The Problem with TEMU | Fast Decor
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- Опубліковано 20 тра 2024
- In this video, I unpack what Temu is, its role in the consumer economy, and how Temu contributes to fast decor. I raise some concerns but also look at other perspectives supporting Temu. All my sources are linked below. Let me know what you all think!
ℹ️ Sources:
Shein, Temu, and Chinese e-Commerce: Data Risks, Sourcing Violations, and Trade Loopholes: rb.gy/wnkwa
Temu’s Third Party Code of Conduct: rb.gy/sbj2u
Temu: Risk popular website sells forced labour goods: rb.gy/608yq
Is Temu Ethical, Sustainable or Fast Fashion?: rb.gy/na9zx
Temu Sellers Are Cloning Amazon Storefronts: rb.gy/yjrq0
Wage Stagnation in Nine Charts: rb.gy/jgsm0
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⏱ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - What is Temu?
04:50 - Influencer Effect
07:30 - Environmental Impact
10:42 - Forced Labor & Exploitation
13:05 - Intellectual Theft Property
14:22 - Privacy
15:19 - In Defense
18:00 - Where I Stand
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Nick. You are spot on here. Every single point. The influencer culture. The pay gap. The environmental impact. And the privilege of selectively participating in the economy. Huge kudos for being brave enough to put this out!
Yes, spot on!
Well said. Important video.
What pay gap?
@@usa45CC ultra rich vs extreme poverty. LIke Nick said - rich people can afford luxury high priced brands, while poor people only have options like temu, because it's all they can afford.
Well said and such an informative video! Thank you!
“If you’re not paying the price, somebody else is” A slogan of one of our South African companies, which they started when people asked them why there items are more expensive than normal retailers. Food for thought…
Perfect, Ty for sharing this. Will be my new motto when shopping. ❤️
I have been SO SICK of seeing temu plastered every inch of everywhere, THANK YOU for this video! They've brainwashed one of my family members into spending most of her paychecks on these "great deals," packages show up literally every day and it's frustrating all of us when we have to beg her to at least think of what she's buying from where. Yeah it's cheap, but at what cost?
I’m also very sick of seeing Temu flood my google search results. Sad to hear that they got to one of your family members.
The shit comes from China,what does one expect No temu for me EVER 🚫
I’m going to play devil’s advocate here for a second and say that I have long been conscious of how inflated U.S. prices are compared to some other countries. Which is to say that vendors know what Americans can afford to pay for items, so they price their goods higher when marketing to Americans than when marketing to Mexicans (I’m choosing Mexico because they’re on the same continent - hence similar manner of freight - and I’m more familiar with their economic woes).
So when I look at items offered through Temu, I’m really troubled at the true manufacturing cost of such items compared to what we’ve come to accept to pay for them. And I’m not so naïve as to believe that those inflated price points guarantee the product has been ethically produced, nor that my purchase helps thwart unlawful labor practices.
I’ve never purchased anything from Temu, as I have a policy against installing foreign apps on my devices. Apart from Amazon, I practically never shop at online retailers that don’t provide PayPal payment processing. Given the resources of our government to trace supply lines, investigate labor practices at points of origin, and bar bad actors, I question to what extent an individual U.S. consumer bears responsibility for every purchase they wish to make.
If I buy artificial flowers at a dollar store for double the price I’d pay through Temu, how would I possibly know they weren’t sourced from the same factory?
From my perspective, all I can do is not make frivolous purchases of poor quality items I don’t intend to keep, use, and/or enjoy for a decade or so.
@@jenniferlynn3537 Temu is doing exactly what Amazon did when they started -- selling most things at a loss until they get a critical mass of customers. Temu's prices will also go up, eventually.
@@jenniferlynn3537all of you people huge aSSumptions about the quality of items from temu, i love how u just WANT to have an opinion yet still behind the curtain u dont see support the same devil but also the other corrupt people in your government, because, America :) and yes u are super naive when it comes to the prices because youve come to accept inflated prices down your throat. How about you save money, get on a plane ticket to japan and go to local stores and look at the prices and then we can have a talk ? Touch some grass outside of your culture, it would do you good.😊
Thank you for doing this! There is a saying "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things". When you spend money on throw-away items you may as well be throwing your money in the garbage. It's also bad for the environment. The world is burning up. We need to stop behaviors that contribute to this.
agreed ! save up buy once, cry once
Exactly same with umbrellas. Check out Gustbuster (own one) or Hedgehog (they have canopies you can remove, lots of designs and colours).
💯
Sadly even that can be a privilege. When someone lives pay check to pay check they may not have the ability to save. They might love to buy toilet paper in bulk but need to buy in Now so they get the small package the can afford, same with food, household good, clothing and shoes. It if you shoes have already fallen apart before you can buy good ones, the cycle just repeats. Sure there are other ways to save buy often they are time intensive and that is also a luxury people may not have to spare
@MiMiLaXMiMi that's true but with furniture you can often just do without. Not having a coffee table or plastic organisers won't kill you.
In the past I've made my own organisers from cardboard or things like a fruit bowl out of papermache because I couldn't find one I liked in a thrift store for a good price
I LOVE how you talk about how it's a privilege to say no. There is a it of condescension in this space which is a real turn off and hurts far more than it helps.
Completely agree!
Condescension? I disagree with your opinion there. I found Nick was only being straight forward with authenticity.
@@yourconnection9303Blackathena was referring to others, not Nick. 😊 It was basically a kudos to him.
Yeah, wasn't sure what "in this space" was referring to.
@@peztopher7297I thought that the space @blackathena1565 referred to was the "space" of home decor content creators. Possibly?
This is not above your pay grade at all, this is what it looks like when a creator takes their platform seriously and decides to be a positive influence in their field and in public engagement. 🌿 Thanks so much for bringing up all of these talking points. I really think they're valuable. I can't bring myself to shop at Temu either for many of the same reasons you mentioned and I would also like to see a resurgence of locally based, middle-tier companies providing the home goods we need!
Is it just my values and the bubble I live in? Clearly these companies are selling a ton, but I don't know anyone who's bought from them, and other people I talk to seem to rarely see Temu ads (I don't seem to see Shein ads these days myself) at all, while I see them all the dang time. I would never buy from them, but I guess that's a luxury. I've ended up with a thrifted Shein shirt that fits pretty badly (but is good enough to alter and use at least) and at Walmart, but its gotta be a delusion of mine that its easy to avoid these online retailers, including amazon. I guess I just don't buy online unless it's for something really niche
Wishfull thinking. Do not know about you, but we have crap designs in local stores for abnormal pricies because it is "design" when it looks like my grandma owned it. I always buy when i travel to italy. They have some good clay work, ceramicsa and wood work by local artists for which you do not have to pay an arm and a leg, and no child was abused.
