucking shithouse Temu sells junk.
I ordered a tarot deck for 78 cents and free shipping. It was a horrible fake lol, found the original being sold by the artist on Amazon. first and only time I shopped on Temu. I watched another video the other day about shein, they mentioned temu as well and said temu loses as much as 6 bucks every sale. They are trying to attract customers and undercut competition, but it's very precarious all things considered. I for one hope they go out of biz lol 😅
What a good discussion about reviews. I used to watch a lot of make up content and I have seriously slowed down. I only occasionally watch project pan videos from creators who's personality I like now. Project panning usually featuring "older" makeup that is not as hyped up. I had to stop using Insta, because I found no matter how much I wanted to not buy things, everything was an advertisement! Even small creators are just sharing pictures and reviews and swatches for free! At this point, I only watch book reviews to see if I relate to someone's reading experience or big ticket items (kitchen appliances, camera, microphone, etc.).
The worst thing is that with the bar being this low, I feel like I'm doing a lot for the environment, but in reality my shopping habits are wayyyyy worse than they were 8-10 years ago. A decade ago I was only 18 and had no money, but still.
Thank you for being a positive and thoughtful influence, Shawna, the world really needs people like you! I feel like the average influencer doesn't think very much about what they do or the bigger picture, but just promotes what feels good for themselves in the moment. The women at the beginning of the video are clearly not hurting for money and wouldn't have a reason to turn to Temu, and it really grinds my gears that they're getting other people hooked on it. I also want to mention that I've read that Temu loses an average of $30 on each order, their prices are artificially low. The company that owns it is very rich and is able to do this all in the name of breaking into the market in the US and other Western countries. They are hoping to addict people and keep them coming back long term...I am thinking their strategy is to up the prices a bit more once they have enough people hooked. I can only imagine how badly people are being exploited if the company is losing money...I bet the people making the items aren't earning a thing but are being led to think they will later or something. It's all out of control.
thank you so much maddie!! I really appreciate your long time support! I did not know they lose money on an average purchase, which really demonstrates the power and money they have in the market...as well as some dubious intentions 👀👀👀
Overconsumption is a real thing for temu. But also i have bought stuff from temu that i use everyday. For example: -an off brand swifter that had reusable pads and easy to refill -claw clips -rechargeable candle lighter It’s a very slippery slope to not add the extra plastic garbage. I just be intentional while using the app and limit my mindless scrolling. Love this video! ❤
I could see using Temu for one-off things that dont need to be good quality, as long as like you said, have intention in mind and only stick to what you went there for
I'm a recovering addict and I'm neurodivergent, so I have shopping rules for myself. 1-i never buy anything (that expires) on sale if I cannot afford the normal price. 2-i add something to my cart, and if I still want it a week later, then I will seriously consider buying it. 3-i never buy something that I already have, so I will only allow myself to buy a new thing if my current one no longer serves it's purpose. 4-i never buy something because it's trending, or because of an ad/sponsorship. I always look at the details of the item, the reviews, etc. I also dont buy seasonal items like decor and anything outside necessary clothing (I have one pair of shoes, one pair of sandals, one pair of boots, one winter jacket, etc). I also always shop as ethically as I possibly can, I support small businesses over big corporations, etc. And these rules have really helped me. Especially because I'm on disability, so I live off less than $15k a year, so I have tight budgets as well. I also dont have any credit cards.
One more. If it is not broken then I don’t need replace it. My example I have plates that were my grandparents. No way am I going to replace them. Towels yes colour is off. Do they still dry. No need to replace. Jean were dark blue they are faded. Do they fit. Are there holes in them. No need to replace. I am into being me and true to myself. Stuff meh. Last year got rid couch. Nope not replaced it. No plans.
Great video! I did shop on Temu in the past out of boredom and some items are okay but like you say is not worth it specially if wanting to have better shopping habits. Also the free shipping and free returns is only on the first order after that they got a limit.
I feel guilt because I bought a few dresses from temu. They were cheap, but they ended up not being very suitable… I think I’ve learned my lesson that less is more, and it’s made me appreciate the clothing I already have
I hate how quirky the influencers in the beginning seem to think they are? Like "oh no I don't want to participate in fast fashion like this!!" then DON'T??? Make more money with your makeup community, james charles drama. They have a responsibility and very clear ability to promote what they stand for. "Teehee add to cart :3" is not a valid excuse to promote it to your millions of followers. wtf. Like, I get buying from Temu and regretting it because it doesn't align with your values. But you can stop there, you don't have to make a video about it. It doesn't matter if they say that it's bad quality, it's still publicity and their followers won't care that it's bad quality because it's so incredibly cheap. Making videos where you try Temu or fast fashion products will in most cases just be another promotion of said online shop, unless you say that they stole your identity and scammed you out of hundreds of dollars, I guess.
Temu really is crazy! And I know what you mean about getting the feeling of buying things without actually buying them! I legitimately go there to just browse stuff, put it in my cart, and then I close the page when I'm done without making any purchases. Then I can come back later and pare down, and then do more shopping... I very rarely actually buy anything, just... window shop :)
Hey! May I ask a question? Do you think this practice tempts you to potentially buy? Because it puts you in that position where you’re like ‘closer’ to a checkout. Or do you find that this alone satisfies the need? I’ve never been on the temu site or had this issue so I’m asking from a place of curiosity. Please only answer if you feel comfortable to do so. Thank you! ❤ (and well done on finding a method that works for you!)
