One of the immediate things I noticed about Temu was how they just want you to download their app, which I'm glad you mentioned it here. I'm convinced that they can sell everything so cheap is because they make their real money off of selling YOU via data collection.
A lot of apps actually do that. Like. A lot a lot. Even just like....games do this now. I'm pretty sure it's one of the main places folks are scraping up folks personal information from since everyone openly talked about the fact that they don't read the TOS.
i dont think they could realistically make enough off data to justify even the shipping, my guess is it's more doing what a lot of tech companies do: intentionally running at a loss to corner the market, then work out profitability later.
@thatspiderbyte They're likely only using that information to flood you with more and more ads tbh They definitely track more information than a shopping apps needs though. I consider any data collection from a shopping app super sus though.
Oh yeah, the second I saw the word TEMU, I knew it would be data-thieving garbage. Their shit is poisonous too. The lead and other chemicals coming out of that hellhole are ridiculous. No offense, but this is the bare basic standard of intelligent consumption.
I've never shopped at Temu, but one of my employees is seriously hooked on it. What for me is more disappointing is the vast number of dropshippers who have taken over Etsy. It used to be a great place to get handmade gifts for loved ones, but it's hard to find anything handmade anymore.
I know! As I mention in the video, I run a small upcycled handmade-to-order business on Etsy and the platform is becoming so riddled with dropshippers that us actual small artisans are really suffering for it. And now with Etsy's new algorithm change starting next month, it's only going to penalize small shops and reward big dropshippers even more. So sad and disappointing.
the small business and local artists are pushed out with the high etsy costs that happened a year ago, so now it's a platform for large businesses now...which is no different than your local walmart.
Great point! It's one thing if people are assuming the risks and buying things for themselves, but children have no say nor the self awareness to second guess the safety of their toys.
@@8honeybunnie8The German channel Igor's Lab bought some things some time ago. Nothing for children as far as I remember, but I think one part contained arsenic.
The first time I saw their "shop like a billionaire ad" it showed so many red flags. Their catch phrase itself is borderline dystopian. What I really hear is "Shop like the ones who have immorally hoarded and amassed more wealth than they could ever use at the expense of the planet and everyone else, and buy our unethically and cheaply made products and stolen designs that billionaires would never even touch, and that result in even more waste and exploitation! But don't think of that, think of the catchy song!"
I used to buy from temu pretty often. I quit buying from them because I realized how wasteful it is. So much plastic, and the products are poorly packaged and end up getting to you broken, warped, the wrong size, etc. I was throwing out so many things because they are hoping that we'll say "oh well it was only a dollar I'll buy a new one" and into the landfill it goes. I've gotten some nice things from temu here and there that I still use, but I don't plan to ever shop there again.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with them! I think that's probably a great way to sum up the platform: Yes, you might get some useful and even nice things from it, but that number is probably going to pale compared to the amount of junk you get.
I’ve never even opened the temu website, let alone downloaded the app or purchased anything from them. It was pretty clear to me that it was a very problematic brand from its inception, so I’ve stayed clear. But I don’t think I’m their target audience, as I’m old and am more interested in getting rid of stuff than acquiring it at this point in my life. My college age children have also rejected the site and all the sites selling fast fashion and cheap plastic objects that no one needs, which is who temu is targeting, I think. But one child loves thrifting and upcycling and the other just isn’t a consumer of much beyond books and pens. I guess we’ve taught them well. I am also concerned about the rampant consumerism that’s overtaken so many people now. Do people really believe they need to buy a new wardrobe every few months? Do they really need to buy dozens of candles made by children or prisoners in “education camps?” Does anyone stop to think why products are so cheap on temu? Do they not wonder about the app they install on their phone? Who are they listening to that tells them this is the way to live? It’s all so alien to me.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response on this and I wholeheartedly agree that rampent consumerism is one of the largest problems we face. I think it stems from the fact that we've just become so disconnected with where everything we buy comes from (clothes, accessories, even food!) that most people just see the price and buy, without considering who is making up for that low cost. I think if you asked most people, they would say they were against slave labor, and yet their buying aptternjs don't reflect that, which I think means people just literally don't even think about it. That's something we're trying to do here is provide a call to action for people to think for a just a second before they buy. Thank you for doing just that!
No. No one thinks about anything anymore. Look who just got voted in for president. But, in an interesting twist of fate, the same uneducated people who voted for him will only see themselves paying more for absolutely everything, particularly products from China, which means sites like Temu will get far less business once that $6 knickknack is now $12+.
Critical thinking is practically nonexistent in the United States. People are incapable of thinking beyond what they can see and feel in their immediate surroundings.
me too. ive never downloaded the app (i'd rather shit in my hands and clap, so to speak) and ive never visited the website. ive seen their ads a LOT and i immediately thought it was too good to be true and that something fishy had to have been going on for it to appear too good to be true to begin with. never shopped from them, never will, and i appreciate SJ's video about it as it helps educate others about how fishy and weird temu is.
Also why I deleted the Meta suite. I read the all the terms and conditions I had to click through 4 different sets. The amount of information that they are collecting I think is on par of Temu and Tik Tok. They'll hand it all over to anyone who asks, no court order.
@@sustainablejungle There's no reason to download an app just to buy something for the consumer. They just want to sell your info to marketers. I personally refuse to download an app. They want my money more than I want their products.
The only permission the Android app from the Google Play Store requests - optionally - is location. Different versions have been found on other unofficial app stores that do request different permissions. They are sometimes digitally signed with the same signing key as the official app, but there are many explanations why this may be the case, including theft of Temu's signing keys, as was done by the operators of the Stuxnet malware.
@@sustainablejungle Maybe a "danger phone" is in order if you ever need to do another video on a sketchy app. Basically just a cheap smartphone without much (if any) info on it. Don't even need a SIM card for it.
It's kind of amazing how basically every e-commerce business in China is exactly the same: platform that relies heavily on a massive blitz of false advertising, sells cheap knockoff products that use stolen IP, hazardous materials, and slave labor, and embeds malware/spyware in their app and website. That basically describes Temu/Pinduoduo, Alibaba/Aliexpress, Shein, Wish, Tiktok, and now its infected Amazon, Etsy, and eBay as well. Every one of them makes another argument for decoupling.
They won't. Because they're all capitalists. The US companies partnering with them are making millions just hosting them. And people will not stop using these services because they don't care how products get to them. They just want to "haul" and the companies want profit and market share. You said this like the US actually cares about any of that. They do not.
I'll keep buying from all these Chinese ecommerce businesses, cuz their knockoffs are way better value for money than whatever you can get here. Most things you find in the West come from China anyway, but are 10 times more expensive because you need to pay the middle man.
It’s interesting, the appeal is limited for me because I’ve seen the low quality that comes from sites like this- is it a good deal if it ends up being garbage? On top of that, it really freaks me out that they’re selling things with batteries in them - lithium ion battery fires are really serious and a super big hazard.
Agreed it's definitely not a good deal if it ends up being garbage, but I think there are differences here depending on what you're shopping for. Some products are just inherently less prone to breaking and have more longevity. For instance, poorly made clothing won't stand up to more than a couple of wear, but say, a mug, would still likely be comparable in durability as a more expensive one just by nature of the materials. So in some respects, I get the appear for items like that but agreed, there is absolutely zero inventive to buy things like fashion and electronics that you know just aren't going to last more than a year at best. Again, not me suggesting we buy these things from Temu! Just understanding the appeal for some types of things.
There's so much danger in these knockoff products that it's terrifying. I genuinely doubt there's anything they sell that's lead-free, as you said those lithium batteries are a fire waiting to happen, most of the cheap electronics have power adapters that will catch fire or cause dangerous shocks.
@@sustainablejungleas someone who has made pottery I wholeheartedly disagree. The clay used will vary, the glazes will vary, and so on. Glazes, like paint, could contain lead and such. But also a good quality clay will hold up well and not chip easily. Most of the cheap mugs sold in a variety of shops are thin and crack, break, and chip easily.
@@krimsonskye💯 My husband and I love coffee mugs and hoodies lol. The difference between a garbage mug and a truly artisan made mug is HUGE!! I'm currently eyeing one right now from a local maker at our market. It's $40, gorgeous coloring and yet simple and so solid in your hand it's insane! It's that mug that noone else dare touch because you treasure it so much! 😆💕 Yeah, there's a difference! I had a guy once say to me, "I can buy that same soap at Walmart for two bucks!" 🙄🤦♀️ 😂 Ok, you go on now and find it and I'll wait 😂😂 BTW, how's that itchy skin you were just talking about?! 🤔
All the goods I've bought on Temu have been really good quality. I have 8 industrial sewing machines. Recently I needed a roller presser foot to do a leather item. One foot in Cape Town from a long established industrial supplier was quoted at R 1000.00. I bought 4 presser feet for a Singer heavy industrial for R 760.00. The quality is fantastic, these are well engineered and looks exactly like the expensive one quoted at the shop. So I would suggest you have never bought from Temu and have not a cooking clue what you talking about.
Here's what really worries me. When I find something on Etsy, I often do an image search to make sure it's really handmade and not from a drop shipper. But with Temu ripping off designs, I can't tell if I'm looking at a stolen design on Temu or a mass-produced item on Etsy. It's infuriating.
The first I ever heard of Temu was the ads here on YT. Those alone convinced me to never even visit their site, let alone shop there! The line "Now I believe I can have it!" just threw up so many red flags - consumerism as some sort of self-fulfillment. Really wretched.
