Temu is a relatively new player in the e-commerce market, rapidly gaining popularity due to extremely low prices and attractive promotions. The platform is controlled by the Chinese company Whaleco Technology Limited, which is part of PDD Holdings. It has managed to attract millions of users worldwide. However, despite the economic benefits and outward appeal, concerns are beginning to mount around the marketplace regarding product safety, data privacy, product quality, and intellectual property rights.
PDD Holdings is registered in the Cayman Islands, but in 2023, its headquarters was relocated to Dublin. The Temu platform began operations in the United States in September 2022 and entered the markets of Australia and New Zealand in March 2023. As of January 17, 2024, it has expanded to 49 countries worldwide.
In February 2024, during the Super Bowl broadcast, Temu aired several commercials, offering gifts worth 15 million dollars. This led to a significant increase in search queries and traffic to the Temu website. As a result, the number of active users of the marketplace in the United States surpassed 100 million, the app was downloaded over 130 million times globally, and according to Semrush, Temu's website visits reached 420 million.
What is Temu? It is a Chinese online store that resembles AliExpress in terms of functionality and offerings. The interface is very user-friendly, and the prices are often impressively affordable. The ordering process is so simple that if you have used AliExpress, you won’t encounter any difficulties here either.
On the platform, you can often find incredibly good deals, such as a set of 8 makeup brushes for less than a dollar or 10 pairs of socks for $3.87 with free international shipping. Since its launch in September 2022, the Temu app has been downloaded 50 million times in the United States alone.
The company employs a business model that enables Chinese suppliers to sell products directly to end consumers. This approach removes the need for intermediaries and warehouses, which reduces costs and makes products more affordable. As a result, Temu can offer a wide range of goods at highly competitive prices, attracting a large number of customers worldwide. Additionally, international logistics transportations ensure fast delivery of orders from China to the United States, the EU, and other countries, providing convenience for consumers.
The company is actively expanding its partnerships by engaging manufacturers from various countries. At the same time, it is working on integrating new technologies to automate and streamline the purchasing process. However, despite the advantages of this model, there are certain drawbacks for buyers. The absence of intermediaries and warehouses not only cuts costs but also removes legal responsibility for product quality and after-sales service. Therefore, despite favorable conditions, users may encounter specific issues that should be considered when ordering products.
Before making purchases, it is essential to be aware of platform features that may pose risks to users.
Temu has frequently faced criticism for selling low-quality products and for the high likelihood of encountering counterfeit items. Investigations by journalists have shown that many products contain hazardous levels of harmful substances (such as lead, antimony, and cadmium). Lawrence Harwood, a professor of organic chemistry at the University of Reading, noted that "when lead accumulates in the body, even a small amount can lead to serious health issues: reduced sperm count, miscarriages, and stillbirths." He further emphasized that "these levels of antimony are absolutely unacceptable. Over a prolonged period, this can have severe consequences for the body, especially for the nervous system."
Such cases not only violate quality standards but also pose health risks, particularly to children, who are the most vulnerable to the effects of toxic materials. Additionally, counterfeit certificates have been found on products, further undermining trust in product safety.
Experts have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the collection and use of users' personal data. In 2023, Google blocked access to a subsidiary application of the company, Pinduoduo, on the Play Store due to the presence of malware. The Temu app was also removed from the App Store for violating privacy policies.
"We believe that PDD is a dying fraudulent company, and its shopping app, Temu, is a sophisticatedly concealed spyware that poses a serious threat to U.S. national security interests," stated analysts from Grizzly Research. They identified hidden functions within the app that enable data collection (contacts, messages, location, activity of other apps) from users' mobile devices without their consent. The situation is further complicated by the possibility that the collected data could be transferred to Chinese government agencies, posing an additional threat to national security.
The company has repeatedly been accused of using forced labor at its factories. Media outlets and human rights organizations report numerous instances of worker exploitation, further intensifying concerns over the ethics of ordering from the platform.
Consumers are attracted by low prices; however, Temu's financial model raises many questions, as the company's annual losses reach $954 million. The pressure on suppliers forces them to reduce product prices to a critical level, which negatively impacts product quality.
The marketplace is accused of violating fair competition rules, stealing intellectual property, and using counterfeit certificates. In light of this, it is recommended to exercise caution when purchasing on Temu, and it is better to consider alternative offerings from reputable suppliers.
There is a category of users who highlight the convenience of ordering and the incredibly low prices on a variety of products. At the same time, a significant number of customers complain about the inadequate quality of the products, long delivery times, and the lack of customer support. There are also complaints about receiving items that do not match the description or are counterfeit. The absence of quality certificates also prompts users to think twice and choose more reliable options.
For ordering, you can choose eBay, Amazon, or AliExpress:
Despite low prices and a diverse assortment, orders on Temu come with numerous risks. Poor product quality, hazardous substances in goods, and privacy violations are just some of the issues users face. In addition, the marketplace often becomes the subject of lawsuits due to violations of intellectual property rights and unfair competition. As an alternative to Temu, it is advisable to consider reputable platforms and seek assistance from logistics companies with an excellent reputation.
Valid:
