Is Temu Legit? So Far, Temu Reviews Are Mixed. Here’s My Honest Experience.
Is Temu legit? The Temu reviews are all over the board so I had to try it out for myself!
Curious about the Temu reviews you’ve seen? Here’s my experience.
There’s a new website that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately and I had to see what the hype was all about. “Shop like a billionaire,” is one tagline for Temu, a shopping website that claims to offer quality products at dirt-cheap prices. Visit their homepage and you’ll see a huge selection of products, from socket wrenches to sunglasses. You’ll even spot lipsticks that cost just 71¢. Is Temu legit or are their offers too good to be true? To find out, I put Temu to the test and placed a few orders. Here’s what happened!
First, what is Temu, and is it legit?
Temu, pronounced tee-moo, is an online marketplace based in Boston that connects consumers to third-party sellers and manufacturers across the globe. The company states Temu means “team up, price down,” and that’s exactly what they aim to do. By pairing with the right third-party vendors, Temu is able to offer shoppers extremely low pricing.
That’s because these third-party sellers and manufacturers are all competing against one another to get your business. Another reason prices are so affordable is that Temu is able to leverage the reputation and negotiating power of its parent company, PDD Holdings which owns Pinduoduo, the top social commerce site in China.
Is Temu legit?
Yes. Temu is a legitimate company owned by a well-known corporation. Popular brands like Lenovo even have their products for sale on this website. Temu reviews are mixed, but keep in mind that the company is still very new. It seems that lately the company has had an abundance of orders and the delayed shipping times have resulted in some negative feedback. However, plenty of customers like Temu and report having a 5-star experience.
Is Temu safe?
Yes. Temu uses secure payment methods like PayPal, ApplePay, and more. They also have security measures in place to protect your personal information.
Curious about my Temu shopping experience? Here’s how it went!
When I first checked out Temu’s website, I was in awe at the number of products available and the “too good to be true” prices. I spent a lot of time searching product reviews to decide what to buy and what sizes I needed. I ended up purchasing a handful of products, including some cute accessories for my dogs (and bffs), Dolly and Gary. As for delivery, I received everything I ordered in the expected time frame, and each item was individually wrapped.
How long does it take Temu to deliver?
That’s the hot question that so many people want to know. I can say that I placed my orders on 2/22 and 2/24 and they arrived on 3/7 and 3/8, respectively. That’s just about 2 weeks. When you place an order, Temu gives you a delivery estimate so you know when to expect your goods to arrive. My delivery was on time and up to my expectations!
Many Temu reviewers expressed disappointment with delivery, but I believe that is due to consumers expecting shipment to be as fast as Amazon. That’s just not going to happen when you shop from Temu, but in exchange for longer delivery times, you get rock bottom prices. To be happy using Temu, it’s best to set your delivery expectations accordingly. I did, and I was pleased with the service and the goods I received.
Just check out how cute Dolly looks in her new beaded necklace…
The pros and cons of shopping at Temu.
There were a lot of things I liked about my shopping experience. My favorite parts about the site were similar to the other Temu reviews I’ve read.
Here are the major perks about using Temu’s online marketplace:
- Temu offers TONS of coupons, discounts, and promos.
- The company provides order status updates complete with tracking.
- The low price can’t be beat and they usually always have coupons too.
- My items may not have been Anthropologie quality, but I was pleased with them, and a couple of products were even the exact same items as those from Amazon.
- There are free returns within 90 days.
I was very surprised that the quality of the items I bought was similar to that of major retailers like Amazon. I am honestly shocked at the quality I received for the price I paid. No, the quality wasn’t the same as a luxury store, but the items were well-made for being so budget-friendly. That alone makes Temu worth checking out in my book. The company also offers extra coupons and promotions that can get the price down even more! 🙌
Where can you find a Temu coupon?
One of the perks I liked about Temu is that they have a designated coupons and offers page. Check this page before purchasing to see if there are any Temu coupons you can use.
So, is Temu legit? Yes, they are but they could still stand to make some improvements. I did notice a few negatives about my experience and they were similar to what other Temu reviews mentioned.
Here are the areas where Temu could stand to improve:
- I felt spammed since I received 67 emails from them since 2/22 and at least 21 texts (I finally turned the texts off).
- The wait time for delivery is longer than other online stores.
- The sizing of products can vary greatly.
Yes, Temu contacted me WAY too much. I would suggest someone unsubscribe OR use a throwaway (aka not their main email address) when ordering. I have a Gmail account just for some sites like this because I know they are spammy.
The second con had to do with the wait time. I was expecting to have to wait two weeks but I know some shoppers might become impatient since they receive faster delivery from stores like Amazon. I will say that Temu does give you an immediate $5 credit if your order does not arrive by the promised delivery window. However, I did see some reviewers were fully refunded because Temu could not fulfill their orders at all. 😬
If your item is late and you need to speak with someone at the company, the Temu Customer Service number is (888) 495-8368. You can also request a phone call from them on their website or email them at help@temu.com.
Also, reading the reviews is a must. This helps with sizing issues for anything clothing or material related. I ordered Dolly a set of doggie pajamas and had to get XXL due to the reviews. She is usually a medium or large in most department/pet store brands. To be fair, Amazon is the same way and you have to read the reviews and sizing to see if they are true to size. Size adjustment aside, she did look pretty adorable in the PJs I bought her!
Don’t forget to check out the Temu app.
Get Temu at your fingertips by downloading their app. One reason to do so is that you will get what’s called a “first order allowance.” You spin a wheel and you might win a cash allowance to spend. My teammate, Kara, spun the wheel and got an instant $100 allowance. 🤑
Overall, I enjoyed using Temu.
So, is Temu legit? It is. I will – for sure – be ordering from Temu again. I loved the large selection of products and the amazingly low prices. I’m aware of the issues related to shipping and delivery, so if I set my expectations accordingly, I believe I’ll continue to have a good experience.
Hip2Save’s Chelsey also had a good experience with Temu.
Chelsey recently took a chance on Temu and ordered one of their Bogg Bag alternatives. She was super pleased with product which is rated 4.7 stars by other consumers. See her post for her full review or head to Temu to order one of these cute beach bags for yourself!
Plus, check out these other Temu reviews.
As Temu reviews are very mixed, I want to make sure you’re getting a full and honest picture of this marketplace. Before you take the leap, check out these product reviews from other shoppers:
“This is my first time ordering from Temu. The shopping and ordering experiences were smooth. They were very clear & communicative about shipping, and it came on time. The item didn’t fit, and they refunded me promptly. This is especially important to me, as my size is somewhere between small and medium.
I was initially hesitant about Temu, but everything, especially the refund process was impressively well done. I’ll be shopping with them again.” – Victoria, product reviewer
“Just spent forever trying to find all the right items for my Christmas shopping on their site only to have all of my recent orders spontaneously canceled for no reason. Very weird and frustrating experience.” – Carla, product reviewer
“I tried it and did not like it. Most items are not good in person. I paid $11.99 for a strand of freshwater pearls and they’re tiny and low quality.” – Lac Ho, product reviewer
“I order often. Shipping takes some time but is worth it. I use it for business and personal reasons. If something is out of stock they refund your money and give you additional credit. Plus frequent shopping credits. Their $18 shoes are better quality and more comfortable than my $100 name brands. Forever a customer and I always check them first when I want something.” – Cathleen, product reviewer
I have ordered a few times from Temu through the website, never installed the app. I bought a few pen/brush cases for my glass rods and they were exactly the same ones I bought from Amazon. The code number label was the same on all. The only difference was Amazon was $7. The ones from Temu were $1.79 and $2.38! We bought ear buds marked Lenovo for China only and called the company and they are fine. We ordered a small camera for our home and it is comparable to more expensive ones on Amazon. We bought a few inexpensive household/kitchen items and they were fine. We have returned a few items and they credited Amex right away. The shipping is fairly fast ( faster than Kohl’s and Nordstrom Rack!). The returns were easy.
Thanks so much for sharing your review on the items you’ve purchased, acgold! Glad to hear that the shipping was fairly fast and returns were easy too! ❣️
I’ll be HONEST here I like it. I’ve ordered some pretty good quality shirts , dresses. Got allot of compliments. Yes everyone has there opinion, but so far I haven’t had any issue when purchasing. I make sure to look in the reviews from what people say and the quality. But so far I have not had any issues. Just gotta make sure to look into the product and research it more before buying , my opinion.. Happy Camper Here 😊
Happy to hear that you haven’t had any issues with the items you’ve purchased! 🥰 ❤️
I order knowing that it is free returns. I have returned clothing – i am not finding the quality and sizing is an issue – I wear a Large, but i ordered XLarge and they were still snug. Shipping was in a timely manner – no complaint there and refunds are quick.
We sure appreciate you taking the time to share your honest feedback on the sizing and quality of the items you’ve purchased, Susie! Great to know that shipping was timely and refunds are quick too! 💞
I remember the days of mail order catalogs, where you had to wait up to 30 days for your order to arrive.