I think the outside world also plays a large part into getting people to TEMU. So many influencers promote /show high end /luxury items that are not actually in their budget nor their followers. To me I really saw an increase over the years in pushing ridiculous priced make up and parfums or jewellery. It creates a lot of pressure and FOMO to own these expensive aspirational products and whatever else people wish to gain from owning them. But there's no way most can afford all of that. Then they see all these dupes or similar looking items on TEMU and other sites and see a chance to own something almost identical looking. Amazon does the same. Or maybe they think they can test something similar before jumping for the expensive item. TEMU and ever increasing overpriced luxury are 2 sides of the same coin to me. And the conditions under which they produce their products is often far more similar than we care to think. A lot of items are manufactured in China and other low cost countries but then shipped to Europe for "finishing" so you can slap a made in France or Italy label on it. Often the finishing happens in European sweatshops full of immigrant workers....
literally this entire video I was fighting the urge to go on TEMU and click around!!! I need a specific supply for college and it's EXTREMELY cheap on TEMU so I always go there and add a bunch of it to my cart and then it's like.... how much of this could I possibly need. I'll only be in college for another year
I am so thankful Temu was not around when I was in the depths of my shopping addiction. It is so hard to literally declutter that cart and rationalize against literal dirt cheap prices. I still get the dopamine hits when I go into Walmart, but I can more rationally put things back or down or add them to a “not now, maybe later” list. Temu is scary af.
I've never even looked on temu or shein. Like I have no idea what it's all about or looked at any videos from them.. I just don't see why someone would want something that's shit quality for $5? Like you get 1 wear and it rips or shrinks or whatever.. just seems like a waste to me. Idk I have no idea if anything is good or not there but still 😂
TL:DR: I think the general consumer is used to shit quality in general Honestly in general the quality of clothing has dropped so drastically in the last few decades I genuinely believe many young people don’t even know what quality clothing is like. If you do happen upon quality, sustainable clothes, they are often in the range of $70-$200 for basic pieces. Now, this is fair price for these items, but the low quality (and thus low prices) of most clothes now has made the average lower income consumer averse to paying prices like this and they may literally never come into contact with good construction and fabrics unless they shop second hand or get hand-me-downs. Retail stores like H+M, Target, etc., have clothes that honestly aren’t that far off in quality to a SHEIN item. When I was younger I did shop at SHEIN and while a couple of pieces were of unwearable quality, a lot of it felt pretty much like I had before been buying at Target. Even now, I walk through a Target clothes section out of curiosity and find thin, cheap plastic-derived fabrics and jackets and pants without lining. Just like you’d find on SHEIN or TEMU. There’s really not a huge difference. Now I shop about 90% second-hand and try and buy things that I know will last. When I eventually get the money, I will likely start buying pieces new in that $70-$200 range.
Other shopping sites and even in person shops are all getting worse. I feel like I live in hell. I just ~don’t buy anything~ but I watch others buy 24/7 and buy me things and pressure me to participate in fast fashion. Going on holiday in September and my mum keeps saying ‘you need some new clothes for your holiday’ and I keep saying I have enough, I don’t want any more etc. but then she starts saying mine are all tatty which isn’t true. She’ll just keep pestering until I cave and let her buy me something which makes me angry and overwhelmed, but she thinks it will make me happy like it seems to do for her. So done with fast fashion.
Im really proud of myself for bettering my shopping habits. Im really thoughtful about what I shop and most of the time I buy what I need and still don't have/can't substitute. Sometimes I still buy things I really don't need, but in minimum amounts(just one unit). Thankvyou gor your help!
This isn't exclusive to Temu, but what I get sick of is the very contrived and repeated cycle of videos from a lot of these ""influencers" that goes: must have's, hauls, PR unboxing, maybe a get ready with me or try on, and then the declutter. So, they buy it all, bring it all in, have it for a minute, then get rid of it. If viewers or consumers of that content are emulating that behavior, there are so many pitfalls and negative outcomes to follow. Many of which you focus on in your content on this channel.
The only purchase I ever made on Temu was in september 2023 because I needed specific stuff for a cosplay and I wasn’t able to find elsewhere the exact models I needed. The two things summed amounted at roughly 4 or 5 euros, tho. And the website forced me to reach a minimum of 10 euros in order to let me checkout. So I ended up throwing in some random socks. The quality of all three items turned out to be awful (one was a fabric fishnet whose knots were coming undone by just moving the net around enough in my hands, and I had to end up hot glueing most knots in place), and the little minigames on the app actually annoyed me so much that now, every time I look for something and google spawns me Temu ads, I specifically look for any website that isn’t that one to get the items. 😅
the popularity and normalization of websites like temu and shein is disheartening to me bc we are just telling these executives that there is no bar too low as long as the price is right. so of course the bar keeps dropping more and more. I understand there's no ethical consumption in capitalism but that doesn't mean nothing matters and go lower every chance you get. and it irritates me when people complain that it's all some people can afford bc those people aren't the ones making $200-$1000+ temu/shein hauls showing off a bunch of garbage they're just going to throw away for a paycheck. and no one who can't afford more than $2 for a shirt is constantly purchasing multiple items with the notion that some of it may be the incorrect item, missing items or etremely poor quality and think that's fine because "it was so cheap anyway and returning is too much work." its such a cop out. you aren't struggling if you're buying a new wardrobe every season or for every vacation or need a new outfit for every event. give it a fucking rest. it's sick and sad how easily we're convinced to destroy ourselves and our planet for some cheap shoes and bags.
I've only ever bought shein secondhand at the thrift store.... thrift stores are RIDDEN with shein!!! and sometimes it's cute. But I would never buy it new; there's enough of it at the local family thrift to last us for generations, I swear. I buy new clothes about twice or three times a year, usually when my favorite pants/shirts have holes or unsalvageable stains. But I get plenty of use out of the rags; if I don't sew something new with them, I use 'em for paint rags (I'm an oil painter, always in need of cotton rags.)
You need to be careful, if you can get easily addicted. For me I had to fully equip to workspaces in schools with tools, games and basically everything to make welcoming spaces. It was so much easier and better moneywise to shop at temu for these things. Other than that i dont really need stuff from there.