Agreed on the temptation. I'm pretty much good with avoiding cheap polyester clothing, because it just makes me sweat and feel icky. Also would never buy stuff like a knockoff Stanley cup, as there's no guarantee it would be safe to use, and also I don't see any point in the Stanley cup mania. However I decorate my planner with stickers and washi, and both Wish and Temu offer like 100 stickers for very little money. They have nice designs - probably stolen - so I've deffinitely been tempted. I also assume stickers wouldn't be such a huge health hazard, as you handle them fairly briefly. What stopped me from ordering were the shipping costs on Wish, and then I started to also think how overwhelming it would be with a huge load of stickers, but how many of them I'd really be using? So I figured buying locally from small businesses and artists can give me exactly what I want to use, and despite being able to purchase less stickers, there's a chance a lot in the bunch of 100 would go to waste anyway, or I'd need to sell them, which is always a hassle.
I'm also a crafter so those were the things that tempted me, too! Their price on embroidery hoops (my main hobby) is insane but like you, I just had to tell myself that I have plenty of hoops to last me for at least another year of projects. And at the rate I use them, I can easily afford to buy better, more ethically sourced ones when I do need more. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
That's why they are preferable. I never buy at Amazon because of the middle man. AliExpress is my go to for cheap stuff that I was looking for. They're a life saver.
What I want is an app to buy clothes, tools, appliances etc the way they used to be made before the 1960s. Super heavy duty, high quality, will last a lifetime.
Wow - thank you so much for this super kind gesture!!! So glad it was helpful! We're gonna publish a video early next year on alternative platforms for sellers so hopefully that will give you some alternate suggestions to try!
Great information here, with a Temu ad ironically underneath. Also, your speaking speed here is perfectly normal and, if anything, on the slow side (and great cadence for listening).
8:39 Dropshippers from China utilize international rates set by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) run by the United Nations. The US financially subsidizes their shipping through this Union with our tax dollars because China is still classified by them as a "developing nation". This is not how they openly describe what they do, but if you look at the details of how it works, that is the reality. And that isn't the only international postal fund we are involved in to help "balance the imbalance" (redistribute our wealth) around the world, that's just the most notable. So, the money you work for is sent to a country producing a large portion of the world's goods, so that they can send cheap garbage items that were produced essentially (and sometimes literally) by slave labor, purchased for pennies, here, which will then almost immediately break and go to a landfill or, if it's clothing, will get sent to places like Ghana to litter their beaches. It's gross how the government misuses our money, and how the US has an overconsumption addiction.
I have never shopped temu and after watching this, I never will. Thanks for sharing this information! It's exactly what I feared it was ( yes, temu, I could tell that little handheld cow thingy was generated by Ai).
Equally as bad are the dropshippers on Amazon and other platforms that are just reselling products from Alibaba, Shein, Temu etc. They buy in bulk, remarket them and slap a huge price hike on them.
And that's been happening since long before these websites exist. All the stuff you pay for at Walmart or Amazon comes from the same places as these items. You were just forced to pay multiple middle men before these sites came along.
I did a Temu “experiment” order over the summer. I ordered some cute bee patterned slip on shoes, a pair of earrings, and some stickers. My order was probably under $15.00. The shoes stretched out so badly the first time I wore them I was struggling to keep them on my feet as I walked. The earrings came apart after the first wearing….I was able to fix them. The stickers were fine. That was my first and last purchase.
I bought from Temu once, when they first came out. It was a pack of like 50 stickers for something like ¢.46. I was already suspicious cause of the price, but then the stickers arrived and I recognized some of the art on a few of them, and immediately was like "ah, so its stolen." Have not purchased from them since.
It isn’t shameful to have shopped at forever21 or primark. Everyone should shop at the best possible place they can afford. When I was at college, the only place I could afford was Primark and I shopped twice a year for some clothes. I couldn’t really afford the clothes from Primark either to be honest. Sustainable was what I made it, I am sure there’s still T-shirts knocking about in a box somewhere from my college years. I wore the clothes until they were falling apart and even then they became pyjamas instead of thrown out. The difference also was i shopped in store and only what I needed. Temu encourages shopping for every random thing ever and clothes etc have tested positive for lead and arsenic. I have noticed these days that the quality on a lot of clothes from Primark has changed with the prices going up - in good and bad ways. The basics are no longer as good of quality, but the more fashionable clothes have improved. I still buy their pyjamas. Otherwise, I just choose brands based on fit, quality of materials and construction, fashion longevity (aka classic styles) and of course sustainability practices. I can afford to now.
I made a few Temu orders months ago. The pushy sales tactics and spinning wheel were so tacky, but most of the stuff arrived and functioned and was super cheap. But after watching your video, I can’t in good conscience patronize the site again. Thank you. Good job. Integrity is a far better possession than a cheap knock off product made with slave labor. Thank you.
I bought a few orders of bits and pieces from Temu, and most of the stuff was reasonable quality and useful, but I've no desire to shop there any more. Especially because their promotional coupon system is so annoying.
Most everything in every store is made in a 3rd world country because 1st world countries don't bother much with manufacturing anymore. The only difference in buying from Walmart and Temu is how many middlemen you pay before it gets to you.
So the reason why these products are cheap in Temu, is because Temu force the sellers to sell below the cost of making the products as Temu tries to appeal to customers. The sellers of course can't keep up with the extremely low profit margins that could kill their businesses...so the quality of products are forced to be lowered hence broken items or items that will break easily. And it gets worse from there, as Temu punish sellers for any returned item with a higher debt amount (about 5 times + 1000 yuan) compared to the price Temu sets these items. You would think that missing parts are the fault of Temu sellers, but all the required parts are usually packaged in a box by sellers which Temu separates the parts and categorized according to their system. Any return because of missing parts are also charged onto the sellers. Items not sold within the time limit, every item gets a 500 yuan fine to sellers. After 7 days the items are destroyed without sellers' consent. As for what percentage Temu gets from sellers...this is actually unknown as Temu sets the prices and sellers don't see the final amount of sold items and final transaction amount.
There was a popular shopping app in the Middle East named Awok that sold incredibly dirt cheap stuff. It closed down during the pandemic and haven't reopened since. I can't help but think of that company when I see Wish, SheIn and Temu.
I never shopped at Temu and don't intend on, ever. I am at an age where I care more about buying things that will last me a decade than buying things that look cute and I won't care for in six months. Working with 3D printing also helps me wave off these temptations - most cheap crap I would buy I can just model and print myself and custom made to my necessities.
That's awesome! I have never personally had the opportunity to play in 3D printing, but the tech holds so much potential! Love how you're utilizing it to prevent unnecessary purchases.
I haven't used Temu and I refuse to. It screams scam and I do not trust it. Unfortunately, I have shopped from Shien a few times. Out of the pure necessity of being broke. Surprisingly I have gotten some good finds and wear those clothes regularly, somehow they're still holding up!
Exactly and that's what matters! We're not all perfect. I did my fair share of Forever 21 shopping when I was younger but I've taken great care to actually take care of the clothes and some I'm actually still wearing today like 10 years later!
I never trusted Temu from the start. To have prices that low they're either making them with very suspicious materials and/or the employees who make them are getting paid next to nothing.
The exact same things are sold on Amazon and the products come from the exact same place. I ordered from Temu, and I was happy with everything I got. At first I thought the quality wouldn’t be very good but surprisingly it was just as good and in some cases better.
Interesting video! Subscribed 🙂 Also, to add to the sins of Temu, they listed something as knitted when it's pretty clear it's crochet... 😆Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Worst part about that is that while we have figured out how to automate knitting, crochet is always done by hand. Someone was paid basically nothing to handmake that
@@regiergal Yes! when you add the material and the details and time needed to make this, and you pay $6.18 for it, they're probably getting paid less than $1 to make it.
@@sustainablejungle I love embroidery too! I call myself multicraftual. I hope you didn't take it as criticism, it just jumped out at me because the two crafts are always being mixed up! And I suspect I have pedantic tendencies... 😂
My favorite TEMU privacy violation was when they used to (and might still do) access your clipboard data. Lets hope you didn't copy anything sensitive.
Only thing I ever bought off there was baohong watercolour paper as it’s a reputable 100% cotton brand. It was far cheaper than buying it in my own country. However, after seeing multiple videos like this I decided to delete my app and never buy off there again. I’ll just source the watercolour paper from local shops where I can.
I put some stuff into a basket from them was considering taking a leap of faith, and then never bought it. It was relentless in trying to get me to complete the sale so, I DELETED them.
Never shopped there, never will. Same with Shein. The amount of toxic stuff they’ve found in the products from drop shipping companies is staggering and there’s no way I can support such environmental and humanitarian atrociousness. However I agree that some products are very tempting. They pop up in my Google searches every now and then and often look lovely - especially the ones where the product photo is obviously stolen from an artist.
Temu is absolutely hemorrhaging money with the current strategy and no amount of blitz scaling is going to make it competitive, especially as more and more people get wise to their labour practices and how garbage the products are. They're going to end up having to raise prices at some point and the bubble will pop when that happens.
There's no such thing as ethical commerce with China. I have to say that this video was actually surprisingly uplifting in a way, it was nice to hear different ways that people can avoid relying on these dangerous and environmentally unsound businesses, and kind of reassuring to hear that governments are actually trying to take action against them finally.
@tashajoykin5192 There's no such thing as non bloody society under capitalism. Violence is already being inflicted on billions. Tens of millions end every year due to lack of access to food water and Healthcare. Not to mention victims of imperialism.
Ive learned the hard way that buying quality means buying more now to save money later. Ive had leather boots that fell apart a year after buying them for example. Instead of buying a new pair, it's better for ke to get the really expensive boots now so that they'll actually last. Buy it nice or buy it twice.
I had a pair of "Danner" namebrand waterproof boots, the same ones law enforcement gets issued. Brand new they are like $400 for the pair which indeed sounds insane. However, they lasted over 12 YEARS in comparison to cheap wally-world boots that last at best 12 months. (most only 6)
Society is OBSESSED with overconsumption! 50+ years from now this will be looked upon one of USA most embarrassing times that we were so jaded and led astray based off our greed and innate nature to want more more more. I hope it's reaching the tipping point soon.
I guess I'm the exception here. I really like Temu and I tell you why. I live on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. There are little shopping possibilities here and especially hobby crafts are not to find here as it is a tropical climate so you can only buy barbecues and bikinis. I am a really crafty person and since I discovered Temu my life has gotten so much better as Temu delivers here on the island. Now I am making candles, soaps, I do crochet and paint/draw. 🥰
So you're ok with the slave labour thing? I’m trying to be nice here but the hypocrisy of those defending their decision to purchase from Temu is extraordinary. Mind you, I’m writing this on a smartphone worth several £££ which I suspect has parts manufactured by cheap labour. So there's no escape short of stopping our over consumption of stuff more generally.
Be careful with the soaps and candle material, because China has recently had food scams on the news. They are fake ingredients. I sometimes buy food products there but take caution for scams.
Aliexpress is better than temu. There are actually good items from decent Chinese brands on there. Temu is mostly just generic stuff pumped out without any form of brand attribution.
I’m with you-craft supplies are less than half the resold prices we see in our retail stores. Plus a much better selection and easier to sort site for items such as beads. Of course a customer has to be careful to check size of the items and avoid ones that will say faux, imitation or artificial. But if you’re careful they have some nice products.
I mean I understand the general appeal from an immediate price perspective. Times are tough, and when people can see they can get something for pennies, they just buy without considering that that item will likely last FAR less long than something of equivalent from a quality source (thus ending up costing them way more in the long run when they need to replace it). These companies are just cashing in on the vulnerabilities opened up by the poor current economy. More consumers just need to step back and realize that if they don't buy anything period, it's cheaper than buying junk.
Since you ask, around the time Temu was released, I ordered from there twice before I knew it was bad. Both pretty huge orders because I used to have abysmal spending habits. I then saw iiluminaughtii’s video essay (No I do not support her anymore.) about Temu and immediately deleted my account and started informing my friends that I knew used it.
I would never buy consumables or cosmetics off someplace like Temu or Shein, but I've ordered off both recently and am pleased with my purchases. Here's the thing. I used to be morally against these sites. But then I realized I'm not doing anything by buying stuff from other places. Everything we buy is manufactured somewhere else. And the people manufacturing it are not going to be paid more because you paid more for it. This goes for everything from clothes to prescription glasses. Higher end brands are made by the same underpaid hands, in the same bad factories, with the same materials. When you buy from a store like Walmart or Amazon, you're buying the same products, you're just paying 3-4 middlemen for buying and storing the items. When you buy off Temu or Shein, you're paying far fewer middlemen. I take care of my things, they last forever. So I don't feel bad "over consuming". I know these things won't end up in a landfill any time soon.
Walmart is terrible but at least they sell cotton t shirts and such. I would bet there's more cotton in their work jeans than any jeans from temu. If you care about the longevity of the clothing at all
I remember when I first started to get spammed with Temu ads on my Solitaire app (disregard how aged this may make me sound) and being so put off by how frequent they were I swore off ever shopping with them. Petty grievances coming in clutch to avoid another fast "fashion" app, I suppose :').
The only thing I have to say, and that is not to defend Temu (or AE, Wish, any other similar garbage service) but just that US postage is ridiculous compared to a lot of places. I haven't shipped to or from the US in a long time, but I remember it cost me more to ship a small item to me in Australia than it did to express a large and heavy item to America at one point. I know I could ship my earrings to America for $2AUD but they'd ship in the 3-6 business weeks AE would ship. But this is pre-covid. Either way free shipping is wild, your point is still true and valid!! Anyway not to take away from anything in the video, I just fixate on really pointless US/AUS cost comparisons lol
Being in the US I don't get buying an item from say UK or Japan maybe it has to go through expensive customs but Canada is maybe $10 USD in customs, any food products from Mexico are taxed $1, and shipping from China is always free.
Last year I made several Temu purchases. Most of the items broke or gave me headaches when I wore them. Then I learned how awful Temu is so this year I’ve been going out of my way to shop small businesses and thrift. I’ve found way cooler things that way without supporting slave labor.
My ex was addicted to shopping on Temu. She managed to buy so much that even at Temu prices it was a financial burden. She really depended on their return policy. I would guess at least 40% of her orders went right back to Temu.
They went right back to a random warehouse and then MAYBE made it back to Temu. Usually it's more cost effective for Temu, shein and Amazon to just put it in a warehouse full of returns and allow people to come buy it in big blind boxes.
I've never installed the app because if they're gonna be that pushy that puts me off. However, I have browsed the site and filled my basket, head full of craft ideas and budget decorating ideas, but I've always asked myself "what am I doing, why is this stuff so cheap?" before putting in my details and actually buying anything. And I've always had fun doing that! Browsing the mass amount of Stuff they have is exciting, hunting for unique items. But it's not worth it. It's cheap for a reason (or multiple reasons, from poor quality to being made through slavery), and that's always stopped me from actually purchasing anything.
I made one small order from temu when it was newer because I was also tricked by their methods thinking I had to order right then and there to get the best deal. When I got my order I wasn’t expecting much, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as it was. Pretty much all items were completely unusable because they were just so cheaply made. Safe to say I was never tempted to buy there again.
The shipping thing is like this: Lower currency countries have lower shipping costs. Your shipping costs 30$. Theirs cost 30 of their currency. It really is cheaper. Also there's Universal Postal Union thing, where richer countries are paying more postal fees than "developing" economies.
Seems like the Temu wave hit just as I fell into some unhealthy habits (including excessive online shopping) earlier this year. Ironically, I was never much of a shopper before. Anyhoo, I have quit shopping there (and other places...cuz Amazon has many of the same products and practices) and I'm using videos like this to stiffen my resolve. New subscriber here binging lots of your content as I clean, reorganize and declutter.
I know I already commented but you mentioned the sales that go by fast. Ya that is what got me into it. They had count downs on some of them and they had count downs to when free shipping would end but when the counter reached 0 nothing changed and it just stared over each time.
I'm in some budget wedding Facebook groups and it's wild how many people brag about the "deals" they get off of temu and shein. I don't comment because it's counter productive, but I think it's really sad so many brides care more about cheap decor than slave labour
That is sad and kudos to you for recognizing that, but agree it's often not productive to mention anything in those situations 😑 It's a shame, too, because there are so many more sustainable and unique ways to save a little money on wedding planning. I follow someone on Instagram who got married last year and decorated her whole wedding and reception using thrifted DIY stuff and it was so gorgeous!
I've bought a lot from Temu, simply because of the prices. I have been very pleased with almost everything and anything that was not as advertised or damaged, was immediately refunded. However, I have noticed the prices rising and the delivery times get longer. I buy most stuff online and Amazon has always been my "go to" and will always be for things I need immediately. I'm grateful for information like on this video which has convinced me of some of my concerns but I'm disabled, chronically ill and mostly confined to bed, so I don't have a lot of options. I buy secondhand from Vinted too although I don't sell as it's something I'm unable to do but we donate to charity shops.
i work at a bank, and have had so many members have cards compromised almost certainly because they can't stop shopping on temu. one member has had 3 cards in 6 months and only uses her card to shop in temu.
I knew most of this info but applaud you for exposing them. I refuse to buy there and have converted some friends and family to buy elsewhere because of everything you mentioned in your video. I have been tempted but never ever would buy from them.🍻🇦🇺👍
So that hat wasn't knit, it was crochet. There is a machine that knits, but none that crochets. Everything on the market that's crochet is hand made, which would make Temu an awful place because they are forcing people to crochet and sell it for cheap.
So you're right, that image is crochet however that in no way means what they are selling is crochet. I crochet and that image is stolen. It's been all over Pinterest for years. It's admittedly a very cool hat and also temu is 100% not selling anything even remotely like it in actuality because it would be way too time consuming to make. In this case, and pretty much only this case, I would believe temu and assume it's knit because it's probably cheaper to sew machine knit panels together than it is to crochet something from scratch.
@glitterberserker1029 and I assume it'll look absolutely nothing like the picture. Probably cheap pieces of yarn sewed together by a 9 year old and looks ridiculous on and gives you a rash. I mean what are people gonna do? Return it? Complain? Temu certainly doesn't care. Just another piece of something added to the giant trash piles slowly eating up our planet.
Temu is absolutely selling crochet items like that, as I’ve bought them. I bought several crochet items out of curiosity, and they are 100% handmade. God knows in what conditions these people are working.
I've never shopped at Shein, Temu, AlliExpress, Wish, or any of those places. Not because of a moral highground, but because I was always too broke for even those things. Plus I've never owned a credit card. Now I'm really glad I never have. Because I am very much an "ooo, shiny!" type of person. lol And with Dyscalculia it would be very easy to overlook how much money I was spending.
Pure lie. Temu do not sell everything. They have few things, vs aliexpress. I do use temu for small things, there is so far ok. Nothing worse then stuff from many online shops, or stores. And not all are cheep. Far from.
How true! It's pretty much the same junk sold on Amazon, usually (but not always) at a significantly better price. I buy from Temu if I'm not in a hurry.
I almost bit on Temu, I needed a dish drying rack, Temu showed one... it said I spun and won 6 free gifts. I though... ok too good to be true but maybe I did, maybe thats how they hook new users to give them some free shit. After selecting all my free gifts, at the very end it said "With minimum purchase of $240" ... I was like "AH HAH there it is!" .. closed, letft and never looked back... thank God they didn't get my CC info or anything
I am a maker and often search for tools, fasteners, etc online. TEMU takes up the 1st 50 results! So annoying!!!!! Not to mention being inundated with ads on all my socials! No use blocking them because they now do these colabs with their suppliers.
