Is Temu Actually Legit? Honest Review

10 min readApr 29, 2024

If you’re active on social media or seen the ads, you’ve likely come across Temu, an online marketplace renowned for its low-priced products.

Temu boasts deals on a wide array of imitation products with enticing prices that have been likened to offerings on platforms like AliExpress or Walmart Marketplace.

Upon navigating Temu’s homepage, you’re likely left wondering whether Temu is trustworthy or a potential scam.

And that’s what we want to address with this Temu review. We’ll take a closer look at how Temu operates, why it is all over the internet all of a sudden, and whether it is legit.

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Key Takeaways

Temu is an online marketplace known for its low-priced products.
Temu is owned and operated by Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings.
Questions have been raised about the trustworthiness of Temu, with concerns ranging from data privacy and product quality to forced labor and intellectual property issues.
Temu’s pricing model often leads to significant discounts compared to other platforms, attributed to direct shipping from manufacturers and incentivized pricing strategies.
VERDICT: While Temu is a legitimate platform, you should be cautious about product quality and ethical concerns. Ultimately, whether Temu is suitable depends on individual preferences and priorities.

What is Temu?

Temu is an online marketplace that is owned and operated by the Chinese e-commerce company, PDD Holdings. It provides consumers with heavily discounted consumer goods, primarily shipped directly from China.

Temu’s popularity among consumers stems from its business model. However, it has also raised concerns regarding data privacy, forced labor, intellectual property, and product quality. Legal disputes with rival Shein have further complicated the company’s operations.

We’ll take a look at all that later.

PDD Holdings owns and operates Temu, alongside the popular Chinese online commerce platform, Pinduoduo.

Initially registered in the Cayman Islands, PDD Holdings relocated its incorporation to Dublin in 2023.

Temu made its debut in the United States in September 2022. By March 2023, it expanded its reach to Australia and New Zealand, followed by launches in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK the next month.

Subsequently, Temu entered the Latin American market and, on January 17, 2024, officially launched in South Africa, marking its 49th country of operation since its inception.

In February 2024, Temu aired several Super Bowl ads, featuring giveaways totaling US$15 million. The campaign resulted in a notable increase in name searches and website traffic.

Following the Super Bowl campaign, Temu achieved significant milestones.

For example, it was now boasting 100 million active users in the U.S., over 130 million app downloads worldwide, and approximately 420 million monthly website visits, according to Semrush.

How Temu Works

Temu operates by selling items directly from manufacturers, bypassing intermediaries such as Amazon or Walmart, and shipping products directly to consumers.

Customers can make online purchases on Temu using either an Internet browser or a dedicated mobile shopping app.

It mostly has China-based vendors and it has been a way for them to directly sell and ship products to customers, bypassing the need for intermediate distributors in destination countries.

Shipping directly to consumers from manufacturers eliminates the need for the site to cover warehousing expenses in the United States. Additionally, it takes advantage of the de minimis exception, a trade provision where individual packages valued below $800 are exempt from standard customs procedures for commercial goods and import taxes.

However, while passing tax savings to consumers, bypassing customs also means manufacturers avoid similar regulatory scrutiny regarding product safety and manufacturing practices.

This has enabled it to sell products at a relatively low price.

For example, you could have a product on Amazon selling at $30 yet on Temu, it will be available for just $12.

The main explanation you get is that this significant price difference is due to Temu shipping the shoes directly from the factory, rather than routing them through an Amazon warehouse before reaching the consumer.

However, some sellers report that Temu requests price reductions, even leading to selling items at a loss.

Sellers on Temu are even required to offer their products at prices lower than those on AliExpress, with only the seller offering the lowest price for a given product being authorized by Temu. Products failing to meet Temu’s minimum sales requirements are removed from the platform.

Another factor contributing to Temu’s low prices is its lack of major brand offerings, unlike Amazon or Walmart and other online marketplaces. While Temu stocks some of the same products (often at lower prices), customers don’t receive perks such as two-day Amazon Prime shipping.

Additionally, Temu incentivizes users to refer new customers through affiliate codes, social media, and gamification, often rewarding successful referrals with free goods.

The online retailer has become famous for its large-scale online advertising campaigns on Facebook and Instagram.

The company recently famously aired TV ads during Super Bowl LVIII, contributing to its popularity. Research by Sensor Tower indicates that Temu users spent an average of 23 minutes per week on the app in the last quarter of 2023, surpassing the time spent on Amazon and nearly matching that of eBay users.

Lawsuits

Temu hasn’t been without its fair share of accusations from competitors.

The main one has been Shein. Shein began its operations in China in 2008 before relocating to Singapore in 2019. Just like Temu, it usually dispatches items directly to American consumers from its Chinese manufacturing facilities. However, unlike Temu, Shein’s primary focus lies in fashion merchandise.

In December 2022, Temu was sued by Shein claiming that Temu had enlisted online influencers to promote its goods by making false and deceptive statements about Shein. In response, Temu filed a lawsuit against Shein in July 2023, alleging that Shein had engaged in threats, intimidation, and false assertions of infringement against clothing manufacturers thought to be associated with Temu.

On July 31, 2023, Shein secured a temporary restraining order against Temu in a separate case, accusing Temu of using copyrighted images in product listings. Later, in August, Shein sought an injunction against Temu in London’s High Court, claiming that Temu’s sellers had copied thousands of Shein’s listing photos, and requested the removal of violating posts along with damages.

On July 18, 2023, Temu filed a federal lawsuit against Shein, accusing it of violating U.S. antitrust laws. Temu alleged that Shein, with over 75% market share in the U.S. ultra-fast fashion market, used its dominance to compel exclusive agreements with apparel manufacturers, thereby restricting collaboration with Temu. Temu claimed that Shein’s mandate for exclusive distribution agreements with manufacturers supplying or selling on its platform hindered competition, leading to higher prices and fewer consumer options.