I have bought from Shein, but I still wear 80% of those items, but I stay away from Temu bc I know I DON’T NEED IT Maybe I’ll buy from it if I need something specific, but I don’t NEED it! And I KNOW if I go on and see all the cute trinkets it’s game over for me
I used to be a shopping addict. Im glad i live in a place where i cant have things posted to address. Its saved me loads. Relearning my relationship with shopping x
I bought a cordless vacuum last year and surprisingly it works well and because I got it for a pretty good price I didn’t expect much. It still works and is doing its job but all the stuff I’ve heard about Temu I don’t plan on buying anything else from them.
I don't feel like I have had that reaction to Temu, because I've only been on there twice, looking for very specific supplies for my wax melt & candle "business" (it's really not anywhere big enough to really be called a business lol) -- & I only went there because these particular molds were SO DAMN EXPENSIVE on Amazon, & there's really nowhere in person to buy the ones I needed. But, it was VERY obvious to me upon getting on there, that it would be an addictive site, & it was obvious to me how they get people to buy more s*** than they came for, more s*** than they need, etc., etc.
Im so proud of myself for never shopping or even going on Temu to even look. Its never interested me. I would be actually so embarassed to tell someone I got my clothes from Temu.
i think i finally understand why i like buying small, 1-2€ trinkets from the thrift store. it feels so cheap that its like youre not buying much anything, when in fact those small things quickly add up to a lot
Unlike Amazon, with Temu you do have to re-package your items if you want to return them, print out a label, pack them back in a box and go to the post office to mail it back. I think most people decide it's not worth their time to return $2 items, so they just keep junk they don't even like or won't use. Also, when I went to place a return with them, they try to bribe you with a certain amount of money back to keep the item. So let's say you bought an $8 shirt. They may offer you $4 just to keep it instead of returning it! They also "scare" you by saying you won't get a refund until they receive your package back and review the items to make sure you're returning it for the reason you say you are (in the case of defects). I also think another strategy they use is to show only the 5 star reviews on the main page for an item. You have to click on "more reviews" and then filter by the lower reviews and deliberately go in and read them. They don't seem to ever show any reviews except the 5 star ones.
Ive brought a few things from Temu for dirt cheap and sold them on for more on ebay. I went to purchase more from Temu but a notification comes up saying 'this item has been discontued' . They obviously realised that they had lost ALOT of money selling them cheap (either that or they fell off a back of a lorry.....). One specific item was a leather belt with a metal buckle representing Ace, Jack, Queen, King playing cards. In the centre of them was a Metal Zippo Lighter which clipped in and out of the belt. £5.45 GBP each they were so i brought 3. They were selling on ebay for £45 each so i sold them all in a matter of days. As i said before, went back onto Temu and they were discontinued. Would not be surprised if some of the stuff is illegal they are selling tbh. BUT i am not complaining, im addicted to Temu now . But not a silly shopper! I know exactly what im buying. Delivery is really fast aswell!!
I spun the roulette once and I got 100% off on 3 items but in exchange I had to make an account, as soon as I added tthe 3 items to cart I got a new sale for 75% off on 10 items
I’m not interested in temu but my two besties are. One day I decided I’d finally check it out. I found something I’d been looking for and it was only like $5 so I was like “screw it, I’ll buy it”. But when I tried to checkout it said you had to buying at least $15 worth of items to checkout. I didn’t want or need to buy anything else. So I just went to eBay. Sure it was a couple more dollars but it was still free shipping and I still wasn’t paying $15 on stuff I didn’t want
I love Temu don’t get me wrong but I’m not addicted to it, I save money for things I need! My mother n law on another hand she orders almost every week!
So do many other companies directly or indirectly. Amazon comes as close to slave labour and abuse as you can operating (including endangering their employees) in the US and Europe. Plenty people peddle amazon while criticising TEMU. Designer companies finish their "made in Italy" clothes off in sweat shops in Italy filled with Chinese immigrant workers specifically shipped to Europe for that purpose
Addiction is when we Think we need clothing. We enjoy being given something for free. Waste of time, money and then try sending them back is called a bloody nightmare, or coming down from a regret and buy stuff to fix shit cheap trainers clothing to fake it up. You are correct. Buy the real leather solid long lasting boots that are the real company.
temu does have a minimum spend for shipping and it just keeps increasing, i used to have an addiction because i got such a boost from spending like $10 and getting a bunch of trinkets but now that it's making me spend $40+ to checkout all the joy i got has just disappeared
I get stuck on how poor quality all this stuff is because of the low cost. It just can't help but feel like if you're going to shop for stuff that's produced so badly it's going to be trash in 6 months you might as well just burn your money.
I'm so poor i can't even afford temu 😊 never looked at it tbh, but i have ordered from shein once. I kept it all and have worn it for years. I sent one thing back as it didnt fit. I struggle so hard finding clothing that fits - I'm tall 6'2 and plus sized (24/26 uk). The kicker is, I know how to make my own clothes, so this shouldnt be an issue but buying the fabric etc for a large body, plus the time to actually sew, making the adjustments to the patterns or designing my own means I'd spend so much time and money, that i don't currently have. Good quality fabric is expensive! Time is scarce, and i need clothes to wear 😂 i wear everything until it is unwearable but even long tall sally stuff is now on par with shein for quality. Its all the same, but i cant afford the good quality places and would it even fit me if i could? Plus size tall women seem to be rare 😭
I jokingly say all the time I need to break up with TEMU. Cannot thank you enough for the deep dive. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to delete the app!
