Is Temu Legit? Things You Need To Know Before Buying Products From It
Temu has managed to build a huge customer base within a concise span. It allows users to bargain and have the best deal on each product.
It is also one of the most downloadable free apps in America. So, is Temu legit? Can I trust the app as a customer?
Finding answers to these questions becomes essential as Temu has already been accused of selling fake products. In addition, there have been instances of misusing the user data.
Let’s dig deeper and unearth the truth.
What Is Temu?
Temu is an online marketplace, but it’s different from Amazon and other marketplaces because it’s a hub of discounted items. The discounts it offers are unbelievable, to say the least.
Temu reaches out to target consumers through social media ads. Further, it comes with referral offers, and there is always a Temu discount code for you as they conduct clearance sales regularly.
How To Use Temu?
Downloading and using Temu is very easy. You just need to download it on your iOS or Android mobile phone and start exploring the products.
However, before downloading the app on your device, you need to know, “Is Temu legit?” So, stick around!
Who Owns Temu?
PDD Holdings, a multinational commerce group with headquarters in Dublin, owns Temu. However, there needs to be more clarity regarding the ownership of Temu.
The Washington Post says that this most popular app in the USA deleted the name of its Chinese owner to avoid the ban.
So, when you visit the Temu website today, you will only get to see that the company came into being in Boston in 2022. There is no information about its parent company in the About Us section of the company’s website.
Is Temu Legit?
Yes, Temu is legit as an online marketplace, selling a wide range of products, including fashion items, at a heavily discounted rate.
So, if you order something on Temu, you will get the same delivered to your address within the promised time.
However, there are many reports of dissatisfaction regarding the quality of the products. Some even complained about receiving a damaged or different product. So, quality remains a concern for Temu.
The Better Business Bureau offers a 2.55 rating out of 5 for Temu on an average of 1188 customer reviews.
Further, as I checked Trustpilot, the company has managed to bag a 3.2 rating based on 9425 customer reviews.
So, I cannot say that every product is of poor quality. However, there is much room for improvement.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given a C-minus rating for Temu, judging the complaints received against the company. However, BBB does not label it as an unsafe company or scam.
Does Temu Have A Refund Policy?
Yes, Temu has a well-defined refund policy. If you order something and don’t need it anymore, you can return the same to Temu within 90 days of your purchase.
Further, if you receive an order after the estimated delivery date of Temu, you will get a credit in your account, and you can use that later.
In addition, if your order is not delivered, you will be eligible for a complete refund. It may take around 30 days for the refund amount to get credited to your account.
All the details about Temu refund fall under the “Temu Purchase Protection Program.”
What Is The Temu Controversy?
Temu came into the limelight earlier this year for all the wrong reasons. One user wrote on BBB about the scam that happened. The user writes,
“This company has scammed me and ripped me off. I had placed two orders with Temu on 05/25/2023 but the supposed order was shipped in one badly damaged and torn box. Upon receiving this order their were numerous items missing from the order. I am so tired of dealing with this company. This company is nothing but professional liars and scam artists!!!!”
This post also attracted similar comments from the customers. One of them accused Temu of taking the payment and never sending the products. Another user accused Temu of being dubious about the price.
Temu was also accused of “Amazon storefront cloning” after a brand named Hicober hauled Temu for selling its products listed on Amazon without any permission or the use of the trademark.
However, Temu came up with a response and said that a third-party seller was behind the infringement, and Temu removed all such products from their site.
Does Temu Produce Products Ethically?
Temu is not a production facility. It acts as a liaison between the customers and suppliers. However, it focuses on the “reverse manufacturing model.” As a result, it only engages with products with a high customer demand.
Further, the Third Party Code of Conduct of Temu does not allow it to deal with vendors who do not follow labor laws.
However, the U.S. House Select Committee’s report highlights any such auditing or compliance program for Temu.
In terms of environmental sustainability, Temu promises the use of digital money and works to minimize carbon emissions in shipping and delivery.
Why Are Temu Products So Less in Price?
There are many versions of how Temu can offer each product at a cheap rate. As per Temu, it sells cheap products because it works as a bridge between the suppliers and customers.
Temu only ships the products from the suppliers to the customers. So, it does not need to own products and sell them at a high or market rate.
However, many people accuse the company of exploiting the “de minimis loophole.” De minimis makes the import of $800 to America free of taxes, fees, and strict inspections.
So, the de minimis provision helps Temu to avoid the cost of custom inspections and other tax tariffs.
Does Temu Collect Data From Users? Is Temu Legit In Data Safety?
“The U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission” had conducted an investigation against Temu. It was to find out the data risks, violation of sources, and loopholes in the business.
The commission released a report in April 2023. It did not call the app or website unsafe. However, it mentioned that temu’s.
“lack of affiliation with established brands has brought concerns of product quality as well as accusations of copyright infringement.”
There has been another report from the commission where it has mentioned a CNN investigation. The investigation says.
“Pinduoduo’s Google Android app accesses “private messages, change settings, view data from other apps, and prevent uninstallation.”
So, is Temu legit in data safety? That remains a concern still.
Final Words: Buying From Temu
So, is Temu legit? See, as I have mentioned earlier, no entity has clearly labeled it as a scam company.
However, keeping the customer reviews, controversies, and security concerns flagged by many authorities in mind, it is better to avoid hefty purchases from the site.
Have you ordered anything from Temu lately? How was your experience of buying products from the site? Is Temu legit? Don’t forget to share.
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