Couldn't agree with you more. Income inequality is a huge problem for our society in general. Still using my mom's oak tables and side boards from early 1900's. A blessing and a curse but at least I know where the pieces originated. Worked in an antique store in a small city in Colorado. Poor as a church mouse. I still have too much crap at 72.
Thank you very much for your valuable observations.
The Shein, Temu and Ali Express situation reminds me of what the big box stores did years ago (and are still doing) to the mom-and-pop stores. They can offer products cheaper at similar or better convenience/price, so it's just impossible to compete. It's nothing new, but that doesn't make it fair or a good idea.
And Amazon?
Those companies use slave labor in China. Also - ask where do the materials come from that the products are made from? Both India (uses their poor) and Chine (Uighur slaves) are sent to their dumps - including medical waste and nuclear waste dump sites. My spouse would monitor products coming and many times were as high as weapons-grade nuclear weapons.
@starnejme6902 I think Bezos is doing all he can to distract that he's just as guilty as using Chinaese trash made by minimally paid people in horrifically inhumane conditions. He's just as implicit as the factory owners polluting the environment there. None of them care about the repercussions. 🤬
Temu steals credit card info from customers.
They are the bigger shark to the big boxes
I was sick of Temu ad ALL THE TIME. Never bought from them and never will.
I often find a great vintage decor pieces at thrift shops, but lately it’s cluttered with those cheap gadget and clothings.
It’s been overdue someone like you tells the truth. ❤
I had this exact conversation with my 14 year old daughter recently. Basically, when you can afford ethics you should be ethical.
Hm. Character and integrity are determined by what you do when no one is looking. But also if you have to SACRIFICE to do it.
@@vjhreevesI know, but the kid is only 14. They've got to start somewhere❤
Can = ought
Afford ethics? You don’t need money to be ethical. Ethical consumerism is what requires money while opting out of excess purchases is free. Having ethics is about making choices that weigh in the impacts to others, not just your own benefit.
Snooze thread. Stop judging other peoples choices.
Nick hits us with big comedy and then turns around and gives us empathy and a call to accountability. Love love love this well rounded conversation about fast fashion/decor.
That's the other word I was looking for "accountability" !! That's what he's showing here
OMG! Finally, someone who has a decorating/design channel has addressed this. I actually dropped 2 channels that over promoted Temu products. I don’t buy from Shein and I won’t ever buy from Temu. I have serious questions about their ethical practices. I’m also rethinking IKEA because I’ve read some questionable things about them. I think I’ll become a minimalist.
This. I used to love ikea, but now I've calmed down and think carefully before choosing to buy with them. I think that's the bottom line here. Not that you can't have anything, but we should be careful about how we use our resources.
I’m with you on this one, Darlene. Absolutely 100%.
I absolutely loath IKEA, though you don’t have to be a minimalist, antique stores are chalk full of beautiful pieces that will last a life time and getting a woodworker to repair or add a few things to an already beautiful piece (which is what I do for my customers) is so much more green, plus supporting your local economy
I don't care for those or Ikea either. Cheaply made products.
I have unsubscribed from way more than 2. There was a point about a month ago where it seemed like I was unsubbing from channels every couple of days.
I bought clothing during the pandemic from Shein. In the pictures the clothing looked gorgeous. When it arrived, it wad absolute crap, totally unbearable. I have read other posts about Temu and their questionable labour ethics and their affect on the environment. Long story short, I will never buy from either Company. If Amazon doesn't clean up their act, I will not use them either. Thank you Nick for being so honest and informative. ❤
The moral of the story is don't shop mindlessly. Save up your money and buy wisely. And you're right: wages have not kept up with reality.
This is such a great reminder for me when it comes to overconsumption of clothes! I don’t shop fast fashion but i mindlessly buy clothing I don’t even need! Several items in my closet still have tags on them. So wasteful! 🤦♀️
We have 100 times nicer things than our parents did. What a ridiculous claim. The quality of everything you have compared to your parents and infinitely better. Look at what your money is buying. There’s been a lot of innovation. Stop complaining about your wages when your wages are buying you an iPhone y’all can’t live without and your parents didn’t even have a landline probably…
@@jessejive117you're right to an extent but at the same time not. It's true that as a whole we have far more things than previous generations. But "better" is subjective. For example there's plenty of trendy shiny particle board furniture available. But it's harder and more expensive now to actually just get a solid wood table that will last for your lifetime and beyond. I do think that people's expectations just continually rise though. It's like the concept of lifestyle creep but at a global scale. It's human nature to take things for granted, and to feel that you never have enough to an extent. While a lot of Americans genuinely do not have enough, and are struggling to even afford food every month, there definitely are many who make a decent living but have high expectations now of what kind of lifestyle they want, based on what was attainable before, what we see online etc. There are people who could be comfortable on their salary, but then end up overspending on a slightly fancier house than they need, a newer car, a lot of clothing, a few purses, eating out, drinking alcohol, the non essentials all adds up quickly. I've even seen it happen to many UA-camrs who were bringing in crazy money but end up with less than expected to show for it because they were spending it on a Tesla, renting a fancy apartment, buying designer clothes etc. With temu the thing is some people shop there for essentials that they can't afford to pay better quality for. And then others just shop there to fill a hole or because they're bored and they can. And then they wonder where a lot of their money went.
@@jessejive117I hope that we can agree to disagree. ~Disclaimer: Age is a huge factor here. A 22 year old is going to remember very differently about items that their parent’s purchases😮 vs a 45 year old~. 2000 had Walmart/Target/IKEA ETC. That avocado green fridge, dishwasher, washer, dryer from the 70’s lasted 30-40 years. Now, The average lifespan of a decent high middle end fridge- average of 8 years. Stereo equipment from the 70’s still works if well taken care of. My grandparents lived through The Great Depression and WWII. They passed along the importance of buying things for life. I see my elderly mother now, who doesn’t want to give anything away, and it makes me sad, but I understand. Nick is so right on.
@@jessejive117 speaking of cell phones- I think life was way less stressful without them. Everyone expects others to be available all the time. There is an urgency to reply. Companies have ridiculous expectations. I often turn my phone off on the way home. I’ll get there when I get there. 😊
Nick, you've certainly enlightened me. You've shown your own kind of integrity here. Well done.
laowhy86 here on UA-cam did a great job covering the massive flooding China is censoring as we speak. It’s despicable.
👏
100% nailed it!!!
Yes, I agree & with his integrity too.
Ditto - and I’m personally choosing not to Temu. I’m lower income but…. Have truly a wide variety of second hand and thrift options to accommodate my price points. Your comments are spot on, any politic aside. Brave man to share your research and findings with the world. 👍👍
Showing that you're socially and environmentally conscious is so refreshing in an industry that is generally so consumerist, you might not like it but you're an independent thought leader. You persistently point out the excesses of wealth in a way that doesn't come off as preachy, you are considerate to people who cannot afford to spend much on décor and consider different budgets in all of your videos. This isn't above your pay grade - we all have a responsibility to highlight injustices in our society and wider world. So refreshing, keep being honest.
It's basically Shein for Homeware/ Lifestyle and we all know the environmental and economic shitshow that is! It is the ad that appears 8/10 times on my youtube, even before this video 😅 I will never be buying from any of these companies. Their whole practice is gross.
This is one of the moments when I am really happy to have paid for UA-cam premium as I don't see the ads and have never even heard of Timu before. So my suggestion is to get UA-cam premium and get rid of the ads as well ;)
I report the ads for temu every time they come up for endorsing forced labor and slavery
do you not have ad block?
That ad is so annoying too "I FEEL SO RICH, I FEEL LIKE A BILLIONAIRE"
No. I certainly do not feel like a billionaire 😐
That song makes me want to put crayons in my ears
@alrighttumbleweed4782 yes! Most annoying ad ever!
Yes nick GET political. This is a more accurate and nuanced take than people who are paid to be political. We need to hear this from people like you, people without an agenda. Keep up the good work
agreed ! be the middle ground when there is such polarization about politics and other topics this world needs more people like that ! .
@ah5721 you don't have to sit on the fence, you have to be nuanced as Nick is. Everything is political.
@@ah5721 actually no, gmc5618 is right. nick hasn't taken the middle ground here. This is a left leaning perspective. It's just nice hearing it from someone who doesn't sell themselves on being 'leftist'.
Being in the centre doesn't make you nuanced or correct. It just mean you're closer to being wrong.
@@888fluffy what do you mean left leaning? he just said how things work. truth has no political leaning
@@eggi4443 But nick isn't just saying how things work. He's suggesting that fast fashion/interior design (and the damage it causes to environment and labour) is a bad thing. That's a leftwing perspective
If it was a right leaning he would suggest that it's good. Relaxing labour and environmental protections are right-wing positions. If nick was being neutral he would say 'labour and environmental exploitation happens and I have no perspective on it at all'.
He doesn't say this because opinions aren't neutral, and nick is giving his opinion in this video.
Hi Nick. This is one of the best videos you’ve ever done imo. You’re a class act and real, so thank you! As someone who loves interior design but is a Vancouverite who looks at rental prices and just want to cry… I can definitely not afford the life sold by influencers… so I really appreciate your down to earth approach to this subject. My alternative to Temu and the like is to thrift. :)
I am convinced Temu and Shein wouldn't do so well if people didn't feel compelled to keep up with the influencers and redecorate as frequently as them. The same goes for clothing. Especially women's wear. Since when do we need a brand new capsule wardrobe each season. So although society has more have nots than ever before, we could all try to cut consumption.
Isn't the point of capsule wardrobe just the opposite? Own more clothes that you use repeatedly/ work with each other and own less clothes overall?
@@Saphia_lol. The way people use that term, a capsule wardrobe is seasonal. Once the season ends, everything changes, gets replaced, or just thrown away
@@zvezdoblyat As someone who loves the clothes they buy a lot, I can't imagine having to change them every season. I neither have the money, nor the brain power for that.
@@Saphia_ it must be so exhausting. I've never once looked at something and thought "wow I'd love to wear that but only 5 times before I throw it out"
@@zvezdoblyat Right? Me neither. If I buy something I intend to wear it till it turns to rags.
Thank you very much for pointing out the problem of forced labor in companies like temu and shein as an interior design influencer! I have been quite upset that people don't seem to care much about human rights outside of their own countries and I have actually unsubscribed quite a few interior design channels because of that.
Yes 💯agree!
This
And they don't seem to care about pollution and excessive peddling of cheap products that will end up in landfills.
People on tiktok especially put their own vanity over sweatshop workers' health/rights. It's one thing if you have to buy fast fashion clothes 2-3x a year and wear them until they're rags. It's quite another to see these rich 20-30 somethings buy $1000s worth of Shein/Wish for one video. I myself make most of my own wardrobe and shop for vintage clothes that I plan to keep for many years. Vintage shopping isn't for everyone though since sizes tend to run small and favor people with smaller busts/hips. We should make the most practical choices for ourselves, which is different for everyone. Some items such as coats and boots are built to last by many different reputable brands.
You are so worried about workers in China. But they actually participate in China's economic success. China has a fast growing middle class.
It feels like projection. The US is the world's biggest penal colony including forced labour for prisoners. It shows loathing for it's working class providing poisoned water and denying housing even to working people.
The shein and temu comparison is spot on. Both companies propagate disposable goods which just fills the landfills. They also don’t have to follow any of the labor laws and they cannot be shamed into not using ethical manufacturing practices the way that many companies can that are actual brands. I’m all for saving money but not this way.
And when it comes to Shein, it’s estimated that H&M releases something like 25,000 new pieces/styles a year. Shein releases over a million. I would imagine that Temu is similar.
I appreciate this video so much. And, thank you for saying no to temu.
I got the better shampoo shower shelves from amazon and shein for price I can pay without not recovering for the next 5 yrs
The good stores sell that stuff for price of kidney
Personally I think they’re the same company. Shein is getting heat so they could be rebranding
So is the products sold on Amazon .
👍👍👍👍👍😢
NOT only to temu you should say no to Zara h&M amazon etc .
Thank you for addressing this! I get SPAMMED with Temu ads on all social media platforms, as they recently expanded their business to my country. The ads looked so shady at first that I thought it must be a scam, but I was shocked when I found out that Temu was a "legitimate" retailer. I agree with you that we do not talk enough about fast decor and how fashion cycles now also have accelerated in the interior bubble.
It is a complex topic and I would love more critical videos on fast decor and how to deal with it in the future! :)
It is funny how Ikea never gets lumped in with the fast fashion companies despite trying to make furniture fast fashion for quite a few years now and constantly reducing the quality of their products to keep them cheap.
That is a great point. Some of their stuff is made in China too, which is sadly comical in some ways. It is almost impossible to find anything not made there anymore.
Yeah, my ikea furniture that I bought for my apartment was crap. Some of it isn’t, like my couch is decent (at least until my cats ruined it lol)
But my dining chairs literally fell apart in less than a year and have already been replaced. My table isn’t in very good condition, either. It’s the crappiest wood that money can buy. Meanwhile, I have old bedroom furniture passed down from my dad that is solid cherry wood, and still in relatively good condition and perfectly functional after over 35 years.
@cindyp2181 I just have to ask: where would you like Ikea to produce their goods? I totally understand the aversion towards China-made stuff but I'm always curious to know what people would rather have.