I will I shop Temu but I really look closely on the reviews and I buy things I need not just junk. I have bought furniture, children’s cloths and shoes, toys and kitchen items I need. My problem with is their craft supplies. I have spent so much money on this category and that is why I am on a Now Spend August. I don’t need anymore craft supplies, except glue, for the rest of my life. There is one thing to does get under my skin when they talk about Temu is people talking about Temu stuff being from China and use slave labor. People puff up their chest about that and come back with everything you buy comes from China and it comes from the same manufacturers as any other company. You can find the same items and Temu and Amazon and they are even using the same ads with the only difference is the prices. The only way things are going to change is we start demanding more from the Major Brands back to the U.S. and refuse to buy from China and other countries.
I love them too and I use everything I buy from them! It’s my personal pleasure cuz I get tired of all my money going to bills! So I treat myself too! As long as my bills are paid, I will treat myself! #BallinOnABudget
One of the things people don’t talk about is how enjoyable Temu products can be. It’s easy to say it’s all crap, but when someone consistently gets great deals on cute items, telling them that Temu is junk and wasteful isn’t effective.
I got that you are criticizing Temu’s bad work policies and what is all behind that mess, and I agree that they are exploiting people’s subconscious and desires for their products to be bought. But I don’t get it why are you like:”It’s aesthetic, it’s bad. It’s cheap, don’t buy it! It has a lot of choice!” I mean, you are speaking these words like they are only one sided, yet there are different perspectives on these statements. It’s cheap, great, I can get multiple items for the same price and actually save some money. I do have shopping addiction, I was buying stuff before Temu, and that’s why, from my experience, it’s better to save money and time and buy like 3 or 4 small purchases in 6 months than to spend a lot more money and time roaming around in shopping malls, feeling my sweat and searching for stuff. We will still shop whether there is Temu or not. We need stuff, food, household items and etc. You can shop and use advantage of Temu, if you have tough personality and self control, and a sense of shopping that can serve you. We must shop in this world, we need food and stuff to make our everyday life a little bit easier. I surely don’t want my whole wardrobe to be from Temu, I only use that application to get things I can’t find in my city. You will always have Chinese shops with such items in your neighborhood, I don’t get it why is Temu suddenly demonic. H&M and such brands have a cheap working class behind them, tell me you didnt buy something from them in your lifetime?
i tried once to see deals etc on temu for curiosity, they are pretty much a scam, they change prices etc or make it look like a deal, while you can find some cheaper or they just change it so if you buy a certain amount you get a discount but then is the same price in the end, they just want to give the impression of it being a deal but often it is not
I'm a recovering drug addict. In my therapy, I was told before Temu was even a thing, that fast fashion/ shopping is not something I can participate in. Thank you so much for this video. It really made me think why I was told that. I get it now. My hope is that others will see this and react the same way. I had to really concentrate, because I'm missing brain cells, but I got it!🎉
Thank you for sharing and glad you enjoyed the video!
So am I! Congratulations on getting clean. I recently ordered from Shein but after reading your comment about how in therapy you were advised not to partake in online shopping I am deleting the app. Thanks 🙏
@leannewalker1422 Congratulations to you! I have an addictive personality. I've been therapy forever. My therapist always says, "Time + money = addiction." For me, anyways.
Thank you for sharing your experience
Thanks for sharing.❤
I am too poor to buy cheap things.
Yes!!!!
You just reframed how I shop, in a second. Thank you.
Inflation is going up
@@PraveenSrJ01 facts, that’s why I am okay with paying more for something that will last longer or can be repaired.
This is an old saying in my country that was traditionally made of farmer populations. "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap."
I’ve never bought anything from shein and temu. I’m so proud of myself.
Congratulations
Same
I haven’t either! I’m pretty proud of myself too.
I've bought things from other websites that had shien tags on them. Really made me rethink where I buy my clothes. I mostly just thrift now unless there's a particular piece of clothing I need that I can't find, like for interviews or something
I’ve placed a couple orders 😅
Getting a Temu ad right before the video starts 💀
the irony😭
I got a Temu ad for an ad break.
It's always funny when targeted advertising shows up on a video criticising the very thing being advertised.
No I did too
It's pathetic just send back everything. After you have no money.
I hate temu, shein, etc. I’m not 100% sustainable over here, but I try really hard to reach everything that I buy. But these gross fast fashion/cheaply made and sweatshop companies are sooo incredibly horrible. I have steared away as many as I can from Temu and other companies.
I need to break my addiction to Temu
I've started telling youtube to not recommend a channel if I see a thumbnail with a temu/shein haul. I'm moving towards including amazon, tbh. They're just not channels I wanna watch anymore.
@@JillofAllTrades-inMIi’m not defending temu but you realise that amazon sells the exact same products with same suppliers at a higher price. if anything, amazon is arguably worse
@@user-pv8xt2lx1o not evertything but def some sellers do drop ship from aliexpress, so I would look on aliexpress over temu any day due to the malware allegations that temu has
@@user-pv8xt2lx1o facts!
I dont watch shein or temu haul videos. TBH, this is the first time I see on my screen how temu website structure looks like. I have seen shein's but never bought anything from them. I know a lot of ppl (usually young) talking about shein or temu like is the discovery of the century
It is chaos!!!
It’s so predatory to prey on people that are needing to get items in ways they can pay for. Preying on people that haven’t been able to buy the things they need, so a nice photo of the cheap item looking like the real thing, of course someone’s instinct would be to buy it.
These companies tactics to get people to buy things are absolutely immoral
My dad goes to a flea market and usually sells crystal and gem necklaces he’s made from buying from places online.
Now he sells a bunch of ugly ash temu clothing and jewelry. Gone from something genuine to just another way to contribute to the fast fashion market
Wow this was incredibly informative about addiction and dopamine
What’s wild about Tati shopping temu: she had a whole fit about revolution beauty and it was a scandal with another creator’s collab with them and stated in a video that they produce low quality, cheap products that copy other brands… literally what temu does.
But they do not copy brands that are really good high quality. Their trainers are all made of foam. Hrls disintegrate in two steps on our pavements. Fucking shithouse Temu sells junk.
I ordered a tarot deck for 78 cents and free shipping. It was a horrible fake lol, found the original being sold by the artist on Amazon. first and only time I shopped on Temu. I watched another video the other day about shein, they mentioned temu as well and said temu loses as much as 6 bucks every sale. They are trying to attract customers and undercut competition, but it's very precarious all things considered. I for one hope they go out of biz lol 😅
What a good discussion about reviews. I used to watch a lot of make up content and I have seriously slowed down. I only occasionally watch project pan videos from creators who's personality I like now. Project panning usually featuring "older" makeup that is not as hyped up. I had to stop using Insta, because I found no matter how much I wanted to not buy things, everything was an advertisement! Even small creators are just sharing pictures and reviews and swatches for free!
At this point, I only watch book reviews to see if I relate to someone's reading experience or big ticket items (kitchen appliances, camera, microphone, etc.).
thanks for sharing your thoughts! I've really changed my viewership habits too over the years so I definitely relate to what you're saying
The worst thing is that with the bar being this low, I feel like I'm doing a lot for the environment, but in reality my shopping habits are wayyyyy worse than they were 8-10 years ago. A decade ago I was only 18 and had no money, but still.
Thank you for being a positive and thoughtful influence, Shawna, the world really needs people like you! I feel like the average influencer doesn't think very much about what they do or the bigger picture, but just promotes what feels good for themselves in the moment. The women at the beginning of the video are clearly not hurting for money and wouldn't have a reason to turn to Temu, and it really grinds my gears that they're getting other people hooked on it.
I also want to mention that I've read that Temu loses an average of $30 on each order, their prices are artificially low. The company that owns it is very rich and is able to do this all in the name of breaking into the market in the US and other Western countries. They are hoping to addict people and keep them coming back long term...I am thinking their strategy is to up the prices a bit more once they have enough people hooked. I can only imagine how badly people are being exploited if the company is losing money...I bet the people making the items aren't earning a thing but are being led to think they will later or something. It's all out of control.
thank you so much maddie!! I really appreciate your long time support! I did not know they lose money on an average purchase, which really demonstrates the power and money they have in the market...as well as some dubious intentions 👀👀👀
😮
Overconsumption is a real thing for temu. But also i have bought stuff from temu that i use everyday. For example:
-an off brand swifter that had reusable pads and easy to refill
-claw clips
-rechargeable candle lighter
It’s a very slippery slope to not add the extra plastic garbage. I just be intentional while using the app and limit my mindless scrolling.
Love this video! ❤
I could see using Temu for one-off things that dont need to be good quality, as long as like you said, have intention in mind and only stick to what you went there for
I'm a recovering addict and I'm neurodivergent, so I have shopping rules for myself.
1-i never buy anything (that expires) on sale if I cannot afford the normal price.
2-i add something to my cart, and if I still want it a week later, then I will seriously consider buying it.
3-i never buy something that I already have, so I will only allow myself to buy a new thing if my current one no longer serves it's purpose.
4-i never buy something because it's trending, or because of an ad/sponsorship. I always look at the details of the item, the reviews, etc. I also dont buy seasonal items like decor and anything outside necessary clothing (I have one pair of shoes, one pair of sandals, one pair of boots, one winter jacket, etc).
I also always shop as ethically as I possibly can, I support small businesses over big corporations, etc. And these rules have really helped me. Especially because I'm on disability, so I live off less than $15k a year, so I have tight budgets as well. I also dont have any credit cards.
One more. If it is not broken then I don’t need replace it.
My example I have plates that were my grandparents. No way am I going to replace them.
Towels yes colour is off. Do they still dry. No need to replace.
Jean were dark blue they are faded. Do they fit. Are there holes in them. No need to replace.
I am into being me and true to myself. Stuff meh. Last year got rid couch. Nope not replaced it. No plans.
Great video! I did shop on Temu in the past out of boredom and some items are okay but like you say is not worth it specially if wanting to have better shopping habits. Also the free shipping and free returns is only on the first order after that they got a limit.
You need to pay a whopping $7.99 fee for each addition item returns.
I feel guilt because I bought a few dresses from temu. They were cheap, but they ended up not being very suitable… I think I’ve learned my lesson that less is more, and it’s made me appreciate the clothing I already have
I hate how quirky the influencers in the beginning seem to think they are? Like "oh no I don't want to participate in fast fashion like this!!" then DON'T??? Make more money with your makeup community, james charles drama. They have a responsibility and very clear ability to promote what they stand for. "Teehee add to cart :3" is not a valid excuse to promote it to your millions of followers. wtf.
Like, I get buying from Temu and regretting it because it doesn't align with your values. But you can stop there, you don't have to make a video about it. It doesn't matter if they say that it's bad quality, it's still publicity and their followers won't care that it's bad quality because it's so incredibly cheap. Making videos where you try Temu or fast fashion products will in most cases just be another promotion of said online shop, unless you say that they stole your identity and scammed you out of hundreds of dollars, I guess.
Tati was SO CLOSE. She was right there
'We're having a moment.... You know'. Love it! Brilliant video.
😂😂😂
Temu really is crazy! And I know what you mean about getting the feeling of buying things without actually buying them! I legitimately go there to just browse stuff, put it in my cart, and then I close the page when I'm done without making any purchases. Then I can come back later and pare down, and then do more shopping... I very rarely actually buy anything, just... window shop :)
:)
Hey! May I ask a question? Do you think this practice tempts you to potentially buy? Because it puts you in that position where you’re like ‘closer’ to a checkout. Or do you find that this alone satisfies the need? I’ve never been on the temu site or had this issue so I’m asking from a place of curiosity. Please only answer if you feel comfortable to do so. Thank you! ❤ (and well done on finding a method that works for you!)