In October 2023, both Shein and Temu requested dismissal without prejudice of their respective cases against each other in Massachusetts and Illinois, without offering further explanation or indication of a settlement.

In December 2023, Temu filed another lawsuit against Shein, alleging illegal interference with its suppliers.

Customer Complaints

If you find yourself questioning the legitimacy of Temu’s bargains, you’re not alone — many share your skepticism.

To understand this, you need to know that some merchants use Temu as a clearing house; where they sell off low-quality, expired, or outdated products.

Temu customers have complained about a surge of undelivered packages, discrepancies in products due to false advertisements, mysterious charges, and unresponsive customer service.

The Better Business Bureau has profiled Temu, prompted by 31 complaints received from customers regarding the website’s service. As of 2024, the company holds a BBB rating of C+, despite not being BBB accredited.

Temu spokesperson, responding to the consumer complaints said that some of the accusations were not legitimate and were published by competitors.

In March 2024, BabyCenter conducted a review of the Temu app, highlighting concerns such as the presence of recalled products, potential counterfeits, and items bypassing U.S. safety standards. These factors raised alarms regarding safety features essential in preventing issues like choking.

Controversies

1. Data Privacy Concerns

When you shop online, different retailers handle your data differently, which can affect your security. Some tech bloggers have expressed concerns about the data practices of Temu, particularly its Temu app, and whether it poses an increased risk of malware.

In May 2023, the United States–China Economic and Security Review Commission expressed concerns about risks to users’ personal data on Temu.

This came after Pinduoduo, its sister company in China, faced suspension from Google Play due to the discovery of malware in certain versions not available on Google’s app store.

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission places Temu in the same category as Shien regarding data risks. The agency highlights that PPD Holdings, Temu’s parent company, faced criticism in 2023 when its app Pinduoduo was removed from app stores due to malware concerns.

This malware could bypass user security permissions, access private messages, alter settings, access data from other apps, and resist uninstallation. As of now, Temu’s app has not faced accusations of similar malware.

In response, Pinduoduo swiftly released an update to remove the exploits, subsequently disbanding the team of engineers and product managers responsible for developing them. While most of the team transitioned to roles within Temu’s various departments, a core group of engineers remained at Pinduoduo.

On May 17, 2023, Greg Gianforte, the governor of Montana, enacted a statewide ban on Temu’s use on government devices, alongside applications from ByteDance (including TikTok), WeChat, and Telegram.

Apple also addressed concerns, stating that Temu had previously violated the company’s mandatory privacy rules and misled users about its data usage practices.

In 2023, separate class action lawsuits were filed against Temu in Illinois and New York, both related to the platform’s handling of private data collected through user accounts.

2. Work Culture

Critics have targeted Temu for fostering an intense workplace culture and promoting a 996 working-hour system. This culture has been linked to incidents of employee deaths at PDD Holdings, garnering international attention.

In 2024, the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal revealed that PDD Holdings, Temu’s parent company, employs surveillance and pursues non-compete lawsuits against former employees who join rival companies.

3. Forced Labor Concerns

In addition to its other challenges, the company has also been grappling with forced labor accusations.

In June 2023, the United States House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party stated that Temu failed to maintain “even the façade of a meaningful compliance program” with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act to prevent goods made by forced labor from being sold on its platform.

The committee’s report offered a critical assessment of Temu, indicating an “extremely high risk of forced labor contamination within Temu’s supply chains.”

Additionally, the report revealed that Temu had exploited United States de minimis rules to evade customs enforcement. These accusations resurfaced in 2024 led by US Senator Tom Cotton and US House representatives Kat Cammack and Michelle Steel after the company aired commercials during Super Bowl LVIII.

4. Intellectual Property Concerns

Sellers in Temu frequently encounter accusations of infringing upon intellectual property rights. Reports of design theft have also surfaced.

5. Misleading Advertisements

In 2023, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned some Temu ads.

The banned ads featured a bikini-wearing girl in a pose deemed “quite adult” for her age, jockstraps emphasizing “the outline of the genitalia”, cycling shorts that “appeared as underwear” with a cut-out bottom, and pictures of dresses that omitted the models’ faces.

Temu acknowledged that the picture of the girl violated the company’s policy and stated it would not be displayed again.

However, Temu disputed the ASA’s other findings, asserting that not showing models’ faces was not intended to objectify women and pointing out that similar photos were used by other retailers.

Is Temu Legit?

Yes, Temu is a legitimate company. You will likely receive what you ordered from Temu. If for some reason you don’t, Temu offers a Purchase Protection Program.

This program refunds your order if the item is damaged, not as pictured, or never delivered.

Overall, Temu is a legitimate platform, but don’t expect top-notch quality at discounted prices.

Remember, according to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Temu has a C+ rating and 2.5 stars. It’s worth noting that the company is not accredited by the BBB.

To avoid getting your inbox bombarded by offers, remember to unsubscribe from Temu marketing emails after placing your order.

Conclusion

Temu is just like a discount store. The products generally match their appearance on the website, but they are pretty much what you’d expect for the price you get them for, which is not the best quality.

Most users have reported that while online shopping on Temu, the product quality varied, often falling short of the standards set by similar products.

If you are looking for a bargain and wouldn’t mind the drop in quality, Temu may be an option. It’s important to note that while the prices are low, you may sacrifice performance and quality.

Of course, you also have to look past the ethical concerns (whether proven or otherwise).

While you probably shouldn’t shop around Temu for high-quality electronics, you might find good deals on car accessories, craft supplies, fashion items, home decor, and famous brand name knockoffs.

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