Everyday prices are extra high right now, so shoppers are turning to sites like Temu for their huge selection of affordable products. But many people have been wondering: Is Temu reputable?
Temu quickly became the number one free app on both the App Store and Google Play after its launch in September 2022. Their unbeatable prices across over 250 categories are hard to resist in times like these. From baby bibs and beauty items for as low as $0.44, to power tools and pet supplies under $3, Temu has a little something for everyone looking to shop more affordably.
But with prices that seem too good to be true, it’s no surprise that people want to know if Temu is a reputable and safe place to shop. Don’t worry, we’ve done the research and even tried shopping at Temu ourselves to bring you the truth. So, if you’re wondering if Temu is the real deal, we’ve got the answers for you.
A Little About Temu
Temu (pronounced “tee-moo”) is an online shopping site that hosts millions of third-party vendors, allowing them to sell all kinds of low-priced products to U.S. and Canadian shoppers.
Temu is a Boston-based company founded by a multinational commerce group with a market cap of over $120 billion.
Whether you shop online or in the Temu app (iOS / Android), you can buy everything from clothing and cookware to novelty items like musical instruments and wigs. Plus, everything is incredibly low-priced.
Related: We did some cost comparisons and found that Temu has the lowest prices for reusable water balloons in summer 2023.
What does Temu mean?
Temu means “Team Up, Price Down,” which reflects Temu’s focus on using economies of scale to drive down prices for their consumers. The more shoppers who buy, the more sellers and manufacturers can produce at scale. This leads to lower costs for suppliers and better prices for shoppers.
Where is Temu located?
Temu is located in the famous Back Bay area of Boston, Massachusetts.
Why is Temu so affordable?
These are three major reasons why Temu can sell products at such low prices:
- Temu gets to tap into the success of their parent company, who can easily negotiate better prices from their large network of global suppliers, then pass those savings onto Temu customers.
- Because Temu is a third-party marketplace, sellers are constantly entering the marketplace and competing with one another for customers. This helps Temu keep prices low as sellers strive to capture customer demand.
- Since Temu has strong financial backing from their parent company, they’re able to offer year-round discounts and promos on top of their already low prices.
How long does Temu take to deliver?
Temu takes around 7 – 15 days to deliver your items. The shipping times seem to vary by item and order, but the majority of customers say they receive orders in about 10 days. Some customers say they receive their packages in as little as 3 – 4 days. But you can actually check the product page for a specific item on their website to see the most accurate estimates.
Is Temu Legit?
Yes, Temu is a legit online shopping platform.
Despite some rumors and online reviews, Temu is totally legit. Their website and company are verified in more ways than one. First of all, they’re backed by a legitimate corporation and support a variety of trusted and secure payment methods on their site (like PayPal, GPay, Apple Pay, and more). They also have multiple security measures in place to protect their shopper’s payment information.
Also, the negative reviews about Temu aren’t the full story. Temu has plenty of five-star reviews from satisfied customers who ordered and received items without issue. So while their customer service could probably use some work, Temu is still a legitimate company to shop from.
Related: Hack Amazon’s prices with these top Amazon promo codes happening now.
Reputable brands like Lenovo sell their products through the Temu platform.
Temu doesn’t just sell products from unknown brands. In fact, they partner with big names like Lenovo and Laneige to sell their products on the platform. These Lenovo Thinkplus Wireless Earphones are the number one bestseller of all headphones sold through Temu.
So why would Lenovo risk partnering with a brand that isn’t safe? Well, they wouldn’t. So this definitely speaks to Temu’s overall credibility and legitimacy.
As you scroll through the listings, you’ll see some that say something like, “Direct from Lenovo.” This means the item you’re looking at is coming directly from a brand you already know and trust.
Temu offers purchase protection if something goes wrong with your order.
Under Temu’s Purchase Protection Program, you’re promised a full refund if your item is damaged, missing, or doesn’t come as described.
All you have to do is start a return on the “Your Orders” page and click the “Return/other help” button. Then select your return method and click “submit.”
After that, print your return label, stick it on your package, and drop it off at your nearest USPS or UPS location.
KCL shoppers had an overall positive experience ordering from Temu.
KCL likes to get the whole picture and share our straight-up honest thoughts with you. So we placed an order in the Temu app to see what it was all about.
We ordered two belts, a shampoo scalp scrubber, a shelf figurine, extra earring backs, a music box, and a bunch of enamel pins. The order total only cost $48.33.
What we loved:
- Shipping was free and fast, and the tracking updates were awesome. It only took a week for the order to arrive, and shipping was free. Plus, you can see your shipments right in the Temu app and get tracking notifications about your packages.
- Nothing came damaged and everything was as expected. There were no product flaws or major surprises when we saw the items we ordered in person. The buckle on one of the belts we ordered was plastic, which was a little disappointing, but it’s holding up well so far.
- Prices were extremely low. There were only a few items we thought we could buy for less elsewhere (like in the apparel category), but otherwise, the prices were pretty unbeatable.
What we didn’t love:
- All the follow-up. We received several daily texts and emails from Temu after placing an order, which is a bit much. The offers they’re sending are lightning deals that seem to sell out quickly, so it adds an overly deep sense of urgency. But if you like an item that sold out, you can choose to get an alert when it’s back in stock.
All in all, we can tell you from personal experience that Temu is a legitimate company and is safe to shop from.
Temu Shopping Tips
1. Set the right expectations.
We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of our Temu items, but the customer complaints about low-quality orders do have credibility, depending on the specific items you order.
If you’re looking to shop at affordable prices, Temu is a great option for you. But you have to remember — the link between quality and cost is very real. Some Temu sellers set their prices so low for a reason. Not everything you order is going to be the best of the best, so be sure to set the right expectations before you shop.
2. Read up on the Temu return policy before you shop.
Know how you’re protected and how you’re not. Before you place an order, read up on the Temu return policy. You should always know what you’re getting into in case your order doesn’t work out.
To summarize their policy, you have 90 days to return purchases to Temu. Shipping is free on your first return for each order. If you’d like to return additional items from the same order, you can still do that within the 90-day period, but you’ll have to pay a $7.99 return shipping fee for a second return.
It can take anywhere from 7 – 30 business days to get your refund back to your original payment method. But it only takes three days if you choose to get your refund as Temu store credit. So if you want real cash back, just know you may have to wait.
What you can’t return to Temu:
- Clothing items that are worn, washed, damaged, with tags, packaging, or hygiene sticker removed or in an incomplete set.
- Items that are labeled as nonrefundable
- Free gifts
3. Always read the product dimensions before you place an order.
Plenty of online shoppers have experienced the same thing — where they thought they ordered something much bigger than it actually was. A friend of mine once thought she got a killer deal on a copper cookware set from a popular online retailer. When her order arrived, the pots and pans were sized for a dollhouse. It was hilarious, but she didn’t find it as funny as I did.
These sizing surprises aren’t a Temu-specific problem; they’re part of a larger online shopping flaw. So no matter where you shop, always check the product dimensions before you place your order. Who wants to get stuck with something they’ll never use, anyway?
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