I think the outside world also plays a large part into getting people to TEMU. So many influencers promote /show high end /luxury items that are not actually in their budget nor their followers. To me I really saw an increase over the years in pushing ridiculous priced make up and parfums or jewellery. It creates a lot of pressure and FOMO to own these expensive aspirational products and whatever else people wish to gain from owning them. But there's no way most can afford all of that. Then they see all these dupes or similar looking items on TEMU and other sites and see a chance to own something almost identical looking. Amazon does the same. Or maybe they think they can test something similar before jumping for the expensive item. TEMU and ever increasing overpriced luxury are 2 sides of the same coin to me. And the conditions under which they produce their products is often far more similar than we care to think. A lot of items are manufactured in China and other low cost countries but then shipped to Europe for "finishing" so you can slap a made in France or Italy label on it. Often the finishing happens in European sweatshops full of immigrant workers....
I don’t shop on Temu or Shein because they use slave labor. Also, I’m a minimalist & I don’t buy unnecessary stuff.
literally this entire video I was fighting the urge to go on TEMU and click around!!! I need a specific supply for college and it's EXTREMELY cheap on TEMU so I always go there and add a bunch of it to my cart and then it's like.... how much of this could I possibly need. I'll only be in college for another year
Also, let’s not forget all the ppl who have talked about their information being sold to the black market 😮😮😮
I am so thankful Temu was not around when I was in the depths of my shopping addiction. It is so hard to literally declutter that cart and rationalize against literal dirt cheap prices. I still get the dopamine hits when I go into Walmart, but I can more rationally put things back or down or add them to a “not now, maybe later” list. Temu is scary af.
love the glittery eyeshadow and nails in this one! (binging all your videos because I discovered you just a few weeks ago)
I've never even looked on temu or shein. Like I have no idea what it's all about or looked at any videos from them.. I just don't see why someone would want something that's shit quality for $5? Like you get 1 wear and it rips or shrinks or whatever.. just seems like a waste to me. Idk I have no idea if anything is good or not there but still 😂
it is interesting! People seem to expect crap quality, order anyways because it's so cheap, and then are surprised when it works out well.
Definitely
TL:DR: I think the general consumer is used to shit quality in general
Honestly in general the quality of clothing has dropped so drastically in the last few decades I genuinely believe many young people don’t even know what quality clothing is like. If you do happen upon quality, sustainable clothes, they are often in the range of $70-$200 for basic pieces. Now, this is fair price for these items, but the low quality (and thus low prices) of most clothes now has made the average lower income consumer averse to paying prices like this and they may literally never come into contact with good construction and fabrics unless they shop second hand or get hand-me-downs.
Retail stores like H+M, Target, etc., have clothes that honestly aren’t that far off in quality to a SHEIN item. When I was younger I did shop at SHEIN and while a couple of pieces were of unwearable quality, a lot of it felt pretty much like I had before been buying at Target. Even now, I walk through a Target clothes section out of curiosity and find thin, cheap plastic-derived fabrics and jackets and pants without lining. Just like you’d find on SHEIN or TEMU. There’s really not a huge difference.
Now I shop about 90% second-hand and try and buy things that I know will last. When I eventually get the money, I will likely start buying pieces new in that $70-$200 range.
Other shopping sites and even in person shops are all getting worse. I feel like I live in hell. I just ~don’t buy anything~ but I watch others buy 24/7 and buy me things and pressure me to participate in fast fashion. Going on holiday in September and my mum keeps saying ‘you need some new clothes for your holiday’ and I keep saying I have enough, I don’t want any more etc. but then she starts saying mine are all tatty which isn’t true. She’ll just keep pestering until I cave and let her buy me something which makes me angry and overwhelmed, but she thinks it will make me happy like it seems to do for her. So done with fast fashion.
Im really proud of myself for bettering my shopping habits. Im really thoughtful about what I shop and most of the time I buy what I need and still don't have/can't substitute. Sometimes I still buy things I really don't need, but in minimum amounts(just one unit). Thankvyou gor your help!
This isn't exclusive to Temu, but what I get sick of is the very contrived and repeated cycle of videos from a lot of these ""influencers" that goes: must have's, hauls, PR unboxing, maybe a get ready with me or try on, and then the declutter. So, they buy it all, bring it all in, have it for a minute, then get rid of it. If viewers or consumers of that content are emulating that behavior, there are so many pitfalls and negative outcomes to follow. Many of which you focus on in your content on this channel.
The only purchase I ever made on Temu was in september 2023 because I needed specific stuff for a cosplay and I wasn’t able to find elsewhere the exact models I needed. The two things summed amounted at roughly 4 or 5 euros, tho. And the website forced me to reach a minimum of 10 euros in order to let me checkout. So I ended up throwing in some random socks. The quality of all three items turned out to be awful (one was a fabric fishnet whose knots were coming undone by just moving the net around enough in my hands, and I had to end up hot glueing most knots in place), and the little minigames on the app actually annoyed me so much that now, every time I look for something and google spawns me Temu ads, I specifically look for any website that isn’t that one to get the items. 😅
I discovered your channel today and it's great, instant subscribe 💜 Please continue sharing your thoughts!
yay! I'm excited to have you here
The comments are killing me lmao “But I need it!” “It’s cheap and I’m suddenly required to buy from these sites!” Proving the addiction points 💀💀
the popularity and normalization of websites like temu and shein is disheartening to me bc we are just telling these executives that there is no bar too low as long as the price is right. so of course the bar keeps dropping more and more. I understand there's no ethical consumption in capitalism but that doesn't mean nothing matters and go lower every chance you get. and it irritates me when people complain that it's all some people can afford bc those people aren't the ones making $200-$1000+ temu/shein hauls showing off a bunch of garbage they're just going to throw away for a paycheck. and no one who can't afford more than $2 for a shirt is constantly purchasing multiple items with the notion that some of it may be the incorrect item, missing items or etremely poor quality and think that's fine because "it was so cheap anyway and returning is too much work." its such a cop out. you aren't struggling if you're buying a new wardrobe every season or for every vacation or need a new outfit for every event. give it a fucking rest. it's sick and sad how easily we're convinced to destroy ourselves and our planet for some cheap shoes and bags.
