What is Temu and is it safe?

The last app you heard about is Temu. It’s become a favorite on TikTok and is quickly establishing itself alongside Shein as a go-to for fashion bargains. The question is whether Temu is legal and safe to use.

What is Temu?

Ago is a shopping app that offers products at prices so low they seem too good to be true. The slogan “buy like a billionaire” may sound a bit optimistic, but there is no doubt that many of the products offered on Temu will be accessible to most people. You can visit Temu’s website here.

Of course, there are some pitfalls. For example, while you can buy a pack of five hairpins for pennies, there is a minimum order (£10 for those in the UK).

One of the reasons why Temu is so popular with children and young people is its gamification, which offers even cheaper prices and free products when sharing on social networks and encourages friends to join in. You can’t use the app long before you see mini-games (e.g. spin the wheel) to earn Temu Credits, making it more attractive to budget-conscious players.

Is Temu safe to use?

As long as you are happy with suppliers based in China, Temu is very similar to other online retailers, although there may be delays in delivery and problems with returns.

It is often compared to Wish, AliExpress and Shein, other Chinese shopping portals.However, Agou offers a wide range of products with a much more diverse category selection than Shein, which focuses on fashion.

At the time of writing, Temu had an overall rating of 3.9 (out of 5) based on 276 customer reviews on Trustpilot. Many rate the cheapness of the products positively, while others complain about the discrepancy between the images on the website/app and what you actually receive. Others complain about the quality of the products themselves.

If you pay the lowest prices, you will of course not get a premium product delivered to your mailbox. Part of the problem is that so many products are imitations of expensive Western brands, disappointing those who don’t realize they aren’t genuine products.

If you are not satisfied, Temu says you can return the goods within 90 days for free and receive a full refund. Ago also offers credit for deliveries that take too long. You can see the details on the Ago Purchase Protection page.

Does Temu collect my data?

Again, like most online retailers, apps store some data about you. This may include your payment information (so you can quickly pay for your next purchase), your in-app activity, and your device ID. The latter two pieces of information can be passed on to third parties for the purpose of providing advertisements. It’s still pretty normal stuff. Parent company PDD Holdings recently got into trouble with Google because another of its shopping apps, Pinduoduo, asked for too much information.

This caused it to be temporarily removed from the Play Store. Ago doesn’t have the same problem, and his powers have been labeled “less aggressive” by analysts.

Where is Temu?

Tomu’s beginnings are a bit complicated. The parent company, PDD Holdings, was originally called Pinduoduo Inc.and is located in Shanghai, China. This was changed to PDD Holdings and the headquarters moved to Dublin, Ireland. This is not uncommon as many foreign companies register in Ireland to take advantage of the low taxes they pay and gain access to the EU market.

As the company continues to grow, there are also offices in America and Canada. It seems likely that PDD Holdings’ oversight and decisions will remain in China like most of the products sold by PDD Holdings, but official documents say otherwise.

Are the products sold on Temu ethical?

Let’s face it. Cheap products that are wholesaled and shipped all over the world are never good news for the environment. This applies to both Amazon and Temu. While companies can certainly try to reduce their impact on the world, this business model achieves very little.

However, the environment may not be the primary concern. A Channel 4 documentary aired in October 2022 revealed inhumane working conditions in the factories that supplied goods to Shien. These stores are one of the main ways to sell products at such a low price, and Temu’s suppliers are likely to be no different.

Ago has a Third Party Code of Conduct that sets out how partners must ensure their employees are treated with respect, are paid fairly and are able to work safely. There are also bans on companies using hazardous substances in products or during the manufacturing process.

Shein obviously has similar policies, but that doesn’t prevent poor working conditions or toxic chemicals from ending up in clothing and other products. Also, just check out the Temu app to see how designers and brands copy their products, almost certainly without permission or attribution.

How do I get Temu?

This is primarily an Android and iOS app, but you can also access the site via a web browser by visiting www.tego.Com.