Meet Temu - the controversial shopping app helping consumers 'save mega money'
Temu is becoming one of the most talked about shopping apps of the year due to it's bargain prices, proving to be too competitive with bigger online brands.
The Chinese-owned digital app got its fame worldwide thanks to its appearances on TikTok where users show off their Temu buys in a round of this is what I bought, versus this is what I got style videos.
Temu (pronounced “tee-moo”) first invited people to “shop like a billionaire” during a 30-second advertising slot at this year's Super Bowl, promising shoppers that their products are at impossible prices.
Now, Temu is gaining attraction here in the UK but some consumers have claimed the app is a 'scam' while others say they have been 'ordering from it for months.'
Temu is scaling the app chartsHere's everything you need to know about the controversial app that is building a loyal fan base among shoppers here in the UK and worldwide.
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Temu launched last year and is reportedly well on its way to overtaking Shein and Amazon.
Offering discounts on clothes, furniture, home appliances and just about anything else you can think of, Temu is currently the most downloaded free app on the App store and Google Play.
More than 7m Brits have installed Temu, according to data compiled by Sensor Tower. Globally, it has hit 117m downloads.
What makes it different from the rest, is the majority of Temu's items are extraordinarily cheap. Shoppers can buy sunglasses from £1.50, jewellery from 70p and clothing for under £4.
They even have a 'Lightning deals' section, with socks costing 44p, water bottles costing £1.79 and an air humidifier for £1.97.
A two-pack of shower organisers retails for £7.48, an Amazon listing with identical images is advertised for £13.59. A £100 air fryer on Amazon retails for less than half that on Temu, and on average, prices are roughly half that of its US rival.
Temu has stressed that their products on their app are real and shoppers will likely receive them in a matter of weeks - but they may look slightly different to what consumers may have imagined.
Reviewers have stated that the quality is lower than expected but despite this, Temu does offer customers refunds for purchases with standard shipping that arrive later than originally stated.
Not all shoppers have left bad reviews though, others have praised the app for it's bargain finds.
Temu also offers customers money back as part of their Purchase Protection Program - which means if an order is damaged, doesn't arrive, or doesn't look like its online listing, it is eligible.
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The program guarantees your money back with a full refund if you return your items within 90 days of purchase.
Temu ships its products directly from their manufacturers in China and other countries to the buyer's door. Temu is able to advertise products for cheap prices because of lower manufacturing and labour costs in China, and it's costs are kept low through a deal with the Indonesian logistics giant J&T Express.
However, this in itself has sparked controversy after the a report published in June 2023 by the US Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (USCC), raised “serious concerns about the continued presence of products made with forced labour contaminating American imports.”
Either way, Temu is up against some tough competitors and will have to build trust among the shopping community, also offering sale events like Amazon does.
Amazon's Prime Day event takes place on July 11-12, you can shop it here.
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