Great thoughtful content, great shade of purple on you.
I've only ever bought shein secondhand at the thrift store.... thrift stores are RIDDEN with shein!!! and sometimes it's cute. But I would never buy it new; there's enough of it at the local family thrift to last us for generations, I swear. I buy new clothes about twice or three times a year, usually when my favorite pants/shirts have holes or unsalvageable stains. But I get plenty of use out of the rags; if I don't sew something new with them, I use 'em for paint rags (I'm an oil painter, always in need of cotton rags.)
I just found your channel and expected you to have way more subscribers than you do! Your content is great, keep it up!!
You need to be careful, if you can get easily addicted. For me I had to fully equip to workspaces in schools with tools, games and basically everything to make welcoming spaces. It was so much easier and better moneywise to shop at temu for these things. Other than that i dont really need stuff from there.
I love your cardigan!!!
I have bought from Shein, but I still wear 80% of those items, but I stay away from Temu bc I know I DON’T NEED IT
Maybe I’ll buy from it if I need something specific, but I don’t NEED it! And I KNOW if I go on and see all the cute trinkets it’s game over for me
I used to be a shopping addict. Im glad i live in a place where i cant have things posted to address. Its saved me loads. Relearning my relationship with shopping x
I bought a cordless vacuum last year and surprisingly it works well and because I got it for a pretty good price I didn’t expect much. It still works and is doing its job but all the stuff I’ve heard about Temu I don’t plan on buying anything else from them.
I don't feel like I have had that reaction to Temu, because I've only been on there twice, looking for very specific supplies for my wax melt & candle "business" (it's really not anywhere big enough to really be called a business lol) -- & I only went there because these particular molds were SO DAMN EXPENSIVE on Amazon, & there's really nowhere in person to buy the ones I needed.
But, it was VERY obvious to me upon getting on there, that it would be an addictive site, & it was obvious to me how they get people to buy more s*** than they came for, more s*** than they need, etc., etc.
Im so proud of myself for never shopping or even going on Temu to even look. Its never interested me. I would be actually so embarassed to tell someone I got my clothes from Temu.
i think i finally understand why i like buying small, 1-2€ trinkets from the thrift store. it feels so cheap that its like youre not buying much anything, when in fact those small things quickly add up to a lot
I’m definitely addicted to shopping on Temu and spent about $1,150 in the past year.
Woah
do you use most of the stuff or no? i've bought hauls on shein before i find that i only wear like 30% of the stuff
Girlllll I got a serious addiction!! I have over 612 reviews😩
@@Only1Valleyval I’m a 40 year old man 👴 but no offense taken since I’m guessing it was an honest mistake
What kind of thing did you buy? :)
Unlike Amazon, with Temu you do have to re-package your items if you want to return them, print out a label, pack them back in a box and go to the post office to mail it back. I think most people decide it's not worth their time to return $2 items, so they just keep junk they don't even like or won't use. Also, when I went to place a return with them, they try to bribe you with a certain amount of money back to keep the item. So let's say you bought an $8 shirt. They may offer you $4 just to keep it instead of returning it! They also "scare" you by saying you won't get a refund until they receive your package back and review the items to make sure you're returning it for the reason you say you are (in the case of defects).
I also think another strategy they use is to show only the 5 star reviews on the main page for an item. You have to click on "more reviews" and then filter by the lower reviews and deliberately go in and read them. They don't seem to ever show any reviews except the 5 star ones.
Ive brought a few things from Temu for dirt cheap and sold them on for more on ebay. I went to purchase more from Temu but a notification comes up saying 'this item has been discontued' . They obviously realised that they had lost ALOT of money selling them cheap (either that or they fell off a back of a lorry.....). One specific item was a leather belt with a metal buckle representing Ace, Jack, Queen, King playing cards. In the centre of them was a Metal Zippo Lighter which clipped in and out of the belt. £5.45 GBP each they were so i brought 3. They were selling on ebay for £45 each so i sold them all in a matter of days. As i said before, went back onto Temu and they were discontinued. Would not be surprised if some of the stuff is illegal they are selling tbh. BUT i am not complaining, im addicted to Temu now . But not a silly shopper! I know exactly what im buying. Delivery is really fast aswell!!
I spun the roulette once and I got 100% off on 3 items but in exchange I had to make an account, as soon as I added tthe 3 items to cart I got a new sale for 75% off on 10 items
I’m not interested in temu but my two besties are. One day I decided I’d finally check it out. I found something I’d been looking for and it was only like $5 so I was like “screw it, I’ll buy it”. But when I tried to checkout it said you had to buying at least $15 worth of items to checkout. I didn’t want or need to buy anything else. So I just went to eBay. Sure it was a couple more dollars but it was still free shipping and I still wasn’t paying $15 on stuff I didn’t want
I love Temu don’t get me wrong but I’m not addicted to it, I save money for things I need! My mother n law on another hand she orders almost every week!
Temu flagrantly abuses human rights and uses slave labour. Those influencers should be ashamed of themselves.
So do many other companies directly or indirectly. Amazon comes as close to slave labour and abuse as you can operating (including endangering their employees) in the US and Europe. Plenty people peddle amazon while criticising TEMU. Designer companies finish their "made in Italy" clothes off in sweat shops in Italy filled with Chinese immigrant workers specifically shipped to Europe for that purpose
Knowing what I know about Temu, I would never buy anything there. (or Shein)
Addiction is when we Think we need clothing. We enjoy being given something for free. Waste of time, money and then try sending them back is called a bloody nightmare, or coming down from a regret and buy stuff to fix shit cheap trainers clothing to fake it up. You are correct. Buy the real leather solid long lasting boots that are the real company.