I refuse to buy a single thing from Temu. I hate their methods and the way their ads keep infiltrating my social media and internet searches. I wish I could block all their content permanently!
I have a family member who keeps giving my husband and son cheap weird shirts they buy off of temu. Such a great deal they say and real nice. They're weird and the fabric has so much static electricity when worn. This family member claims to hate shopping and not buying anything ever but keeps buying from temu.
My samsung phone came with the temu app auto installed which was incredibly irritating but I used to shop on their site (not app) back before they raised their prices. I usually had a good experience because Id buy stuff like home improvement tools or clothes in Asian sizes because the materials were higher quality than clothes in US sizes from their site and in some US retailers. Eventually I bought anything I might have used from them besides a few odds and ends. When they got to be almost the same price as amazon drop shippers I stopped all together. My identity was stolen a few months ago and Im pretty careful with stuff like that so Im not sure if temu was involved in that or not. Ive heard that people have had their identities stolen after shopping on temu but havent looked enough to see if thats true or not
A little insight on temu, alixpress shein etc shipping. I used to work in a shipping warehouse. Trucks from big shops would come in and we would stop what we were doing and empty them. They had priority. But the carts from temu. They would be in a corner. And throughout the week they would pile up. And once we had a moment to empty them. Which there were few of, because we were always understaffed and hat literally tens of thousands of packages to sort every evening. Only then we would empty the temu carts. And it was a hell. The packages are always just bags. Many items would move too much for scanners. Some would tear open. Or be too small. Everything was a different size and squished and mashed so you had to move them around a bit in order for it to work in the sorting machines we worked with. Anyways it seems like the chinese sellers have a special deal.
Temu ad on a video about how bad Temu is. To someone who would not make purchases off Temu and someone who don't shop that often, like less than a handful of times each year. Starting to think the purpose of all these ads is to annoy me because they are so painful to watch.
13:48 ah, the notorious 996 working system of working 72 hours a week, with only one day being the weekend. If you divide 380 hours a month by 28 days (counting all days of the week except Sunday: 30 days in a month - 4 Sundays = 28 days), you get about 13.5 hours for each workdays from Monday-Saturday.
Does it concern you that Starbucks cups lids can plastic containers all their food comes in etc seems to be as much garbage as temu and the Dollar tree? Genuine question I'm honestly asking cuz I don't know the answer to it but I feel like if I ask stuff people will attack me so I hope I don't get attacked for asking this
Yes it does! Which is actually why a big reason why I don't drink Starbucks period (the other being their coffee tastes awful if you drink it black with no sugar like I do, but that's just my taste😉). And if I do get coffee out at a comparable coffee shop, I always bring my own stainless steel coffee thermos.
I just dump on Temu at every opportunity and encourage others to do the same. They're playing the long game but everyone else is paying for it in both the short term and the long term despite the illusion that you're getting stuff (read -substandard crap) cheap. Thank for this great vid.
The business model where you run at a loss to gain market share and get rid of competitors is what Chinese furniture manufacturers used to decimate the US furniture manufacturing and cause untold damage to communities throughout the Appalachians and other areas. But remember, governments let this happen. Amazon kicked this off. And influencers doing hauls frequently. And consumers make this happen by not supporting local industry and grossly over consuming. We don’t need that much stuff people
Very true! The bundling trend of stuff these types of sites do drives me crazy. Just the other day, I was looking for a matte for a memorial photo frame and couldn't one find locally. So I went to Amazon and it's all like 5+ packs. I just need one! They practically force people to overconsume. And Temu is even worse with some of their ridiculous numbered sets of things.
Two things bothered me about Emu, the reccomendthis to friend data grab requests so often repeated. And i believed reports that Temu pressured suppliers to discount prices after the goods were moved to where Temu had control of the goods. So to be clear, if you as a smaller supplier set a price and then were pressured to change the price, then you would be hurt financially. And some people were hurt in this way. Is Temu still doing this? I do not know. And a third thing bothered me. If Temu is merely the marketplace, then they should morally not set prices.
I have never even opened TEMU, I refuse. Those super cheap products feel gross. I felt that with stuff from Amazon and Aliexpress. I do still rarely use Amazon sometimes because you can still find some okay brands there, despite it mostly being trash, and Aliexpress is good for certain electronic components as you can buy from the same factories that produce things for big brand companies. But even those better products are probably still made in unethical ways, so I don't know.
The problem with Temu is people throw away money looking for a deal when the intuitive mind says "nothing this cheap can be good." Just like buying pallets of returns: on the one hand you want to save money and on the other you want to childishly gloat over others how you got a good cordless drill for nothing (you just had to spend $450 on a pallet of returned equipment bags, drill bits and lampshades).
So I understand that Temu does unethical things and a lot of things are not good but honestly I shop on Temu and I have gotten amazing products. I have gotten more good products than bad products. I understand why people don’t like Temu but not all people are able to buy full price and expensive items and people still want to shop and enjoy things. Inflation is very unfortunate it makes the companies that are small or genuine in a lot of ways way too expensive. I never had any issues with temu. It’s not a scam yes they push people to buy but as long as you are smart and don’t play the coupon games and just buy what you want or need it is fine. It’s true i actually got several items on Temu that were wholesale and made from different companies. I really wish people would understand that inflation is the problem. If things were not so expensive people would be able to be able to afford other smaller companies. Sometimes people don’t have much of a choice because they don’t have the money to buy full price items and can barely afford rent. It’s survival for me i am smart about it and i only order things i need and will use and I don’t do the coupon wheels or buy more than i want to buy. Plus as long as you are smart it’s safe. I understand that knowing people are forced to work or are being tortured in the world is difficult but every country is run differently. It’s not right to compare and demonize another country. I agree it’s messed up to torture people. But I will continue to shop on temu because i hate how inflation has ruined shopping and enjoying having a new shirt or something for regular people.
i remember seeing the superbowl ad when they basically launched in america and i could immediately tell it was garbage. never even looked at their website, and i never will!
I’ve never liked temu, I mean I grew up being told if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. It didn’t take any internet sifting to find buttloads of information AGAINST temu, talking about their data usage, their waste, their warehouses and the state of their employees. I was quite disappointed that so many people just ate it up as if we don’t live in a time that’s been pushing a cleaner lifestyle and world.
I have yet to have an issue with anything I have bought from temu. Yes, it's cheaply made clothing, but it's all fad products which means you don't need it to last more than one season anyway. And at the end of that season I'll take the fabric and I'll make something else out of it. Baby doll clothing or something for my grandchildren. It will get a long life with me.
One of the immediate things I noticed about Temu was how they just want you to download their app, which I'm glad you mentioned it here. I'm convinced that they can sell everything so cheap is because they make their real money off of selling YOU via data collection.
A lot of apps actually do that. Like. A lot a lot. Even just like....games do this now. I'm pretty sure it's one of the main places folks are scraping up folks personal information from since everyone openly talked about the fact that they don't read the TOS.
what data do they collect about me through their app?
i dont think they could realistically make enough off data to justify even the shipping, my guess is it's more doing what a lot of tech companies do: intentionally running at a loss to corner the market, then work out profitability later.
@thatspiderbyte They're likely only using that information to flood you with more and more ads tbh They definitely track more information than a shopping apps needs though. I consider any data collection from a shopping app super sus though.
Oh yeah, the second I saw the word TEMU, I knew it would be data-thieving garbage. Their shit is poisonous too. The lead and other chemicals coming out of that hellhole are ridiculous.
No offense, but this is the bare basic standard of intelligent consumption.
I've never shopped at Temu, but one of my employees is seriously hooked on it. What for me is more disappointing is the vast number of dropshippers who have taken over Etsy. It used to be a great place to get handmade gifts for loved ones, but it's hard to find anything handmade anymore.
I know! As I mention in the video, I run a small upcycled handmade-to-order business on Etsy and the platform is becoming so riddled with dropshippers that us actual small artisans are really suffering for it. And now with Etsy's new algorithm change starting next month, it's only going to penalize small shops and reward big dropshippers even more. So sad and disappointing.
the small business and local artists are pushed out with the high etsy costs that happened a year ago, so now it's a platform for large businesses now...which is no different than your local walmart.
I was hooked on it too until recently
@@clthomasexactly true about the Walmart analogy
All roads lead to profit seeking. An inevitability of capitalism.
It really makes me angry when parents buy childrens toys from there. They have no idea what is in those toys and whether they're safe. It's negligence
Great point! It's one thing if people are assuming the risks and buying things for themselves, but children have no say nor the self awareness to second guess the safety of their toys.
Yea. I wouldn't be surprised if lots of things have lead or other substances in then.
So true!
@@8honeybunnie8The German channel Igor's Lab bought some things some time ago. Nothing for children as far as I remember, but I think one part contained arsenic.
Pet toys/supplies too, they sell so many things that will literally kill your pets if you use them.
The first time I saw their "shop like a billionaire ad" it showed so many red flags. Their catch phrase itself is borderline dystopian. What I really hear is "Shop like the ones who have immorally hoarded and amassed more wealth than they could ever use at the expense of the planet and everyone else, and buy our unethically and cheaply made products and stolen designs that billionaires would never even touch, and that result in even more waste and exploitation! But don't think of that, think of the catchy song!"
I used to buy from temu pretty often. I quit buying from them because I realized how wasteful it is. So much plastic, and the products are poorly packaged and end up getting to you broken, warped, the wrong size, etc. I was throwing out so many things because they are hoping that we'll say "oh well it was only a dollar I'll buy a new one" and into the landfill it goes. I've gotten some nice things from temu here and there that I still use, but I don't plan to ever shop there again.
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with them! I think that's probably a great way to sum up the platform: Yes, you might get some useful and even nice things from it, but that number is probably going to pale compared to the amount of junk you get.
same!🤚🏿
Temu is a hit and miss
I’ve never even opened the temu website, let alone downloaded the app or purchased anything from them. It was pretty clear to me that it was a very problematic brand from its inception, so I’ve stayed clear. But I don’t think I’m their target audience, as I’m old and am more interested in getting rid of stuff than acquiring it at this point in my life.
My college age children have also rejected the site and all the sites selling fast fashion and cheap plastic objects that no one needs, which is who temu is targeting, I think. But one child loves thrifting and upcycling and the other just isn’t a consumer of much beyond books and pens. I guess we’ve taught them well.
I am also concerned about the rampant consumerism that’s overtaken so many people now. Do people really believe they need to buy a new wardrobe every few months? Do they really need to buy dozens of candles made by children or prisoners in “education camps?” Does anyone stop to think why products are so cheap on temu? Do they not wonder about the app they install on their phone? Who are they listening to that tells them this is the way to live? It’s all so alien to me.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response on this and I wholeheartedly agree that rampent consumerism is one of the largest problems we face. I think it stems from the fact that we've just become so disconnected with where everything we buy comes from (clothes, accessories, even food!) that most people just see the price and buy, without considering who is making up for that low cost. I think if you asked most people, they would say they were against slave labor, and yet their buying aptternjs don't reflect that, which I think means people just literally don't even think about it. That's something we're trying to do here is provide a call to action for people to think for a just a second before they buy. Thank you for doing just that!
No. No one thinks about anything anymore. Look who just got voted in for president.
But, in an interesting twist of fate, the same uneducated people who voted for him will only see themselves paying more for absolutely everything, particularly products from China, which means sites like Temu will get far less business once that $6 knickknack is now $12+.
Critical thinking is practically nonexistent in the United States. People are incapable of thinking beyond what they can see and feel in their immediate surroundings.
me too. ive never downloaded the app (i'd rather shit in my hands and clap, so to speak) and ive never visited the website. ive seen their ads a LOT and i immediately thought it was too good to be true and that something fishy had to have been going on for it to appear too good to be true to begin with. never shopped from them, never will, and i appreciate SJ's video about it as it helps educate others about how fishy and weird temu is.
How is anyone surprised? I took one look at Temu when it came out and immediately went "This is just Wish 2 electric boogaloo."
Wish, Shein, Aliexpress, and annoyingly enough, Etsy as well. The people I personally know who are obsessed with Temu and Shein is outstanding.
I mean, the app permissions ALONE should be a deterrent, it can access ALL your info and you have to agree to those permissions to download it. Gross.
So scary. That's why I refused to download the app even for research purposes for this video. Desktop on a secure browser only for me!
Also why I deleted the Meta suite. I read the all the terms and conditions I had to click through 4 different sets. The amount of information that they are collecting I think is on par of Temu and Tik Tok. They'll hand it all over to anyone who asks, no court order.
@@sustainablejungle There's no reason to download an app just to buy something for the consumer.
They just want to sell your info to marketers.
I personally refuse to download an app. They want my money more than I want their products.
The only permission the Android app from the Google Play Store requests - optionally - is location. Different versions have been found on other unofficial app stores that do request different permissions. They are sometimes digitally signed with the same signing key as the official app, but there are many explanations why this may be the case, including theft of Temu's signing keys, as was done by the operators of the Stuxnet malware.
@@sustainablejungle Maybe a "danger phone" is in order if you ever need to do another video on a sketchy app.
Basically just a cheap smartphone without much (if any) info on it. Don't even need a SIM card for it.
It's kind of amazing how basically every e-commerce business in China is exactly the same: platform that relies heavily on a massive blitz of false advertising, sells cheap knockoff products that use stolen IP, hazardous materials, and slave labor, and embeds malware/spyware in their app and website. That basically describes Temu/Pinduoduo, Alibaba/Aliexpress, Shein, Wish, Tiktok, and now its infected Amazon, Etsy, and eBay as well. Every one of them makes another argument for decoupling.
It’s a very effective selling strategy, most people don’t care enough about the products they buy so they just buy the cheapest version
They won't. Because they're all capitalists. The US companies partnering with them are making millions just hosting them. And people will not stop using these services because they don't care how products get to them. They just want to "haul" and the companies want profit and market share.
You said this like the US actually cares about any of that. They do not.
When Trump and Musk are done, i will trust china more.
Wait and see.
I'll keep buying from all these Chinese ecommerce businesses, cuz their knockoffs are way better value for money than whatever you can get here. Most things you find in the West come from China anyway, but are 10 times more expensive because you need to pay the middle man.
Most intelligent comment in this comment section!
It’s interesting, the appeal is limited for me because I’ve seen the low quality that comes from sites like this- is it a good deal if it ends up being garbage? On top of that, it really freaks me out that they’re selling things with batteries in them - lithium ion battery fires are really serious and a super big hazard.
Agreed it's definitely not a good deal if it ends up being garbage, but I think there are differences here depending on what you're shopping for. Some products are just inherently less prone to breaking and have more longevity. For instance, poorly made clothing won't stand up to more than a couple of wear, but say, a mug, would still likely be comparable in durability as a more expensive one just by nature of the materials. So in some respects, I get the appear for items like that but agreed, there is absolutely zero inventive to buy things like fashion and electronics that you know just aren't going to last more than a year at best. Again, not me suggesting we buy these things from Temu! Just understanding the appeal for some types of things.
There's so much danger in these knockoff products that it's terrifying. I genuinely doubt there's anything they sell that's lead-free, as you said those lithium batteries are a fire waiting to happen, most of the cheap electronics have power adapters that will catch fire or cause dangerous shocks.
@@sustainablejungleas someone who has made pottery I wholeheartedly disagree. The clay used will vary, the glazes will vary, and so on. Glazes, like paint, could contain lead and such. But also a good quality clay will hold up well and not chip easily. Most of the cheap mugs sold in a variety of shops are thin and crack, break, and chip easily.
@@krimsonskye💯 My husband and I love coffee mugs and hoodies lol.
The difference between a garbage mug and a truly artisan made mug is HUGE!! I'm currently eyeing one right now from a local maker at our market. It's $40, gorgeous coloring and yet simple and so solid in your hand it's insane! It's that mug that noone else dare touch because you treasure it so much! 😆💕
Yeah, there's a difference!
I had a guy once say to me, "I can buy that same soap at Walmart for two bucks!" 🙄🤦♀️ 😂
Ok, you go on now and find it and I'll wait 😂😂 BTW, how's that itchy skin you were just talking about?! 🤔
All the goods I've bought on Temu have been really good quality. I have 8 industrial sewing machines. Recently I needed a roller presser foot to do a leather item. One foot in Cape Town from a long established industrial supplier was quoted at R 1000.00. I bought 4 presser feet for a Singer heavy industrial for R 760.00. The quality is fantastic, these are well engineered and looks exactly like the expensive one quoted at the shop. So I would suggest you have never bought from Temu and have not a cooking clue what you talking about.
Here's what really worries me. When I find something on Etsy, I often do an image search to make sure it's really handmade and not from a drop shipper. But with Temu ripping off designs, I can't tell if I'm looking at a stolen design on Temu or a mass-produced item on Etsy. It's infuriating.
Yes! Unfortunately you have to do major in depth research to figure that out and it's extremely frustrating for both sellers and buyers!
You were buying drop shipped items and temu exposed them while providing them to you at the actual cost
@@Railios103 Most likely, yes. But I HAVE met artists who have had their designs stolen.
Thanks! I learned so much after accidentally finding this video. I’m going to check out more of your shows and have liked AND subscribed!
Glad it was helpful and welcome! Thank you so much!
The first I ever heard of Temu was the ads here on YT. Those alone convinced me to never even visit their site, let alone shop there! The line "Now I believe I can have it!" just threw up so many red flags - consumerism as some sort of self-fulfillment. Really wretched.
Agreed on the temptation. I'm pretty much good with avoiding cheap polyester clothing, because it just makes me sweat and feel icky. Also would never buy stuff like a knockoff Stanley cup, as there's no guarantee it would be safe to use, and also I don't see any point in the Stanley cup mania.
However I decorate my planner with stickers and washi, and both Wish and Temu offer like 100 stickers for very little money. They have nice designs - probably stolen - so I've deffinitely been tempted. I also assume stickers wouldn't be such a huge health hazard, as you handle them fairly briefly.
What stopped me from ordering were the shipping costs on Wish, and then I started to also think how overwhelming it would be with a huge load of stickers, but how many of them I'd really be using? So I figured buying locally from small businesses and artists can give me exactly what I want to use, and despite being able to purchase less stickers, there's a chance a lot in the bunch of 100 would go to waste anyway, or I'd need to sell them, which is always a hassle.
I'm also a crafter so those were the things that tempted me, too! Their price on embroidery hoops (my main hobby) is insane but like you, I just had to tell myself that I have plenty of hoops to last me for at least another year of projects. And at the rate I use them, I can easily afford to buy better, more ethically sourced ones when I do need more. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!
Don't people know this is the exact same crap sold on Amazon, only without the middleman?
That's why they are preferable. I never buy at Amazon because of the middle man. AliExpress is my go to for cheap stuff that I was looking for. They're a life saver.
Every time I see a Temu haul video on UA-cam I comment about how the app has access to everything in your phone.
That's googles fault. They normalized spyware and adware.
@@Annie261. don't put anything important on your phone then, they can have everything on my phone. I don't do banking on it etc.
Don't you know how to control your apps permissions? Are you safe on You tube? 😂😂😂😂
What I want is an app to buy clothes, tools, appliances etc the way they used to be made before the 1960s. Super heavy duty, high quality, will last a lifetime.
The stove/oven in my house is from the 50s. The washer and dryer are at least 30 years old. No computer chips. Easily repaired by me.
No profit if they last forever. so they have to make them of lesser quality. Look at M & S their closes were good quality and last but not any longer.
Thanks! 🙏 I’m closing my Temu account after watching this video. You made some excellent points
Wow - thank you so much for this super kind gesture!!! So glad it was helpful! We're gonna publish a video early next year on alternative platforms for sellers so hopefully that will give you some alternate suggestions to try!
@ thanks for your kind reply and words
Great information here, with a Temu ad ironically underneath. Also, your speaking speed here is perfectly normal and, if anything, on the slow side (and great cadence for listening).
Thank you so much for that! (And UGH to the Temu ad- I wish UA-cam gave creators license to control what kinds of ads they show on their videos...)
8:39 Dropshippers from China utilize international rates set by the Universal Postal Union (UPU) run by the United Nations. The US financially subsidizes their shipping through this Union with our tax dollars because China is still classified by them as a "developing nation". This is not how they openly describe what they do, but if you look at the details of how it works, that is the reality. And that isn't the only international postal fund we are involved in to help "balance the imbalance" (redistribute our wealth) around the world, that's just the most notable. So, the money you work for is sent to a country producing a large portion of the world's goods, so that they can send cheap garbage items that were produced essentially (and sometimes literally) by slave labor, purchased for pennies, here, which will then almost immediately break and go to a landfill or, if it's clothing, will get sent to places like Ghana to litter their beaches. It's gross how the government misuses our money, and how the US has an overconsumption addiction.
I have never shopped temu and after watching this, I never will. Thanks for sharing this information! It's exactly what I feared it was ( yes, temu, I could tell that little handheld cow thingy was generated by Ai).
The BEST part of these platforms are the unknown and undocumented chemicals and manufacturing methods. Totally safe and ethical, right? 😅😢
Equally as bad are the dropshippers on Amazon and other platforms that are just reselling products from Alibaba, Shein, Temu etc.
They buy in bulk, remarket them and slap a huge price hike on them.
And that's been happening since long before these websites exist. All the stuff you pay for at Walmart or Amazon comes from the same places as these items. You were just forced to pay multiple middle men before these sites came along.
I did a Temu “experiment” order over the summer. I ordered some cute bee patterned slip on shoes, a pair of earrings, and some stickers. My order was probably under $15.00. The shoes stretched out so badly the first time I wore them I was struggling to keep them on my feet as I walked. The earrings came apart after the first wearing….I was able to fix them. The stickers were fine. That was my first and last purchase.
My grandmother bought me an "herb" grinder from there tho I warned her that company is no good. But the thing works. I counted myself lucky.
I bought from Temu once, when they first came out. It was a pack of like 50 stickers for something like ¢.46. I was already suspicious cause of the price, but then the stickers arrived and I recognized some of the art on a few of them, and immediately was like "ah, so its stolen." Have not purchased from them since.
That app daily MOTD: "Buy like a billionaire".
Me: "Sorry, but billionaires don't buy trash products!".
It isn’t shameful to have shopped at forever21 or primark. Everyone should shop at the best possible place they can afford. When I was at college, the only place I could afford was Primark and I shopped twice a year for some clothes. I couldn’t really afford the clothes from Primark either to be honest. Sustainable was what I made it, I am sure there’s still T-shirts knocking about in a box somewhere from my college years. I wore the clothes until they were falling apart and even then they became pyjamas instead of thrown out. The difference also was i shopped in store and only what I needed. Temu encourages shopping for every random thing ever and clothes etc have tested positive for lead and arsenic. I have noticed these days that the quality on a lot of clothes from Primark has changed with the prices going up - in good and bad ways. The basics are no longer as good of quality, but the more fashionable clothes have improved. I still buy their pyjamas. Otherwise, I just choose brands based on fit, quality of materials and construction, fashion longevity (aka classic styles) and of course sustainability practices. I can afford to now.
Some of us can only afford primary or Temu
the ads are still in my mind, this annoying I'm shopping like a billionaire song aaaa
I made a few Temu orders months ago. The pushy sales tactics and spinning wheel were so tacky, but most of the stuff arrived and functioned and was super cheap.
But after watching your video, I can’t in good conscience patronize the site again.
Thank you. Good job.
Integrity is a far better possession than a cheap knock off product made with slave labor.
Thank you.
You can't use Amazon than
@ or an iPhone or go to the White House.
Life’s complicated.
I bought a few orders of bits and pieces from Temu, and most of the stuff was reasonable quality and useful, but I've no desire to shop there any more. Especially because their promotional coupon system is so annoying.
I have been scammed on Amazon so don't see much difference. Much of what is for sale on Amazon is made in China too.
Most everything in every store is made in a 3rd world country because 1st world countries don't bother much with manufacturing anymore. The only difference in buying from Walmart and Temu is how many middlemen you pay before it gets to you.
The dollar store carry many of these items. People don’t seem bothered buying from dollar stores but buying from Temu is bad.
So the reason why these products are cheap in Temu, is because Temu force the sellers to sell below the cost of making the products as Temu tries to appeal to customers.
The sellers of course can't keep up with the extremely low profit margins that could kill their businesses...so the quality of products are forced to be lowered hence broken items or items that will break easily.
And it gets worse from there, as Temu punish sellers for any returned item with a higher debt amount (about 5 times + 1000 yuan) compared to the price Temu sets these items.
You would think that missing parts are the fault of Temu sellers, but all the required parts are usually packaged in a box by sellers which Temu separates the parts and categorized according to their system. Any return because of missing parts are also charged onto the sellers.
Items not sold within the time limit, every item gets a 500 yuan fine to sellers. After 7 days the items are destroyed without sellers' consent.
As for what percentage Temu gets from sellers...this is actually unknown as Temu sets the prices and sellers don't see the final amount of sold items and final transaction amount.
So it's basically Amazon's even more evil twin?
That's pretty much our take on the matter!
There was a popular shopping app in the Middle East named Awok that sold incredibly dirt cheap stuff. It closed down during the pandemic and haven't reopened since. I can't help but think of that company when I see Wish, SheIn and Temu.
I never shopped at Temu and don't intend on, ever. I am at an age where I care more about buying things that will last me a decade than buying things that look cute and I won't care for in six months.
Working with 3D printing also helps me wave off these temptations - most cheap crap I would buy I can just model and print myself and custom made to my necessities.
That's awesome! I have never personally had the opportunity to play in 3D printing, but the tech holds so much potential! Love how you're utilizing it to prevent unnecessary purchases.
I haven't used Temu and I refuse to. It screams scam and I do not trust it. Unfortunately, I have shopped from Shien a few times. Out of the pure necessity of being broke. Surprisingly I have gotten some good finds and wear those clothes regularly, somehow they're still holding up!
Exactly and that's what matters! We're not all perfect. I did my fair share of Forever 21 shopping when I was younger but I've taken great care to actually take care of the clothes and some I'm actually still wearing today like 10 years later!
Forever 21 is a whole lot better than Temu and will close my Temu account
I never trusted Temu from the start. To have prices that low they're either making them with very suspicious materials and/or the employees who make them are getting paid next to nothing.
The exact same things are sold on Amazon and the products come from the exact same place.
I ordered from Temu, and I was happy with everything I got.
At first I thought the quality wouldn’t be very good but surprisingly it was just as good and in some cases better.
Interesting video! Subscribed 🙂 Also, to add to the sins of Temu, they listed something as knitted when it's pretty clear it's crochet... 😆Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
Worst part about that is that while we have figured out how to automate knitting, crochet is always done by hand. Someone was paid basically nothing to handmake that
@@regiergal Yes! when you add the material and the details and time needed to make this, and you pay $6.18 for it, they're probably getting paid less than $1 to make it.
Hahaha I don't knit or crochet, but as a fiber artist of other sorts (I hand embroider) I appreciate you pointing out the distinction 😉
@@sustainablejungle I love embroidery too! I call myself multicraftual. I hope you didn't take it as criticism, it just jumped out at me because the two crafts are always being mixed up! And I suspect I have pedantic tendencies... 😂
My favorite TEMU privacy violation was when they used to (and might still do) access your clipboard data.
Lets hope you didn't copy anything sensitive.
Only thing I ever bought off there was baohong watercolour paper as it’s a reputable 100% cotton brand. It was far cheaper than buying it in my own country. However, after seeing multiple videos like this I decided to delete my app and never buy off there again. I’ll just source the watercolour paper from local shops where I can.
I put some stuff into a basket from them was considering taking a leap of faith, and then never bought it. It was relentless in trying to get me to complete the sale so, I DELETED them.
What I don't understand is why the government isn't as worried about temu on people's phones as they are about tiktok. I don't want either.
Never shopped there, never will. Same with Shein. The amount of toxic stuff they’ve found in the products from drop shipping companies is staggering and there’s no way I can support such environmental and humanitarian atrociousness.
However I agree that some products are very tempting. They pop up in my Google searches every now and then and often look lovely - especially the ones where the product photo is obviously stolen from an artist.
Temu is absolutely hemorrhaging money with the current strategy and no amount of blitz scaling is going to make it competitive, especially as more and more people get wise to their labour practices and how garbage the products are. They're going to end up having to raise prices at some point and the bubble will pop when that happens.
informative and entertaining video. underrated subscribed.
Welcome! We're so happy to have you here!