Yes! I remember that too, Jodi P! 🤗 Also, folding back each page to make a door-stop out of the catalogs. 🤣💕
I am concerned about Dolly’s beaded necklace. If it falls apart, will she swallow the beads? How do you know it’s safe?
Hi Lora! I made Dolly’s necklace and she only wears it for photos and is supervised the entire time. 💙🐕🦺
Ordered once. About 8 items. Shipping took a few weeks and when I got the package NOTHING in it was what I ordered. They instantly credited me and told me to keep the items, but basically they were unwanted junk. Never got to see the quality of what I did order because they didn’t offer to replace it. I assume it was probably poor quality like the stuff I did receive. Done with Temu. Very glad I didn’t download the app. Unsubscribed from the barrage of emails and texts.
The issue with sites like Temu is product safety. There’s no brand name attached meaning there’s no brand trust needing to be maintained. Combine that with international laws and it means people can use whatever is the cheapest material to make things, no matter if it’s safe or toxic with little fear of recourse. Not to mention the issues of fair/safe labor. Adults can make their own choices but if you have children or pets please consider the safety risk of materials.
I ordered many times, the items are no different from what you get in stores, just lot cheaper.
Adorable pjs She looks toooo cute
Aww thanks Kimmy! 💙
I’ve ordered 6 times and been pleased. Is it good quality? Of course not, but for birthday goodie bags and things to amuse my kids on car rides, I don’t care. The price reflects that. I’ve gotten many things from Amazon for far more money that were also poor quality lol. I receive my orders in 2 weeks or get a credit. My only complaint is the spammy emails and texts. I will say that I bought a shirt from there and it was garbage but they took it back no problem.
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts about your orders from Temu! 💕 Glad to hear you’ve been pleased with the items you received, and if not, their customer service was helpful! 🤗
The worst part of Temu is getting through all of that packaging tape (ha-ha)!
LOL! 😆 Good to know how well the items are packed, Julie. I’m totally the same way when sending packages – the more tape, the better. 😜❤️
I thought my package exploded and was repackaged. Lol That’s a lot of tape.
Thanks for the review and information on TEMU I thought the company and pricing was a scam but I trust hip2save and their reviews may just give them a try
You’re so welcome, Tobie! We’re so thankful that you trust the Hip team with sharing our honest reviews and feedback. ❤️ Glad to know this post was helpful for you, and hoping you score some good finds and deals if you decide to give Temu a try! 🤞💕
Everything is what I expected, though one item I could remember what the heck it was for! I had to go back and look at the site. 🙂
But honestly – I need to avoid that site as I buy stuff because it looks fun and “do I really need it?”, no.
Thanks for letting us know how the order experience has been for you, Andrea. 💗 Glad you’ve been able to score some fun finds there!
Agreed! All the stuff you didn’t know you needed! It’s addictive!
I am addicted to shop at Temu because of their coupons. But, not every coupon worth it. If you want to buy something, put it in the cart and wait, sometime they send you coupons or message says that price goes down. Most of the items are the same quality and way cheaper than Amazon. For quality, I always check the comments and look at the photos that customers uploaded before I buy. Customer service is so far so good.
Thanks for sharing the helpful tip about their coupons, Thinn! Good to know that they sometimes send a coupon or message when the price drops on something in your cart! 🙌 Happy that you’ve been able to score some quality items by checking the reviews before buying too! 💞
I’ve ordered numerous times from Temu. Everything arrived on time. I have been dissatisfied with several items and requested a return. They immediately gave me store credit and told me to keep the items. I will continue to order.
So happy to hear you’ve had a positive experience with Temu, even when you reached out to return the items you were dissatisfied with. Thanks for sharing, Grandma Cathy! 💕
I just made my first order before seeing this post and I am very happy with it. I didn’t order any clothes, but the random kitchen and crafts items are just what I expected. Will order again.
GREAT! Glad to hear you were happy with your first order, VickiT! 😊 ❤️
I have pretty much been extremely happy with Temu. You need to double check things when ordering (sizes and such) to make sure you know what you are ordering. Also, if anyone isn’t aware, you can go on your recent orders within 30 days and in the same section that has options for returning, there MAY be a “request a price adjustment” option if any of your items went on sale recently. It’s only there if the items went on sale. They will credit your account. I was recently credited a few dollars!