@@FilippaSkog it’s a Swedish company so I’d say Sweden but really any country that has fair wages, health insurance and generally fair conditions for employees. Extra points for sustainability and good quality. Because Ikea’s quality really is going down. My mum’s had book shelves from Ikea for decades and they still sell them but the wood is half as thick now and anything that used to be metal in them is now plastic so it’s safe to say I won’t be buying them even though I really like them.
@@FilippaSkogGoing to @glockenrein’s point, I can remember when IKEA’s furniture was primarily made within the EU, or if not, in European countries that were in the process of joining the EU. Joining the EU required them to demonstrate a commitment to meet standards for industrial health, safety, and environmental protections. The wages would have been lower than in Western Europe, but they weren’t likely to be actual sweatshops.
Great video. The disappearance of the middle class in the US is serious.
This!
It's not just the US.
I have so much respect Nick. You are not just entertaining and helpful, you're serious and informative. This is what I see as a true influencer. Thank you 👏🏽💕
Exactly! I love how he brings deeper conversations forward from rime to time
👍👍👍👍
Yes, I agree!
This, 100X.
Yeah, he’s a proper sweetheart and genuine human.
So well organized and thoughtful. Thanks for all the in-depth research. I really appreciate your hard work!
These types of videos set you apart from other influencers. Your clearly a smart hardworking person, beyond looking for things that are "pretty". Thank you for incorporating important topics in your videos to spread the word! I'd love to see more!!
I've tried to talk to people about the problems with companies like this. Mostly the response is along the lines of "I've never had problems getting my things,” and completely missing the real problem.
Yes, unfortunately they are totally blinded by the pricing.
so frustrating!
Yes same
One of the really scary things I’ve seen with Shein is the lack of regulation around chemicals. Way back when these companies we’re gaining popularity my daughter ordered a skirt because we were curious to see if it was Walmart or Forever 21 quality. I’ve never seen material like that and it smelled like industrial chemicals. Many of these chemicals are heavily regulated in the States because they can make you extremely sick or cause cancer. It never got worn and went immediately into the trash because I’m not taking chances.
I’m glad Nick brought up Amazon because I’ve had to be extremely cautious shopping there after I accidentally purchased a counterfeit item. Many of those counterfeit items aren’t hurting big companies like LV but instead small independent artists and creators. It’s sad how many people I see defending these marketplaces’ bad behavior.
@@robinb697 Yes, another important point, thank you!
This video and the one about accessibility in home decor sets Nick apart from all other interior design influencers in the empathy department. Thanks Nick.
Wish, Shein, and Temu have always appeared very suspicious to me. Not just the ridiculously low prices, but also their very quick rise to popularity despite how young the companies are. So far, I haven’t purchased from these three, although I do rely on Amazon quite a bit and I often wonder if that’s the most ethical choice.
It’s basically the same. The only difference is that Amazon is American. Same sketchy labour practices regarding the people in the packaging facilities because outside of that, like any other good, they mainly source stuff from china or Southeast Asia in general bc materials there are cheaper. There is no true ethical consumption under capitalism bc someone at some point on the production chain, is being exploited and that is just the reality. Our individual responsibility relies upon the fact that we can choose to buy stuff based off need rather than want.
Thank you Nick for your nuanced take! It’s sadly rare to see such empathetic and well-rounded analysis of complex issues online.
I would rather shop at the Salvation Army (and do) than to even open a link for Temu
Same.
Salvation Army is involved in funding homophobic organizations such and conversion camps so :/
I'm from the age - early retirement - that grew up hearing, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." You made that exact comment. I have been tempted by some of the small things I've seen advertised from Temu but I remind myself of that quote. Thanks for bravely going into this discussion and making it an informed commentary.
Agreed.. that's my motto 👍
I've ordered about 100 items from Temu: Shoes, clothes and lots of kitchen stuff. I asked for a refund for 3 things and they refunded my money in about 3 seconds and told me it wasn't necessary to send the item back. I love Temu!
@@trishroberts4487 Not having to send them back means those 3 items got junked and they know that and don't care.
@@l6318 They were 2 bathing suits that were too big and a pair that was too small. I gave up on the 2 suits but ordered the shoes in a bigger size.
I got my refund back on all 3 and gave them to charity. The bathing suits were beautiful and the shoes I can't wait to get in a different size.
Exactly. When you see the low prices on a site like Temu you KNOW there is no way that the goods are produced ethically. The materials will be harmful to the environment, the workers would not be paid fairly or work in safe conditions, and the quality will be poor.
I love Nick all the time. When he's sassy, smart, silly, and soapboxy. I love it all. Thank you for sharing what's in your brain with us!
Greetings from across the big pond!
I have been following you for a while now and all i can say is that i really enjoy all of your content!
I really love your sense of humor and personality but.. after today all i have to sat is:
Nick, i love you!
You are not only witty, funny, somehow relatable and capable of making it formative and informative while entertaining but now, with this video you just proved me what i could always sense:
the extremely aware sensitive kind hearted and empathic human being you are!
Thank for helping the algorhytm also feed us with the notion that there is so much more to this world than the value of what is skin deep, the power of the almighty dollar or any form of leverage!
Bless you!
I think it’s also important to mention we are all globally being exploited by this business model on every level. Use your buying power wisely
100%
Finally! I’ve been watching so many influencers do sponsor hauls of junk from Temu. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is. And there was a level of due diligence not being done.
Thank you for the (hopefully) wake up call to other influencers.
I appreciate your objective research and presenting so many facets to this topic, cause OOF it’s a big one!
You’ve just earned yourself so much respect from the online community. ❤
I'm at the point that if I see 'haul' in their description or video itself, I unfollow.
You would think with all of the videos out there calling out fast fashion and cheap labor companies that the haul videos would slow down, but they just don't seem to. If someone calls an influencer out on it, their posts just get deleted. Unfortunately channels like this are just preaching to the choir.
Tbf, not everything is junk and not everyone can afford to buy the SAME exact "junk" from big box stores. I've been ordering from Ali Express for YEARS for my craft business and half the stuff is sold on Amazon for twice as much
You said “junk”. Have you actually ordered from Temu?
Definitely!
This is such an important video! I’ve been staying away from Temu for exactly the same reasons. I’m glad you’re bringing the problem of fast furniture to the forefront as well!
As someone who works in interior design merchandising, this is so refreshing. Thank you for this!
While some US politicians are xenophobic, as a consumer it’s possible to harbor no ill will towards the Chinese people while recognizing Chinese industries dumping “underpriced” goods into marketplaces as a problem. I appreciate your discussion of the externalities getting priced out of these goods. Thank you Nick!
