Temu App: Everything You Need To Know About This Popular New Shopping Platform

Shopping online is becoming more and more popular with each passing year. Over 75% of Americans are shopping at least once a month on the internet, and US e-commerce sales reached over 1 trillion in 2022.

This increase in popularity can be attributed to several things — people like shopping from the comfort of their own homes, they can look at reviews of products before purchasing them, and so on. With Temu, people can enjoy all the benefits of online shopping while saving massive amounts of money.

Since its founding in 2022, Temu has taken the e-commerce world by storm. With low prices that other online retailers simply can't compete with, Temu is already beating out competitors like Wish and Alibaba. So, what sets Temu apart from other online retailers? Is Temu a scam or legit? Should you use Temu for your next shopping spree? We answer these questions and much more below.

What Is Temu?

As of now, the history of Temu is a short one. This fast-growing shopping platform was founded just last year in September of 2022. Temu is owned and operated by the Chinese-based company PDD Holdings, which is known for its popular commerce platform Pinduoduo in China. Temu saw immense growth in its first four months before launching in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe in early 2023.

Temu is an online marketplace that allows people to make purchases using their website or mobile app. Temu's selection of products isn't restricted to just a few categories. Shoppers can buy clothing, home decor, electronics, and more at shockingly low prices. These prices are largely what have made Temu such an instant hit.

How Does Temu Work?

Many customers wonder how Temu can offer such heavily discounted goods. This is primarily because Temu ships products to consumers directly from its China-based vendors. Temu hosts millions of vendors who have factories and warehouses in China. Temu connects these vendors with shoppers and ships the products, keeping operating costs and product prices very low.

Temu's Rapid Growth and Traffic Numbers

Despite only recently entering the US e-commerce market, Temu has quickly become a dominant online retailer. The website's traffic numbers showcase Temu's incredibly fast growth and success. In May 2023, Temu had 248.2 million visitors. This far surpasses general competitors like Wish, which had 18.3 million visitors, and Alibaba, which had 127.8 million visitors. Temu also outperformed Shein, a Chinese fast fashion retailer that had 220.2 million visitors.

Acquiring 248.2 million monthly visitors in less than a year since launching is significant. Several factors may have contributed to Temu's rapid growth and popularity. These include its low prices, effective media strategy, and visibility on TikTok — a highly popular platform in its own right with over 1 billion active users each month.

What Can You Buy on Temu?

A feature that sets Temu apart from most online marketplaces is its range of products. Their selection of goods is both massive and incredibly varied. One of the platform's more popular categories is its Temu clothes - as you can shop for women's, men's, and children's clothing, along with Curve+Plus, loungewear, sleepwear, baby clothes, maternity clothes, and Big & Tall options.

Not looking for clothing? Temu also offers a diverse selection of cosmetics, accessories, luggage, kitchenware, home decor, appliances, office supplies, tools, instruments, technology, and so much more. Many shoppers are drawn to Temu for this reason, as they can shop for almost everything they need in one place. With countless items spread across 29 primary categories and over 250 sub-categories, you can count on Temu to carry everything from bird feeders to car seat covers.

Why Are People Shopping With Temu?

The major draw to Temu is its low prices. Launching in September appeared to be excellent timing, as millions flocked to Temu to start their holiday shopping. With deals like $6 for wireless earphones and $7 for 40-color eyeshadow palettes, parents were able to afford everything on their lists.

In the latter half of 2022, many shoppers had grown frustrated with the prices of various products. Inflation is high, and consumers are finding themselves spending more than usual due to lingering supply chain issues and the global fuel shortages from the pandemic. High demand and low supply have resulted in prices that many US shoppers simply can't afford. Temu offered these shoppers a tempting alternative. Unsurprisingly, Temu continues to thrive as the US economy continues to struggle.

How Temu Has Kept Momentum Into 2023

Temu's strategy for continued growth into 2023 has proven successful. It has continued to launch in different countries, making itself available for more and more shoppers. Temu has also reached more potential customers with online advertising on Instagram and Facebook. Temu also has a popular TikTok account with almost 80k followers.

Temu is also growing its customer base by offering free goods to users that bring new users to the platform via affiliate codes. This system contributes to the gamification of the Temu app. If you're not familiar, gamification is the process of adding gaming elements to a mobile app. Gaming elements have helped boost engagement and improve the Temu app's retention rates. Simply put, the app is fun to use, and customers keep coming back.

Is There Controversy Around Temu?

There have been some concerns from members of the US government regarding Temu and data security risks. This stems from Temu's sister app Pinduoduo being removed from the Google Play Store after it was discovered to have malware.

In May 2023, Temu was one of several apps that Montana Governor Greg Gianforte banned from government devices statewide (along with Telegram, TikTok, and WeChat). Other states have not yet replicated this decision. It should be noted that the Temu app has not been found to have any malicious functionality.

Although Temu is positively reviewed by many of its millions of customers, complaints about the platform were made to the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The chief concern of the over 400 complaints center around problems with products, Temu's customer service, or delivery issues. Temu reviews outside the BBB are mixed but lean positive, with a 3.4 on SiteJabber, a 3.3 on Trustpilot, and a 4.6 on the App Store.

Temu is not without its risks or drawbacks. Still, its flaws don't make it a scam or an illegitimate company. Temu is a legitimate online marketplace that you can use to shop for almost anything under the sun.

Temu FAQ

Would you like to know more about Temu? Here are a few common questions people ask about this fast-growing online marketplace.

Is Temu a scam?

Temu is a real website and business. Though it has faced some criticism from past customers, people can successfully place an order on Temu and receive exactly what they paid for.

Is Temu a legit company?

Temu is a legitimate company founded in July 2022 by PDD Holdings.

Does Temu actually work?

Yes. Many Temu customers leave positive reviews and are satisfied with their service. Still, some reviewers report their items not being delivered or looking different from what was pictured online.

Where is Temu based out of?

Temu is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and incorporated in Delaware. PDD Holdings, the owner and operator of Temu, is based in China and registered in the Cayman Islands.

Why is Temu so cheap?

Temu is cheap because of the low labor and manufacturing costs in China. The company connects China-based vendors directly with customers, saving vendors from relying on warehouses in other countries.

Is Temu like Wish?

Temu is similar to platforms like Wish and AliExpress. However, a key difference between the platforms is that Temu doesn't allow dropshipping.

Is Temu available in Europe or Canada?

Though Temu first went live in the US in September 2022, it has since expanded its operations to Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. Temu is also available in several European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The Best Way to Save With Temu

If you choose to shop with Temu, discover even greater deals by using coupons from DealDrop. With one of our Temu coupons, you could get up to 90% off or save 30$ on your order. Our free coupons and promo codes can help you maximize your savings so you can buy everything on your list without exceeding your budget. It's that simple!