Great to hear you’ve been happy with your orders, Kat4312! Thanks for taking the time to share the tip on checking the return section for a possible price adjustment option! So awesome that you were able to receive a few dollars back! 💖 💵
that’s funny they just credited my account for .02 lol but every bit helps … i love them but sometimes i may rob a bit of peter to pay paul due to my TEMU addiction AND SHOPPING ETC. ..i had to stop the notifications ..they calling me KIWI BRO like they know me …just luring me in …I LOVE THE SITE THO
I ordered from Temu and something I ordered fell out of the time range so I got a five dollar credit ! When you order make for sure it’s not something you need tomorrow cause it’s not going to happen. I was pleasantly surprised with my items as well . Have ordered several times from this company .
Thanks a ton for the honest review of your experience, Tammy Jo! Happy to hear you received a credit for the item that fell out of the time range! 😍
I did not have good experience with Temu. They are cheap but the saying goes you get what you pay for is very true. Quality is just not there.
Bummer! So sorry to hear you did not have a good experience with them, jpalexva. Thanks for letting us know what you thought of the quality of the items you received. 🤗
Overall, I like Temu. I haven’t had anything I didn’t like. I’ve organized my bathroom and kitchen at a fraction of the cost I was willing to spend. I’ve bought a few dresses and shirts each under 8 bucks. I go into thinking if this is a dud is this a huge cost waste. Haven’t had that yet.
We sure appreciate you sharing your honest thoughts and shopping experience, Tiffany! Happy to hear that you were able to snag some inexpensive items for your bathroom and kitchen! 😊 💕
Concerns being raised about Temu: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/business/economy/shein-temu-forced-labor-china.html?searchResultPosition=1
Thanks for sharing, Deb! ❤️
You have to have a subscription to NY Times to read this article. Deb would you kindly “gift” the article and include the link here please?
The Times article shares a lot of information that can be found by searching online for TEMU and LABOR (examples below). I could be wrong, but this is what I’ve gathered from my reading: Since many lawmakers are suspicious of China, Temu was asked to prove that they are not using forced labor. They have so far been unable to, but appear to be working on it. Meanwhile, a U.S. House Select Committee will continue to investigate, and may release another report in the near future, but their initial findings suggest that if Temu can’t prove their products aren’t made using forced labor, then they probably are.
reuters.com/technology/pdds-temu-seeks-us-based-compliance-help-amid-scrutiny-china-goods-2023-06-27/
apnews.com/article/temu-shein-forced-labor-china-de7b5398c76fda58404abc6ec5684972
Thank you Carmen 🙂
so here’s the deal with Temu product reviews. if u return an item u aren’t able to review. so far I’ve bought 2 tops on 2 orders. sizing was so off on both. one was way too big but the other was way too small sizing charts are a joke. and thete are few bad reviews because you can’t leave a review when u request to return it. I personally wouldn’t buy dog related items from them because I can’t afford a trip to the vet because of a poorly made toy or bad treats.
Thanks for sharing your honest feedback on Temu with us, llc! Good to know that you aren’t able to leave a review if you return an item and that the sizing has been off with their clothing items. 🤗 ❤️
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I order from Temu all the time and love this site, HOWEVER I just can’t get the clothing sizes right.
Sorry to hear you haven’t had the best luck with the clothing sizes, Diane! I’m glad you’re loving the other items you’ve purchased from the site! 💞
I have been ordering from Temu since before Christmas 2022. Product quality has been outstanding; they even stand behind the $5 credit for items not delivered on time. I have received this credit once. Something I have discovered is to leave an item in your cart for a while, and eventually, they will offer you an extreme discount. I have gotten quality bath mats as low as 0.88 cents.
Regarding clothing, I haven’t had an issue with men’s shirts. My hubby is an XL, and I’ve ordered XL from Temu, and they fit him like his other shirts. I also ordered a swimsuit for myself, I went up one size, and it fits perfectly, and it is better quality than a similar one I ordered from Amazon. I ordered the Lenovo earbuds for the younger grandchildren for Christmas so they can watch their tablets without the sound interfering with adult conversations, TV, or all of them playing videos or games at the same time, and they were good quality earbuds (around ten pair, all under $5 each). I have received cheap versions of various toys, but they were inexpensive and not worth the trouble of returning them. Angela’s excellent review is spot on, but I do not receive all the texts and emails that most of you have mentioned.
Wow, sounds like you’ve scored some great items, Cindy! 😊 We sure do appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback on your experience with the items you’ve ordered! 💖
I’ve made 4 orders to Temu in the last few weeks and loved everything we received. I had two items that didn’t fit and when I clicked that I wanted to return them they gave me a refund and told me there was no need to send the items back. Nothing bad to say about the company. I placed my orders on the website and not on the app. Keep finding all kinds of stuff to buy on there and at amazing prices. I used to buy this kind of stuff on AliExpress but Temu’s shipping is much faster than AliExpress.