This underpriced thing happened in the first place because Western companies pressured Chinese factories to make their products cheaper back in the day. Say Walmart wants an order for Christmas musical ornaments sold for $26.99 USD. Only the cheapest factory wins the privilege of making the thing in the first place even if it makes no sense. Imagine items like baby bottles, they would happily choose the factories that charge 0.01 cent per bottle even though the price of baby safe plastic cost more then that.
Chinese factories are filled with migrants workers from poor rural villages who has no place to live in the city and send every cent back home to their parents and kids. Whenever a factory wins a bid that's hundreds of workers who has housing and pay for the duration of that order, the orders need to keep coming for these people to have stability. Factories would chose to lose money and pay for more expensive materials themselves if only to get the order. But more unscrupulous factories don't bother, and over the years it's just a race to the bottom of lower quality lower price.
Someone: Points out the myriad human rights abuses happening in China.
"BuT xEnOpHoBiA!!!!!"
everything that Temu does Amazon has been doing for years and years, thank goodness there is now competition, there will be regulation of these giant monopolies.
@@Hiphop618Humans are having their rights abused and violated worldwide,USA, ISRAEL, Afghanistan... It's a long list. It's xenophobic to single China out.
@@Hiphop618 That's a very reductive and dismissive comment. You can point out the issues of the industry and factories in China without being sinophobic of course, but it's incredibly disingenuous to pretend that sinophobia isn't VERY prevalent in western society due to US propaganda and that a lot of people equate Chinese with "bad". Like, cmon. You can't say you care about human rights being abused and then turn a blind eye to the violence Chinese people deal with just for their ethnicity.
Thank you for this video. The thing that I have noticed is that many online shops (including Etsy) buy products from Temu (as well others like Temu) and then up charge and sell as their own products. Buyers need to be aware of this as well when shopping in the states.
I have noticed this on Etsy. An item selling for $7.49 on Temu was selling for over $30 by numerous Etsy sellers.
Etsy allows WAY too much obviously mass market junk. It's sad. I love unique, handmade.
Yes, this is sadly much too common. Etsy is full of Temu crap and other junk from Amazon and whatnot.
@@FourJaysFour It's a shame that Etsy hasn't enforced stricter guidelines: it's artisan made or vintage, not mass produced junk. I adore supporting small shops and have bought hundreds of items from Etsy sellers. I usually buy vintage, and there's just something about made to order photos that look really different from preloved. Nothing wrong with custom made clothes, but I do wonder about whether the seller or a factory is producing them.
I've even seen it (probably more wish and alliexpress) being sold at like farmers markets and special event markets.
I total agree with you. I was a single mum and chose to go without rather than purchase cheep goods from 'elsewhere' that would be useless in a couple of months. I learned to sew and to make what I could, or decide whether I could simply go without. I have always chosen to go without unless I really, really needed a version of whatever. My situation hasn't changed substantially, but I can now go (kid up and gone) without most things if I feel that is the honourable way. If its a use and throw away, I don't care where it comes from, I will find another option, like a locally made item. And, I have deep-sixed my credit cards to force me to buy local at the very least. We can have a large positive impact on the environment by simply being more circumspect about what we chose to purchase. And keeping it local.
You're completely right. Going without is oftentimes the best option.
I had a mate who moved into a place and didn't have a couch. Instead of managing without one (it was just him, he could have sat on the floor with cushions), or getting a very cheap one secondhand, he got one from a pay weekly store. Over the course of 3 years he paid £6000 for a sofa...
@@Rumadeyikes!!! Sometimes
"cheap" is very expensive, in so many ways....😢
Thanks I needed this wake up call. I started using them for a promotional product and got sucked into couple of their coupon messages and it seemed affordable and quality was so so. Didn’t think much of it when ordering. I usually prefer local brands and I’m always thrifting. But purchasing from them was fast, cheap, and easy. Once you do it it forms into a pattern of laziness. Sometimes we need a little kick in a butt to wake up and realize the slow progression towards negative spiral.
Full agree! I think an important point, too, is that retailers like Temu create a kind of shopping addiction in people who feel like they need to stay on trend and update their spaces every year but who can’t afford high quality items in the short term. Instead of saving up to purchase timeless and higher quality pieces, people are pushed into a mindset where they fully believe that they can’t afford it simply because they can’t afford it at that very moment. Haul videos and influencer content delude people who make low wages into thinking they need an overflowing closet and every single furniture and decor trend in style at the moment and it’s so sad.
Absolutely. We see this exact thing with Shein too, where people are desperate to keep up with this minute’s hottest thing, and it falls apart in two washes, which is only the number of times someone will wear it anyway. Then they need to replace it with the next thing to keep up appearances on socials.
This is a well balanced and informative video. I wish there was a bigger market for quality goods produced in western countries. So many mass market items are coming from questionable sources, whereas well made items tend to be niche products. We have become too consumerist. Rather than trendy items, we really need to look at the life cycle cost of every product we buy.
Yes, in South Africa our mass produced items, even the better quality ones, almost all come from China. Locally made items are niche products that are financially unattainable for most people.
It does exist in Europe ! Less in the Americas where people prefer quantity to quality
Oh please, this has been going on since the 1980s, do people even realize that a lot of junk is made in US prisons by the big manufacturers, much less Chinese prisons?
It's less what we prefer, but quantity is what many Americans are told is a sign of wealth. This attitude also pervades other cultures. Typically, many lower income folks end up thinking that quantity is the sign of prosperity, while also kind of knowing it's not, but it's what is attainable and visible, so it's what other folks can easily see and 'proves' someone has money. I would prefer something well made over a lot of that something, but that means I do a lot of antique shopping when I need decor, or I find people in my community who are craftspeople and I save up so I can get something beautiful and support local businesses. @@neofils
Luxury brands such as Gucci, Chanel, and Prada are made in China now to cut costs. I read that European labels only need 2 steps to be done in a country for that 'made in France/Italy' label to be used. Which could be the sketching and pattern-making process. These logomania brands have become higher end fast fashion seeing as they no longer are custom tailored or super secretive. Plus the logo heavy bags such as Dior book tote and Alma bb bags are just hideous.
I ALMOST purchased from TEMU but then as you said, "too good to be true." AGREE! I started doing my own research and saw what I DID NOT LIKE! CCP, child labor, slave labor...very questionable business practices. Do your due diligence. Research.
I appreciate the fact that you do a deeper dive into influencer responsibilities while highlighting that not all influencers operate under the same economic pressure and responsibilities. You have the intellect and the interest necessary to be even a more reliable source than someone who just focuses on design without the connected implications. Thank you!
Just looking at the comments...
So glad this video is doing well.
It was probably a little scary to address this topic but it was needed. Good job.
