Temu: The New E-Commerce Giant That’s Offering Products at Rock-Bottom Prices

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E-commerce has become a major part of the global economy, accounting for 21% of global retail sales in 2021. While Amazon is the dominant player in this market in the West, a new challenger has emerged, called Temu. Since its arrival in 2022, it has become the number one free shopping app in the App Store, beating out even Amazon.

Temu’s success can be attributed to a number of factors. Including its ability to deliver products at very low prices with free shipping. So, what actually is Temu, and how is it able to deliver products at such low prices? Let’s find out here.

What is Temu?

Temu is a new online shopping app that has become one of the most popular in the world. Founded in 2022, Temu is based in Boston, Massachusetts. But its parent company, PDD Holdings, is headquartered in Ireland. PDD Holdings also owns another popular Chinese e-commerce app called Pinduoduo.

Like most eCommerce apps, Temu offers a wide variety of products across more than 250+ categories. This includes everything from clothing, accessories, and home appliances to furniture and more.

How is everything so cheap?

But what sets Temu apart from its rivals is the ability to offer products at really cheap prices. You can buy sunglasses for $2, soap holders for $1, and men’s shorts for just $6. Temu’s homepage is filled with products that are below $10.

So how are these products so cheap? Its parent company, PDD Holdings, has an impressive network of cost-efficient global suppliers. And Temu is taking full advantage of it. It not only allows it to access millions of products but also lets it sell products at cheaper prices. And since there is no middleman, Temu can pass the savings on to its customers.

Is Temu a scam?

As the brand is offering products at a much cheaper price, people grow a fair amount of skepticism. After all, how can a company offer such low prices without sacrificing quality?

As we said earlier, Temu uses its parent company’s network to keep prices low. But that may not be enough to build trust with consumers.

Fortunately, Temu has recently secured a Google Play Editors’ Choice app badge. It’s a recognition only given to high-quality apps. For an app to earn Editor’s badge, it should meet the strict criteria set by Google. It includes a visually appealing design, regular updates, and adherence to Google Play policies. Being an Editors’ Choice app means that Temu has been vetted by Google and is considered to be a reliable and safe platform for consumers.

Are Temu’s products of good quality?

It is difficult to say for sure whether the products in Temu are of high quality or cheap. It has over 1,800 reviews on TrustPilot, with an average rating of 3 stars. However, one-star reviews slightly outnumber the other ratings. Most people complain about long shipping times, low-quality items, and poor customer service.

There are also plenty of five-star reviews on TrustPilot, mostly praising the low prices and large selection of items. However, it is unclear how many of these reviews are authentic or verifiable.

Also, it is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an average rating of 2 out of 5 stars. For starters, the BBB is a nonprofit organization that handles complaints from consumers about their marketplace experiences.

Many recent complaints about Temu on the BBB website say that items never arrived or, if they did, took weeks or even months to arrive. All in all, the reviews of Temu are mixed. So it is important to do your research before shopping in Temu to make sure you are getting a good deal.