Oh wow! Amazing to hear of what success you’ve had with your orders, Kristi! 💞🙌 I need to browse through and see what goodies I might find. 👀😆 Thanks for sharing how much you’ve liked shopping their items! 🤗
I have so much fun ordering from Temu. My overall experience has been great!. The few items that did not live up to expectation were refunded no questions asked and I did not have to return the items I was not satisfied with. They even allow you the opportunity to get a price adjustment with in 30 day of your purchase. You just have to click on your order and if there is a price adjustment available it will be a choice along with other choices such as refund. I have probably received about $40.00 or more in refunds ( credit to my account) for orders I placed in the month of July. I have also received many free items in the earn credits and free gifts section. They have given me $5.00 refunds for later deliveries and even refunded an entire order because it was so late . I got it for free plus $5.00! It is the best company I have dealt with in a long time!
Thanks so much for sharing your honest and amazing review on your Temu order experience, Peggy! 💞 Glad to hear you’ve been able to receive credits, price adjustments, and more on orders you’re not satisfied with! 🙌
Temu is also based in China just like their parent company. Boston is really just a shell so they can say they are in the US. I have done professional business with them and everyone I speak with is in China. The shipping takes longer because the products are coming from China. While Amazon has China vendors too, a lot of the products are in warehouses in the US which allows Amazon to have a more efficient logistics process.
Good to know the additional details of shipping with Temu versus Amazon, BAE. Much appreciated! ❤️
OK, so I installed the app. What is with all the pop-up coupon and discount promos? I completed an order that “unlocks” $100 in coupons so then I click on the coupon and now it wants me to order 3 more things to get $150 worth of coupons. Is this always what happens? Just curious because I ended up spending like $50 on stuff that I didn’t necessarily need but felt that I only had a limited amount of time to claim the coupons. So, just checking to see if this is everybody’s experience with it and if so, how do I get around all the pop-ups so I can just shop? Also, is there a better way to do it other than just scrolling through everything they are offering?
I have read posts on social media that state it is unsafe to the TEMU app because of the access the app will have to information on the user’s phone. The point of the post is that the parent company which is Chinese owned will have the user’s information. Does anyone have any input about this? I don’t know if there’s a way to prove if this is true or not.
Would also like review of Shein
Hi there Susan! We did a review on Shein earlier this year that you can find here. Hopefully that’s what you’re looking for!
hip2save,
I am grateful for your personal reviews and the many comments on Temu, as I wanted to find out about the quality, etc. of the items they are selling. I was looking at some cute shoes.
I was alarmed though at the comment(s) on whether they used slave/forced labor in producing the products. I read The NY Times article from this June 2023. (I would post the link as a gift, but I haven’t mastered Mail to do it!). Basically Congress is saying that it appears that all or many of the items they sell are from Xianjang, which is where the Uyghers are enslaved (ugh!). And Temu doesn’t care to prove otherwise. They say that it’s up to consumers to bear the responsibility for where they are manufactured—-that’s rich! So, there is a reason that everything is so cheap, likely no labor costs. I’m sorry to rain on the parade. Apparently, Shein, Nike, and Adidas also likely come from the same “camps.”
Be careful with downloading their app; the Communist party can get all of the info on your phone. Arghh, China!
Thank you again for your reviews and the comments. I’m voting with my feet, sadly.
Happy to hear you found this review and the comments on this post helpful, TBD! Thanks for sharing the additional information you found! We sure appreciate your honest feedback! 🤗❤️
Interesting page. I really like the topic covered here. I’ll check back from time to time for more posts like this one.
Temu- Be careful ( I really mean-run away!) everyone can judge for themselves.
https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2023-06-22/congressional-report-says-theres-an-extremely-high-risk-temus-supply-chains-have-forced-labor
I had a bad experience with Temu. I ordered a pet drinking fountain for $12.00, and they billed my PayPal $45.00. I could not contact them because all numbers or emails were a dead end. I had to alert my PayPal account that this was a scam and after 3 months, I was refunded the high amount. I never heard from them, and I never received anything. I am extremely hesitant to try again.
SO sorry to hear that, Gwenn. Thanks for the heads up on your experience. SO glad you eventually received a refund. 💞
I am disappointed in this…not only are these products cheaply made but your personal info could be compromised. Human worker’s lives could be in danger and labor is forced. I personally don’t need to buy cheap clutter from a questionable company…shame on influencers who promote TEMU!