I have 2 main concerns regarding TEMU and SHEIN: data mining, which has been covered everywhere, and, the second one, which I wasn't sure about until you mentioned the lack of inspections - lead. Lead in childrens toys, art supplies (crayons), clothes, and so on, is in the news much too often on a good day. Factor in the knowledge that inspections are waived under these rules, it's a good bet lead is present, at least in some level, in large portions of their products. The labor and environmental issues are the nails in the coffin. I will never support these companies. Edit: I know everyone collects and sells data, I just dont need to add another company to that list, especially one that is aggressive. I loved your conclusion!
Yes, Computer guru Kim Komando sent out an email on this. I took her advice & dumped the app.
Yep, CBC marketplace proved that products coming from these kinds of sites DO often contain lead and other toxic chemicals.
FB and Instagram will data mine you AND scam you with mark-up products from China. The Xenophobia here is a real issue.
the very same products are sold through US based platforms like Amazon, I want to say, what the heck wake up, this has been the world since Reagan.
Well of course,it's China! No checking or concern about danger to children. ONLY MONEY,YOUR MONEY! They think we are stupid. We need to be wary of these 3rd party and sometimes 4th or 5th party transactions.
I'm so glad I found a video on this subject! I've never been much for "cancel culture" yet when I see hundreds of UA-camrs doing temu hauls and buying mindlessly crap they'll most likely never use just for views, my blood boils. We're talking about human lives being exploited every day. It puzzles me so much how no one sees that.
I'm afraid you're right; many people just do not think, nor care...😢
I think Temu and Shein are the reason that here in France they recently started charging VAT (import tax) from 0 euros. There is no untaxed amount anymore.
Thank you Nick. Really well said on all points. One other that you didn't hit on that MatPat did last week related to that "under $800 = no oversight" problem you mentioned. The safety of a lot of these products is really suspect. Because things aren't being looked at by customs there's no saying if fabric items are sprayed with hazardous or flammable chemicals, or housewares, kitchenwares, and even toys aren't laced with arsenic or lead. It's just not a risk I'm willing to take to bring those things into my home (and I'm on permanent disability. I /am/ that poor and desperate demographic they court).
I am on that disabled/on social security/so poor I don't have to file federal taxes but some things are just worth it to me. Spray bottles for cleaning products I make myself 8/1 at Lowes, 8/6 on temu. Lables, cat brushes, scoops for cat litter, etc. Nothing to store food in, yes some fast fashion, I change sizes frequently, one of those things you pick stuff up off the floor, I don't need to pay 24 dollars then have the thing break in 3 months, I'll pay 6 dollars and have the thing break in 3 months. I'm glad you feel you can avoid them. People still won't shop at Walmart (my cousin) because of their "labor policies ".
Jeez it sounds like the laws need to be changed and just removed to make sure everything is checked ! Or just block shein and temu not allowed to be sold here to the USA at all due to their dubious practices
1 to 3 percent of all packages coming in from Asia are checked anyways......it is not much safer
@@SuperDrLisaWalmart is such a horrible shopping experience, anyway (and I've only shopped there only a couple of times in my life). Last time I shopped there was when my sister gave me a gift card there. Next time I ever receive a gift card for Walmart I will just give it away. It's just not worth the hassle.
I´m so glad that you addressed the environmental impact of all this, thank you.
Any society that needs to feed and house its citizens has environmental impact. The US was the worst until they off-shored it. How about less meat? How about putting out those Canadian forest fires.
@@jook360 How about no dry summers, no lightning, no arson?
I love how self aware Nick is!! he tries to get in the alternate view points in.. which is commendable. Thank u Nick!!
I appreciate the empathy for content creators who, at the end of the day, are just people trying to get by in the world. But--I want to push back against the idea that some content creators don't have the "privilege" to decline certain brand deals, because being able to make influencing your career is in itself a privilege. No one who is in truly dire straits is becoming an influencer. It takes money to be an influencer: you have the start-up costs of equipment, the time spent building your following where you're not getting paid, plus the costs to buy items to review to your followers. If you have the privilege to be an influencer, you have the privilege to decline to promote goods made by slave labor. Because that's the thing: it's not just about paying your own bills. What you do impacts other people, and it's high time we all understand that our desire for cute stuff doesn't outweigh other people's need for fair wages and decent living conditions.
The irony of getting a Temu ad before watching this video 🤔
Came to say the same! Still great info, but I feel Temu and the algorithm are so strong that we are all bombarded!
@@lorettan2214 Bombarded is the word indeed. I get to see it multiple times a day :(
Brilliantly said!! As a retired designer I have seen both extremes in my career. I offer my services now to those who are on the bottom end of the design scale for no fee and to help source and secure as much for little or nothing. Constructive opinions are always everyone's pay grade. Love your channel.
That's a lovely way to use your skills after retirement. Thanks for giving back.
Thank you for helping others! A good way to continue using your knowledge, skills, and abilities.
True, people can't afford RH, but we also overspend on crap. That all ends up as trash. And then we buy more crap to fill our empty souls. Thanks for shining a light on TEMU. I'll avoid them just as I avoid Shein and Amazon.
So glad you addressed this. The forced labor and human rights issues are a no-go for me...among other issues.I try to shop locally, or small businesses. Not always possible, but I try. Thanks Nick!
Those low shipping rates that have been offered to China(by our governments) also apply to items sold on eBay & Amazon. This can result in cheap versions of what you see in their photos and the ridiculously low prices they offer shut out people in your own country trying to make a living reselling quality products. It's hard to compete with Chinese listings because they seem to sell for nearly the cost of the item, leaving us domestic sellers no ability to sell such items because we have to pay normal shipping rates.
Hmmm. Not sure its the government, or at least not the US government. But it could possibly be the Chinese government subsidizing or outright paying for the shipping costs for that government’s “companies” because the data is worth it to them. I ordered jade vases from a small seller in China off eBay, and I had to pay like $40 in shipping. For each of them. Chinese government has put a big emphasis on collecting US citizen data, just like they collect insane amounts of data on their own citizens, it’s just that this and companies like TikTok, which downloads tons of your personal information from your phone (not only what you buy, websites you visit, but even where you go geographically throughout the day), is the only way they can get the data. I don’t know anything about Temu, but if they have an app you download on your phone, I would delete it right away.
We,as tax paying AMERICANS PAY FOR THAT!!
@Jessica-kk1cz actually it is our (the US) government. Our taxes partially pay for subsidized shipping from China by USPS. This also means that a Chinese product sent to a US consumer is unlikely to be returned, as it may be shipped here for $2 but would cost me $50 to return it to China. So, if the product is junk, there's unlikely to be accountability.
I always look for where a product is shipping from. Amazon apperars to have made it harder to see if it's from outside the USA. It usually is easy to see if it is coming from China. I check shipping the shipping time. Most things shipping in the US is fairly quick. I read the discriptions . They aren't always grammatically correct if it's coming from China. Store front names can be telling but not always. There appears to be more and more overseas stores. I do check the *other sellers* options on Amazon when buying a product. That's to give sellers a fair chance. I have heard a rumor that Amazon hides other listers. I don't know if that is true.