I feel kind of good when i go to buy something and end up deciding against it.
temu does have a minimum spend for shipping and it just keeps increasing, i used to have an addiction because i got such a boost from spending like $10 and getting a bunch of trinkets but now that it's making me spend $40+ to checkout all the joy i got has just disappeared
The flash deals reminds me of the Blue Light Specials at K-mart
I seriously need help with this. It's become very addictive for me. Feel proud of your strength if you havent bought from that site.
I went to buy something the other day that i was willing to spend $28 on. I found out at the register that it was half off. Now THAT felt good.
Great in depth video 🙌
Does Temu pay postage for a return in the US? Don't you have to pay the postage?
I get stuck on how poor quality all this stuff is because of the low cost. It just can't help but feel like if you're going to shop for stuff that's produced so badly it's going to be trash in 6 months you might as well just burn your money.
I'm so poor i can't even afford temu 😊 never looked at it tbh, but i have ordered from shein once. I kept it all and have worn it for years. I sent one thing back as it didnt fit. I struggle so hard finding clothing that fits - I'm tall 6'2 and plus sized (24/26 uk). The kicker is, I know how to make my own clothes, so this shouldnt be an issue but buying the fabric etc for a large body, plus the time to actually sew, making the adjustments to the patterns or designing my own means I'd spend so much time and money, that i don't currently have. Good quality fabric is expensive! Time is scarce, and i need clothes to wear 😂 i wear everything until it is unwearable but even long tall sally stuff is now on par with shein for quality. Its all the same, but i cant afford the good quality places and would it even fit me if i could? Plus size tall women seem to be rare 😭
I will never understand how people can know about the major issues with a company like Temu and still actively choose to shop! 😢
I got a Temu preroll ad on this video 😭
I actively avoid videos with 'haul' in the title and channels which often post hauls never get my subscribe. Vote with your feet.
I jokingly say all the time I need to break up with TEMU. Cannot thank you enough for the deep dive. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to delete the app!
I’ve spent £300.000 with Temu
I’m broke but got lots of shit I don’t need 😂
The irony that there was a temu commercial before this video.
Not to mention all the “free” offers and feeding those damn fish!!! 😂😂
The intro… I haven’t seen Laura Lee and what’s her face in years lmao
30:35 Saying Don’t do something actually makes people more likely to try it.
Great vid
I've never used temu, wish, alibaba, shein, etc. I just cannot shop there, I shop as ethically as I can. I'm just not interested. At all
It's not free shipping it's a min. Purchase for me it's $15.00 to get free shipping
21:21 this!!!!
I will I shop Temu but I really look closely on the reviews and I buy things I need not just junk. I have bought furniture, children’s cloths and shoes, toys and kitchen items I need. My problem with is their craft supplies. I have spent so much money on this category and that is why I am on a Now Spend August. I don’t need anymore craft supplies, except glue, for the rest of my life. There is one thing to does get under my skin when they talk about Temu is people talking about Temu stuff being from China and use slave labor. People puff up their chest about that and come back with everything you buy comes from China and it comes from the same manufacturers as any other company. You can find the same items and Temu and Amazon and they are even using the same ads with the only difference is the prices. The only way things are going to change is we start demanding more from the Major Brands back to the U.S. and refuse to buy from China and other countries.
"I don't want to participate in fast fashion but.." nah you either participate or you don't babes
Never heard of Temu… I don’t buy fast fashion
I stopped shopping online when wish was a thing.
I love temu and I've gotten great things from there and I use them daily. Now I add stuff to cart cause I have everything I need currently.
I love them too and I use everything I buy from them! It’s my personal pleasure cuz I get tired of all my money going to bills! So I treat myself too! As long as my bills are paid, I will treat myself! #BallinOnABudget
I love your cardigan. I hope it’s not from Temu, haha. No, seriously, I love cardigans like this.
TEMU STEALS PEOPLE’S IDENTITY. DON’T BUY THERE.
I had a short Wish phase, soooo I know top stay THE HELL away from temu :D
Temu ad on this video
One of the things people don’t talk about is how enjoyable Temu products can be. It’s easy to say it’s all crap, but when someone consistently gets great deals on cute items, telling them that Temu is junk and wasteful isn’t effective.
Fast fashion is definitely better in my opinion than fast food 🐸
???
I got that you are criticizing Temu’s bad work policies and what is all behind that mess, and I agree that they are exploiting people’s subconscious and desires for their products to be bought. But I don’t get it why are you like:”It’s aesthetic, it’s bad. It’s cheap, don’t buy it! It has a lot of choice!” I mean, you are speaking these words like they are only one sided, yet there are different perspectives on these statements. It’s cheap, great, I can get multiple items for the same price and actually save some money. I do have shopping addiction, I was buying stuff before Temu, and that’s why, from my experience, it’s better to save money and time and buy like 3 or 4 small purchases in 6 months than to spend a lot more money and time roaming around in shopping malls, feeling my sweat and searching for stuff. We will still shop whether there is Temu or not. We need stuff, food, household items and etc. You can shop and use advantage of Temu, if you have tough personality and self control, and a sense of shopping that can serve you. We must shop in this world, we need food and stuff to make our everyday life a little bit easier. I surely don’t want my whole wardrobe to be from Temu, I only use that application to get things I can’t find in my city. You will always have Chinese shops with such items in your neighborhood, I don’t get it why is Temu suddenly demonic. H&M and such brands have a cheap working class behind them, tell me you didnt buy something from them in your lifetime?
i tried once to see deals etc on temu for curiosity, they are pretty much a scam, they change prices etc or make it look like a deal, while you can find some cheaper or they just change it so if you buy a certain amount you get a discount but then is the same price in the end, they just want to give the impression of it being a deal but often it is not