Temu Is A Popular Free Shopping App

Travel Jewelry Box - $3.03

Temu is the most downloaded free app in America, according to TIME, beating out TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. As a shopping app, the prices seem almost too good to be true, and although definitely not a scam website, customers have complained about long waits to receive their goods, or mistakes with items sent out or left out of their orders, as well as, disappointing cancellations and a lack of telephone customer service.

← $6.29 Temu, is a subsidiary of Pinduoduo Inc., just like Pinduoduo, its giant Chinese e-commerce sibling. Recently Temu opened a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. While the retailer has many unsatisfied customers, it also has its share of happy customers plus people who have taken advantage of its opportunities to get free stuff by using credits for getting their friends, family, and followers to sign up for Temu's free app. TIME interviewed consumers who had both good and bad experiences with Temu.

$4.49

TIME's article quotes Douglas Schmidt, a professor of computer science at Vanderbilt University who says “'It seems like they’re being subsidized to be a loss leader in order to gain market share, which is not unlike what Amazon did for a long time,'"

Temu sells too many categories of products to list. The e-company reminds me of a closeout trader, World Market, and dollar store all rolled into one. Not only are the below-market prices tempting but so are the free shipping and free returns!

← $8.88 Temu has relationships with a number of different merchants and its variety of goods are sent out from a myriad of warehouses in China directly to customers. I think this more than any aim to scam people explains why deliveries can go awry. It's a relatively new business and they are still working kinks out of their operations. Moreover, because articles originate from various factories, similar items on the website, for example, a 10 cm x 10 cm travel jewelry case, can vary in price by $2 -$3 dollars.

Amethyst beads $2.79

The takeaway is to (1) Never risk cash you can't afford to lose; (2) Buy do-or-die essentials from a 100% dependable source; and (3) Don't expect merchandise to arrive soon. Chances are very good you won't lose your money, but hey you may get something you didn't order or a cancelation.:)

So now let's figure out what kind of risk-taker to get something cheap you are, shall we? Due to Temu's alluring bargains, I'd likely risk ordering a few desired things -- despite its wobbly legs practices:) -- spending only $5 - $10 using Paypal to see how it goes. How about you? 

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