EBay are also really bad at this. I select specifically within Australia (trying to support my fellow countrymen) and because the Lister has a PO Box here, they're included and it ends up coming from China. You can't even check this until you realise there is no way shipping will take 3 weeks from Melbourne, it's like only 600km from me
Thank you for bringing this up! It is a big problem and more people need to talk about this
Your level of empathy, emotional intelligence, love patience understanding and honesty is wonderfully refreshing. I knew I saw love and sincerity in you when I first started listening to you a few years ago. Love you Nick. God bless you.
This is my favourite video concerning Temu. Your opinions are very balanced overall, but I'd like to give a particularly big thank you for addressing the xenophobia and racism directed at China and Chinese people. As a person with Chinese heritage I am sensitive to all the China hate and the hypocrisy that exists. It's a little scary for people like me in this day and age, so again, thank you ❤
Thank you for your gentle advocacy of ethics in shopping.
I haven't watched the video yet, but thank you thank you thank you!! Temu is SUCH a problem and NO ONE is talking about it
Edit: after watching the video I 100% agree with everything, even in "in defense of Temu" part (which to be honest surprised even me haha) excellent video as always
Agreed!
Great topic, Nick, thanks for addressing. My neighbor had a pile of packages delivered to my place in error. One plastic plate $2 was in a box big enough for a full set of good dinnerware. 😤. Disgusting amount of packaging for crap. The biggest piss off is she opened the packages at my house and left me with the boxes. I did ask her to take them but she just laughed and said to throw them in the garbage. A HUGE pet peeve of mine….
That sounds exactly like the behavior of someone that supports slavery. She sounds dreadful.
Exactly. Probably supports slavery and, probably wouldn't care if a large "waste management company" was situated next door to her, who would contaminate her water...
So many are so short sighted..., if you can even call them "sighted"....
THANK YOU for giving a nuanced view on Temu!!! My family has really struggled financially the past year due to medical issues, buying a house, and having a baby, and we also have a lot of things that NEED buying, soon. I will honestly very likely buy a few things from Temu soon to see how it goes, but won't necessarily feel great about it. My husband and I also do get a lot of stuff secondhand and also do our very best to buy items that will last a very long time whenever possible. It's a tough topic for sure--a lot of people are struggling rn, and getting heated about some people resorting to Temu to have a slightly nicer living condition doesn't seem to be the way to go about it. That Temu is so popular speaks to a larger economic issue.
I'll never shop on Temu. I do everything I can not to purchase anything manufactured in China because of the hidden costs especially shipping and labor. It's a privilege to say no. Thank you Nick for being honest with us.
I do the same for a variety of reasons! I have been very disappointed at some of the influencers promoting TEMU. I actually stopped following a couple who clearly are sellouts and have turned their channels into an ad. Love Nick!
@@martymcgrady5535 I've re-tiled two houses in the past five years. Tile is heavy!!! The tile from China after being shipped across the ocean and delivered to the store is always cheaper than USA, Mexico, Brazil, etc. I refuse to buy it. I'll buy cheap electronics like cables and adapters but anything else, I refuse. The one that really makes me sad/mad is that appliance manufacturers went overseas. Those were good USA jobs.
You guys are in for a rude awakening. Everything is made in China. Apple makes their phones in China and their laptops. Sony makes their Tvs in china. Almost ever electronic in your house is made in China.
@@jasonsantoro6347 I spend time researching where my stuff is made and will go without if my only option is something made in China that clearly passes on the costs like shipping and labor etc. Some stuff there's no choice except made in China. But I put time in finding Made in US and other countries that are on my acceptable list. The rude awakening is that our leadership sold out the American worker. Don't attack me.
@@jasonsantoro6347 I am well aware of that fact and it is nearly impossible to escape, but companies like TEMU and Shein are next level with crap goods. I believe one of the main reasons more people are doing their best to buy local and thrift more helps but you are correct that everything comes from China.
I never get into trends like this. Most of my stuff is secondhand.
Second hand is way more fun too!
Me too, and i'll bet, anytime, that our stuff is nicer.
I admire how mature you are by considering people’s situations that lead to sketchy brand deals
Thank you for this video. It’s so important to put this out there. I hear the name Temu so often nowadays and people are actually surprised when I raise questions regarding these important issues and their practices. I’ve been trying to live sustainably for years and I live kind of in a bubble with most of my friends who share the same values and until Temu has come up in conversations these issues didn’t surface and were unknown for most people.
And yes, we all want to dress nicely and to have nice looking, trendy homes and yes, it is a privilege to be able to buy more expensive items that are made ethically and sustainably but also… No, most of us don’t live in a way that we have to buy the cheapest or die, and no, you don’t have to do hauls or buy stuff every day, every week except maybe groceries. So let’s take a look at this fast fashion/fast decor culture and it’s time to have a conversation and open our eyes to where our things come from and what their environmental and ethical costs are. Just become we refuse to know about these things don’t mean they don’t exist. It’s high time we took responsibility for our way of living and what we find unacceptable or have grave consequences the least we can do is not support them with our money.
Well done, Nick. I admire your channel because you consistently bring up sustainability, buying things to keep, and raising ethical questions when talking about home design. Other decor influencers have encouraged viewers to buy preowned or ethically sourced products, but none have addressed fast decor and questionable business practices head on as you have.
Thanks for this, Nick. I want to speak up for the problem with intellectual property theft, especially. I'm a tarot deck creator, and it just burns my bacon to see cheap fake knock-offs of my published work (and the work of many, many others) sold on sites like Temu for a sixth of the price. Of COURSE people are going to buy them there -- "Why should I pay $30 for something on Amazon when I can get it for $5 on Temu?" For one thing, because you're getting an inferior and often incomplete copy, not the genuine article that was professionally produced. For another thing, you are buying stolen goods, essentially. The creators (inventors, writers, artists, whoever) are not making a dime off these items. You might as well be buying them out of the trunk of a thief's car. As Nick points out, take a minute to find the items you want on other sites. Compare with the knock-offs and learn how to sniff out the fakes. Please don't support theft just to save a buck or two.
I have refused to buy from places like Ali Express, Shein or Temu. I actually directly buy most of my stuff from artists on Etsy because I wish to support artists and their hard work and creativity. I have seen designs copied from artists and sold on other places for cheap. I find it sickening. It’s truly theft and I refuse to support anyone who copies creative people’s work.
@@elly7199I'm afraid Etsy has its scammers too. It's getting pretty bad on there....