There's no such thing as ethical commerce with China. I have to say that this video was actually surprisingly uplifting in a way, it was nice to hear different ways that people can avoid relying on these dangerous and environmentally unsound businesses, and kind of reassuring to hear that governments are actually trying to take action against them finally.
Lol it’s not just a China problem, the USA has slave labor. Prison “jobs”
There's no such thing as ethical commerce under global capitalism.
@@ElectricAlien577There’s no such thing as a non-bloody communist revolution.
@@tashajoykin5192 there's no such thing as a non-bloody revolution in general. Get another point.
@tashajoykin5192
There's no such thing as non bloody society under capitalism. Violence is already being inflicted on billions. Tens of millions end every year due to lack of access to food water and Healthcare. Not to mention victims of imperialism.
Ive learned the hard way that buying quality means buying more now to save money later. Ive had leather boots that fell apart a year after buying them for example. Instead of buying a new pair, it's better for ke to get the really expensive boots now so that they'll actually last.
Buy it nice or buy it twice.
I had a pair of "Danner" namebrand waterproof boots, the same ones law enforcement gets issued.
Brand new they are like $400 for the pair which indeed sounds insane.
However, they lasted over 12 YEARS in comparison to cheap wally-world boots that last at best 12 months. (most only 6)
Society is OBSESSED with overconsumption! 50+ years from now this will be looked upon one of USA most embarrassing times that we were so jaded and led astray based off our greed and innate nature to want more more more. I hope it's reaching the tipping point soon.
Trump is making these problems worse
I guess I'm the exception here. I really like Temu and I tell you why. I live on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. There are little shopping possibilities here and especially hobby crafts are not to find here as it is a tropical climate so you can only buy barbecues and bikinis. I am a really crafty person and since I discovered Temu my life has gotten so much better as Temu delivers here on the island. Now I am making candles, soaps, I do crochet and paint/draw. 🥰
So you're ok with the slave labour thing? I’m trying to be nice here but the hypocrisy of those defending their decision to purchase from Temu is extraordinary. Mind you, I’m writing this on a smartphone worth several £££ which I suspect has parts manufactured by cheap labour. So there's no escape short of stopping our over consumption of stuff more generally.
Be careful with the soaps and candle material, because China has recently had food scams on the news. They are fake ingredients. I sometimes buy food products there but take caution for scams.
Aliexpress is better than temu. There are actually good items from decent Chinese brands on there. Temu is mostly just generic stuff pumped out without any form of brand attribution.
I’m with you-craft supplies are less than half the resold prices we see in our retail stores. Plus a much better selection and easier to sort site for items such as beads. Of course a customer has to be careful to check size of the items and avoid ones that will say faux, imitation or artificial. But if you’re careful they have some nice products.
I have never shopped at Temu or Shein. I cannot understand the appeal.
I mean I understand the general appeal from an immediate price perspective. Times are tough, and when people can see they can get something for pennies, they just buy without considering that that item will likely last FAR less long than something of equivalent from a quality source (thus ending up costing them way more in the long run when they need to replace it). These companies are just cashing in on the vulnerabilities opened up by the poor current economy. More consumers just need to step back and realize that if they don't buy anything period, it's cheaper than buying junk.
Since you ask, around the time Temu was released, I ordered from there twice before I knew it was bad. Both pretty huge orders because I used to have abysmal spending habits. I then saw iiluminaughtii’s video essay (No I do not support her anymore.) about Temu and immediately deleted my account and started informing my friends that I knew used it.
I would never buy consumables or cosmetics off someplace like Temu or Shein, but I've ordered off both recently and am pleased with my purchases. Here's the thing. I used to be morally against these sites. But then I realized I'm not doing anything by buying stuff from other places. Everything we buy is manufactured somewhere else. And the people manufacturing it are not going to be paid more because you paid more for it. This goes for everything from clothes to prescription glasses. Higher end brands are made by the same underpaid hands, in the same bad factories, with the same materials. When you buy from a store like Walmart or Amazon, you're buying the same products, you're just paying 3-4 middlemen for buying and storing the items. When you buy off Temu or Shein, you're paying far fewer middlemen.
I take care of my things, they last forever. So I don't feel bad "over consuming". I know these things won't end up in a landfill any time soon.
They have access to your info now.
Walmart is terrible but at least they sell cotton t shirts and such. I would bet there's more cotton in their work jeans than any jeans from temu. If you care about the longevity of the clothing at all
Anything that requires you to download their app to access their site is a no-go for me.
I remember when I first started to get spammed with Temu ads on my Solitaire app (disregard how aged this may make me sound) and being so put off by how frequent they were I swore off ever shopping with them. Petty grievances coming in clutch to avoid another fast "fashion" app, I suppose :').
5:23 ah yes, p. diddy holdings
The only thing I have to say, and that is not to defend Temu (or AE, Wish, any other similar garbage service) but just that US postage is ridiculous compared to a lot of places.
I haven't shipped to or from the US in a long time, but I remember it cost me more to ship a small item to me in Australia than it did to express a large and heavy item to America at one point.
I know I could ship my earrings to America for $2AUD but they'd ship in the 3-6 business weeks AE would ship. But this is pre-covid. Either way free shipping is wild, your point is still true and valid!!
Anyway not to take away from anything in the video, I just fixate on really pointless US/AUS cost comparisons lol
Being in the US I don't get buying an item from say UK or Japan maybe it has to go through expensive customs but Canada is maybe $10 USD in customs, any food products from Mexico are taxed $1, and shipping from China is always free.
Last year I made several Temu purchases. Most of the items broke or gave me headaches when I wore them. Then I learned how awful Temu is so this year I’ve been going out of my way to shop small businesses and thrift. I’ve found way cooler things that way without supporting slave labor.
My ex was addicted to shopping on Temu. She managed to buy so much that even at Temu prices it was a financial burden. She really depended on their return policy. I would guess at least 40% of her orders went right back to Temu.
They went right back to a random warehouse and then MAYBE made it back to Temu. Usually it's more cost effective for Temu, shein and Amazon to just put it in a warehouse full of returns and allow people to come buy it in big blind boxes.
Hoarding? Sounds like a situation in the making at least
I've never installed the app because if they're gonna be that pushy that puts me off. However, I have browsed the site and filled my basket, head full of craft ideas and budget decorating ideas, but I've always asked myself "what am I doing, why is this stuff so cheap?" before putting in my details and actually buying anything. And I've always had fun doing that! Browsing the mass amount of Stuff they have is exciting, hunting for unique items. But it's not worth it. It's cheap for a reason (or multiple reasons, from poor quality to being made through slavery), and that's always stopped me from actually purchasing anything.
I made one small order from temu when it was newer because I was also tricked by their methods thinking I had to order right then and there to get the best deal. When I got my order I wasn’t expecting much, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as it was. Pretty much all items were completely unusable because they were just so cheaply made. Safe to say I was never tempted to buy there again.
The shipping thing is like this:
Lower currency countries have lower shipping costs.
Your shipping costs 30$.
Theirs cost 30 of their currency.
It really is cheaper.
Also there's Universal Postal Union thing, where richer countries are paying more postal fees than "developing" economies.
Seems like the Temu wave hit just as I fell into some unhealthy habits (including excessive online shopping) earlier this year. Ironically, I was never much of a shopper before. Anyhoo, I have quit shopping there (and other places...cuz Amazon has many of the same products and practices) and I'm using videos like this to stiffen my resolve. New subscriber here binging lots of your content as I clean, reorganize and declutter.
I know I already commented but you mentioned the sales that go by fast. Ya that is what got me into it. They had count downs on some of them and they had count downs to when free shipping would end but when the counter reached 0 nothing changed and it just stared over each time.
I'm in some budget wedding Facebook groups and it's wild how many people brag about the "deals" they get off of temu and shein. I don't comment because it's counter productive, but I think it's really sad so many brides care more about cheap decor than slave labour
That is sad and kudos to you for recognizing that, but agree it's often not productive to mention anything in those situations 😑 It's a shame, too, because there are so many more sustainable and unique ways to save a little money on wedding planning. I follow someone on Instagram who got married last year and decorated her whole wedding and reception using thrifted DIY stuff and it was so gorgeous!
The most memorable weddings are the simplest ones.
I've bought a lot from Temu, simply because of the prices. I have been very pleased with almost everything and anything that was not as advertised or damaged, was immediately refunded.
However, I have noticed the prices rising and the delivery times get longer.
I buy most stuff online and Amazon has always been my "go to" and will always be for things I need immediately.
I'm grateful for information like on this video which has convinced me of some of my concerns but I'm disabled, chronically ill and mostly confined to bed, so I don't have a lot of options.
I buy secondhand from Vinted too although I don't sell as it's something I'm unable to do but we donate to charity shops.
Clicking a Temu ad is like downloading a temporary virus.
i work at a bank, and have had so many members have cards compromised almost certainly because they can't stop shopping on temu. one member has had 3 cards in 6 months and only uses her card to shop in temu.
P. Diddy holdings that explains it all 😂
I knew most of this info but applaud you for exposing them. I refuse to buy there and have converted some friends and family to buy elsewhere because of everything you mentioned in your video. I have been tempted but never ever would buy from them.🍻🇦🇺👍
When the first ads for Temu popped up my first reaction was "this has to be scam or just crap, probably both".
So that hat wasn't knit, it was crochet. There is a machine that knits, but none that crochets. Everything on the market that's crochet is hand made, which would make Temu an awful place because they are forcing people to crochet and sell it for cheap.
So you're right, that image is crochet however that in no way means what they are selling is crochet. I crochet and that image is stolen. It's been all over Pinterest for years. It's admittedly a very cool hat and also temu is 100% not selling anything even remotely like it in actuality because it would be way too time consuming to make. In this case, and pretty much only this case, I would believe temu and assume it's knit because it's probably cheaper to sew machine knit panels together than it is to crochet something from scratch.