@@elly7199So. About Etsy. You might know, but there's been a significant uptick of people reselling cheap goods that they got from places like Ali express as if they made it on Etsy for a higher price. Just be careful
Oh yes, your tarot deck is genuine that will tell the truth, unlike other cards 😂 please stop selling that garbage to people, all that mumbo jumbo is only used to scam people. Maybe create a card game? Something of an actual use....
@@renenetatm8222Do you have something useful to add to the conversation? Being anti-woo isn’t a personality.
Another consequence of no inspections is vendors selling items that aren’t safe. Folks are bringing into their homes, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms products that are made with unsafe ingredients and trusting that they meet US standards when they’ve never been tested and do not pass our standards. It’s aggressively anti-consumer and undermines the ability of other companies to apply these standards to their products. Thank you for taking a stand, Nick.
I love your decor content, but even more I love that you have ethics and aren't afraid to talk about issues like this. This is absolutely not above your pay grade, and I'd love to see more of this type of content. Bravo and thank you.
Thank you Nick! I'm so glad "someone" has brought some of the serious concerns surrounding TEMU to the forefront! As you said, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is." I was surprised to see some youtube creators do their "haul" from TEMU.I unsubscribed. Disappointed and saddened really. When I first heard of TEMU I smelled a "suspicious odor" about their approach. My immediate reaction was...MORE CRAP TO DUMP INTO OUR ENVIORNMENT!!! Just another sneaky way to feed the always hungry retail monster! My personal opinion here.
Nick, I think you are MARVELLOUS for putting together this video! 🤩 I am THRILLED to see you jumping way ahead of the pack in saying what you’ve said here 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I hope this is your most successful video to date 🎉
I definitely appreciated that you took the time to explain why people might be buying from these places or supporting them, but I do think that even those of us who have very little should still be as knowledgeable as possible about what we buy. It is one thing to buy the cheapest food, towels, and toothbrushes bc we have to. It's a whole other thing to be buying junk toys, julery, and bags (etc) bc you want something "nice". Remember that will last all of 2 weeks and then end up in a land fill. Do what you have to to survive, but try your best to care abt the planet and exploitation of other people.
I’ve never commented on your channel before but I just wanted to let you know greatly I appreciate this video. There are so many issues the general public either ignores or doesn’t even realize about common fast fashion brands/companies and the super fast fashion that is SHEIN and Temu. The scale is mind blowing
Wonderful video, Nick. Balanced, fair and sensitive.
Suppport our local mom and pop store . I also love to shop at my local thrift store.
I always felt the too good to be true vibe before I order. I stopped ordering for a month now Most of the products were satisfying but none of the electronics. So. It pretty much no more for me. I have all I need and it is colorful to browse at their products, but if I look hard enough I can find something similar at my local store.. I hope to go on a second month without a purchase.
This was a fantastic video. Thank you for wrapping this up by explaining the impossible situation folks are put in when wages don't keep up with labor. The true villain is the elimination of the middle class and quality products being out of reach for most of us - not the folks struggling to make it. ❤️ Well researched and well said.
1000% agree with you. I will never shop there, either.
I’ve always enjoyed your home decor videos but this mini documentary is amazing. You managed to cover everything people should know, or at least think about, in 18 minutes. Thank you.
Great topic. Excellent job covering it. I saw a “funny” t-shirt ad on X from Temu. Clicked the link and got a pop-up warning that it was an unreliable business and items may not even be shipped.
China has been stealing for YEARS. 1990’s mid-town manhattan - while walking back from lunch with a friend who was a textile designer, we passed a 3 card Monty hustler doing his thing. My friend noticed the cloth covering his table was her design but not by her company. She politely asked and offered to pay for it. He said no. You should have seen his face when she just pulled it off, politely said thank you and turned and walked away.
Nick...100%. Each part of this pie could fill hours of air space. I believe there is one (at least) more piece of this materialistic pie....we think we need NEED some "thing" or our shopping compulsion is in full throttle, so we buy the unnecessary crap which keeps perpetuating companies like TEMU...and many others.
As a Canadian, you don't have to tell me YOU are Canadian. This video, your point of view on this , your empathetic position on other people's situations is a portrait of the best kind of Canadian nice guy.
Also having the middle thrive!
There are people like this found all over the world, and it has nothing to do with nationality.
@@lilithowl nope, it’s totally the Canadian air and soil ;)
@@lilithowl Thank you for doubting the saintly Canadian myth. Americans worship at the shrine of their imaginary cultural virtue.
I love your empathy for others. It always seems genuine and there is not enough of that in this online world. ❤
Thank you for sharing your perspective on this issue. Fast fashion truly isn’t sustainable, and as you mentioned, the cost hasn’t disappeared. Someone pays it somewhere along the line. I am not wealthy, so I look through thrift store items, yard sales, and Facebook marketplace to find those hidden gems. I look for quality, well made pieces at a price that is manageable for our household, and I find them too!🙂
One of my favourite videos of your channel, love that you discussed this and did it so well!
And therein lies my problem. It's either high-end shopping or Walmart/Target. There are minimal retailers in the middle anymore. It's so frustrating for me/middle America. I ask myself all the time, what happened?
Indeed, it is difficult to find middle of the ground anymore
No department stores? I buy from them so they must exist.
After learning that their reply to a quality complaint was “we try really hard to keep your information safe” I decided to never buy from them. If that’s not a veiled threat I don’t know what is.
Nick- can we have a quick talk? I literally love your content! You have a unique talent of approaching every subject in from all angles, which is obviously a welcome refresh compared to many other channels who’s content often requires the audience to constantly filter any expressed opinions through something of an “influencer bias”.
That being said, as a sound engineer- IM BEGGING YOU- PLEASE LOWER THE GAIN ON YOUR MIC TO A POINT WHERE ITS NEVER IN THE RED this is called clipping and it’s badddd (good rule of thumb is never let recorded audio levels exceed more than 3/4 of the little audio signal bar that’s displayed by your cam when recording 🙏
…or at the very least, reduce it a bit in post during the edit.
Your audience’s ears will thank you!!!!
Thank you for weighing in on this and doing a bit more serious deeper dive. Very appreciated!
I love how you did your best to explain all the angles of this conversation!
Big kudos for expressing your empathy on why people promote and buy from there and other places. It's easy to say don't when you have money, but the single mom whose kid wants to be a ballerina for Halloween is going to look at the 7 dollar cheap costume vs the 40 dollar one that, let's face it, is also cheap, and get the 7 dollar one from Temu. I know people who have and still do struggled, and thus love the "fast fashion" places (though most try to keep it good for a long time.)
So thank you.
I've been watching your videos for a while but this one got me to subscribe. Really appreciate your thoughtfulness
Such a terrific summary of the complexities. Like always you are respectful, thoughtful and share your sly humor. Thanks. Really learned a lot.