@glitterberserker1029 and I assume it'll look absolutely nothing like the picture. Probably cheap pieces of yarn sewed together by a 9 year old and looks ridiculous on and gives you a rash. I mean what are people gonna do? Return it? Complain? Temu certainly doesn't care. Just another piece of something added to the giant trash piles slowly eating up our planet.
Temu is absolutely selling crochet items like that, as I’ve bought them. I bought several crochet items out of curiosity, and they are 100% handmade. God knows in what conditions these people are working.
I've never shopped at Shein, Temu, AlliExpress, Wish, or any of those places. Not because of a moral highground, but because I was always too broke for even those things. Plus I've never owned a credit card. Now I'm really glad I never have. Because I am very much an "ooo, shiny!" type of person. lol And with Dyscalculia it would be very easy to overlook how much money I was spending.
i have shopped at temu but i don’t plan on shopping there again after watching this!
I don’t plan on shopping 🛒 on Temu either
i got a temu ad on this video 😐
What an awful kind of irony :/ If only we could control what ads UA-cam shows on our videos!
Me too!
At least it wastes their money to advertise here!
Pure lie. Temu do not sell everything. They have few things, vs aliexpress.
I do use temu for small things, there is so far ok.
Nothing worse then stuff from many online shops, or stores.
And not all are cheep. Far from.
How true! It's pretty much the same junk sold on Amazon, usually (but not always) at a significantly better price. I buy from Temu if I'm not in a hurry.
I never used Temu, because anything they have can be found in AliExpress too, which is where I go to shop.
I almost bit on Temu, I needed a dish drying rack, Temu showed one... it said I spun and won 6 free gifts. I though... ok too good to be true but maybe I did, maybe thats how they hook new users to give them some free shit.
After selecting all my free gifts, at the very end it said "With minimum purchase of $240" ... I was like "AH HAH there it is!" .. closed, letft and never looked back... thank God they didn't get my CC info or anything
I am a maker and often search for tools, fasteners, etc online. TEMU takes up the 1st 50 results! So annoying!!!!! Not to mention being inundated with ads on all my socials! No use blocking them because they now do these colabs with their suppliers.
"Brave" browser.
Try it.
I refuse to buy a single thing from Temu. I hate their methods and the way their ads keep infiltrating my social media and internet searches. I wish I could block all their content permanently!
Absolutely!
I’m poor but I would NEVER shop at Temu. They’re just vile and disgusting scammers. 😡
I completely agree 👍. They lost my business
I have a family member who keeps giving my husband and son cheap weird shirts they buy off of temu. Such a great deal they say and real nice. They're weird and the fabric has so much static electricity when worn. This family member claims to hate shopping and not buying anything ever but keeps buying from temu.
I got an Etsy ad during this video 😭 “made by real people!!” the ad said. Wooow
My samsung phone came with the temu app auto installed which was incredibly irritating but I used to shop on their site (not app) back before they raised their prices. I usually had a good experience because Id buy stuff like home improvement tools or clothes in Asian sizes because the materials were higher quality than clothes in US sizes from their site and in some US retailers. Eventually I bought anything I might have used from them besides a few odds and ends. When they got to be almost the same price as amazon drop shippers I stopped all together. My identity was stolen a few months ago and Im pretty careful with stuff like that so Im not sure if temu was involved in that or not. Ive heard that people have had their identities stolen after shopping on temu but havent looked enough to see if thats true or not
A little insight on temu, alixpress shein etc shipping. I used to work in a shipping warehouse. Trucks from big shops would come in and we would stop what we were doing and empty them. They had priority.
But the carts from temu. They would be in a corner. And throughout the week they would pile up. And once we had a moment to empty them. Which there were few of, because we were always understaffed and hat literally tens of thousands of packages to sort every evening.
Only then we would empty the temu carts. And it was a hell. The packages are always just bags. Many items would move too much for scanners. Some would tear open. Or be too small. Everything was a different size and squished and mashed so you had to move them around a bit in order for it to work in the sorting machines we worked with.
Anyways it seems like the chinese sellers have a special deal.
Temu ad on a video about how bad Temu is. To someone who would not make purchases off Temu and someone who don't shop that often, like less than a handful of times each year. Starting to think the purpose of all these ads is to annoy me because they are so painful to watch.
13:48 ah, the notorious 996 working system of working 72 hours a week, with only one day being the weekend. If you divide 380 hours a month by 28 days (counting all days of the week except Sunday: 30 days in a month - 4 Sundays = 28 days), you get about 13.5 hours for each workdays from Monday-Saturday.
Buy Cheap, buy twice. Actually, buy 10 times. #Idiocracy
REUSABLE TOILET PAPER? Good god,…. Why?!?!?!? Just bidet it at that point.
Does it concern you that Starbucks cups lids can plastic containers all their food comes in etc seems to be as much garbage as temu and the Dollar tree?
Genuine question I'm honestly asking cuz I don't know the answer to it but I feel like if I ask stuff people will attack me so I hope I don't get attacked for asking this
Yes it does! Which is actually why a big reason why I don't drink Starbucks period (the other being their coffee tastes awful if you drink it black with no sugar like I do, but that's just my taste😉). And if I do get coffee out at a comparable coffee shop, I always bring my own stainless steel coffee thermos.
I just dump on Temu at every opportunity and encourage others to do the same.
They're playing the long game but everyone else is paying for it in both the short term and the long term despite the illusion that you're getting stuff (read -substandard crap) cheap.
Thank for this great vid.
The business model where you run at a loss to gain market share and get rid of competitors is what Chinese furniture manufacturers used to decimate the US furniture manufacturing and cause untold damage to communities throughout the Appalachians and other areas.
But remember, governments let this happen.
Amazon kicked this off.
And influencers doing hauls frequently.
And consumers make this happen by not supporting local industry and grossly over consuming. We don’t need that much stuff people
never ordered from either. Keep it local you need one not dozens etc etc
Very true! The bundling trend of stuff these types of sites do drives me crazy. Just the other day, I was looking for a matte for a memorial photo frame and couldn't one find locally. So I went to Amazon and it's all like 5+ packs. I just need one! They practically force people to overconsume. And Temu is even worse with some of their ridiculous numbered sets of things.
Two things bothered me about Emu, the reccomendthis to friend data grab requests so often repeated. And i believed reports that Temu pressured suppliers to discount prices after the goods were moved to where Temu had control of the goods. So to be clear, if you as a smaller supplier set a price and then were pressured to change the price, then you would be hurt financially. And some people were hurt in this way. Is Temu still doing this? I do not know. And a third thing bothered me. If Temu is merely the marketplace, then they should morally not set prices.
I have never even opened TEMU, I refuse.
Those super cheap products feel gross.
I felt that with stuff from Amazon and Aliexpress.
I do still rarely use Amazon sometimes because you can still find some okay brands there, despite it mostly being trash, and Aliexpress is good for certain electronic components as you can buy from the same factories that produce things for big brand companies.
But even those better products are probably still made in unethical ways, so I don't know.
China is considered as a developing country since the mail rates are different for them and much lower than you from US
The problem with Temu is people throw away money looking for a deal when the intuitive mind says "nothing this cheap can be good."
Just like buying pallets of returns: on the one hand you want to save money and on the other you want to childishly gloat over others how you got a good cordless drill for nothing (you just had to spend $450 on a pallet of returned equipment bags, drill bits and lampshades).
So I understand that Temu does unethical things and a lot of things are not good but honestly I shop on Temu and I have gotten amazing products. I have gotten more good products than bad products. I understand why people don’t like Temu but not all people are able to buy full price and expensive items and people still want to shop and enjoy things. Inflation is very unfortunate it makes the companies that are small or genuine in a lot of ways way too expensive. I never had any issues with temu. It’s not a scam yes they push people to buy but as long as you are smart and don’t play the coupon games and just buy what you want or need it is fine. It’s true i actually got several items on Temu that were wholesale and made from different companies. I really wish people would understand that inflation is the problem. If things were not so expensive people would be able to be able to afford other smaller companies. Sometimes people don’t have much of a choice because they don’t have the money to buy full price items and can barely afford rent. It’s survival for me i am smart about it and i only order things i need and will use and I don’t do the coupon wheels or buy more than i want to buy. Plus as long as you are smart it’s safe. I understand that knowing people are forced to work or are being tortured in the world is difficult but every country is run differently. It’s not right to compare and demonize another country. I agree it’s messed up to torture people. But I will continue to shop on temu because i hate how inflation has ruined shopping and enjoying having a new shirt or something for regular people.
The irony! I click on the video and the ad is temu! Lol😅 first tome watcher as well!
i remember seeing the superbowl ad when they basically launched in america and i could immediately tell it was garbage. never even looked at their website, and i never will!
Great video, but how do you pronaunce Shein as Shien?
Thank you! According to the company itself, Shein is actually pronounced SHE-in, hence why we pronounce it that way :)
aside from her explanation it's unfortunately common in english to pronounce words like that differently, like Einstein is called In-steen.
I’ve never liked temu, I mean I grew up being told if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. It didn’t take any internet sifting to find buttloads of information AGAINST temu, talking about their data usage, their waste, their warehouses and the state of their employees. I was quite disappointed that so many people just ate it up as if we don’t live in a time that’s been pushing a cleaner lifestyle and world.
I have yet to have an issue with anything I have bought from temu. Yes, it's cheaply made clothing, but it's all fad products which means you don't need it to last more than one season anyway.
And at the end of that season I'll take the fabric and I'll make something else out of it. Baby doll clothing or something for my grandchildren. It will get a long life with me.