Whether you love it or hate it, Temu has become a shopping sensation for many.
Having only just launched in the UK in April 2023, the Chinese ecommerce website quickly became the most downloaded shopping app in the country – raking in 15 million users, generating £10.3 billion in sales and holding a market cap of $170.08 billion.
Customers turn to Temu because of their extremely low prices, while also offering a good variety of products for different customer needs – from clothing and accessories to gadgets, home decor and novelty items.
But sometimes, things are cheap for a reason, meaning you might end up with something that doesn’t quite match the photos or the quality you expected. And while many customers continue to flock to Temu, sometimes the price isn’t always right.
1. What the sock?
Buying unofficial merchandise can be risky, but for one couple, these knock-off Disney socks had them in stitches.
Emilie and John Fernstrom shared their ordeal on TikTok, where John explained that his wife had bought the socks from Temu in preparation for their “upcoming Disney trip”.
But while the characters were recognisable, it was the names that really threw them off.
Chip from Chip ‘N Dale had become “Chib”, while Mickey Mouse was now known as “Miikey”. Only minor errors, but it gets a lot worse.
Minnie’s name was changed to “Minmee”, Donald now went by “Tonaid” and Piglet was renamed to “Bigeet”.
The couple’s TikTok video quickly became viral, but Temu soon removed the product from its site, with a spokesperson telling The Mirror that it “prioritises intellectual property (IP) protection” and removes listings that try to imitate well-known brands. Probably wanted to avoid getting sued by Disney too.
@collab Typo? Temu? Or avoiding copyrights? 🧦 #socks #temu #oops #disney #mickey #fypage credit: @Emilie
2. Aloha-oi!
Temu’s hilariously lousy typos strike again.
This time, a mother and daughter were preparing for a Hawaiian-themed birthday party and had ordered stickers from Temu for the occasion.
At first, everything looked as expected, with popular phrases like “Aloha” and “Tiki Time” displayed on the stickers. However, the last one would have party guests spitting out their Mai Tais.
Sometimes, even just getting a single letter wrong can throw off the entire word. And for this mother-and-daughter duo, it was a set of stickers that read “Let’s Flaminge” pasted across a backdrop of palm trees and flamingos. Let’s just hope this wasn’t a kid’s birthday party they were planning for.
@chelseyedwards_13 FLAMINGE😂 #fyp #funny #temu #temufinds
3. Size DOES matter
Buying online can be risky when it comes to getting the right size.
But typo tragedies aside, Temu has also become controversial for “catfishing” its products. Customers have felt misled by certain items listed on the site, particularly when the actual size turns out to be significantly smaller than what was portrayed in the photos.
There are many examples you could find, but this one in particular takes the cake.
Going by “Just Nina” on TikTok, this user explained that her mum had purchased a golden plant stand, but what arrived looked like it could be used by the family hamster, standing at only a few inches tall.
Terribly inaccurate when you look at what it looked like in the photos, but also serves as a reminder to always check the measurements before ordering.
4. Not a hot look
They say beauty is pain, but we’re pretty sure hair crimpers aren’t meant to make your hair look like a trypophobic nightmare.
This is exactly how influencer HopeScope looked when she tried out a pair of crimpers from Temu – part of the lost packages she had bought and tested out on YouTube.
Hope was probably expecting beachy waves, but in the end, her hair ended up looking like it had just come out of a waffle press. Unfortunately, brushing out didn’t seem to salvage the disastrous look either.
Electronic products from Temu are generally considered to be hit-and-miss, so if you’re looking for reliable straighteners or other products, it might be worth ditching the bargain price for a trusted and better-quality product.
5. Doesn’t quite fit the mould
There are many things that you can associate with Christmas, but what this small business ended up with didn’t quite hit the mark for what they were looking for.
Wax melt business Scent Serenity ordered a Christmas tree mould from Temu to add to their festive offerings.
But instead of a Christmas tree, the mould ended up being of the wandering ascetic Buddha. Definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when building products around the festive season.
@scentserenityuk #waxmelt #waxmelts #christmaswaxmelts #christmas #festive #funny #lol #bhudda #temu #temuorder #waxmould #waxmeltseller #waxmeltbusiness #fail #fails #failvideo #lol
6. A little too realistic
Quality is always important when it comes to selling products. As for the infamous Temu croissant lamp, this probably meant looking as realistic as possible.
Neta Murphy ordered the croissant lamp from the site as a birthday present for her sister. However, after returning from work one day, she discovered ants crawling over the lamp.
The ants weren’t tricked by the product’s realism. Instead, Murphy found out that the lamp was literally made from the popular French pastry and covered in resin.
The reason behind this bizarre choice of material could’ve been inspired by Japanese artist Yukkiko Morita, who started covering leftover bread and pastries and using them as lamps to tackle the excessive amount of unsold bread going to waste.
Morita later went on to sell her artwork online, likely catching the attention of Temu copycats that sold the same kind of product for much cheaper. We just hope Temu’s return policy covers eaten products.
@froginahatgirl Pls explain temu
7. Copycat catastrophe
Copycat and dupe products aren’t anything new, and places like Temu and Shein are notorious for copying items from other businesses.
The beauty and fashion industry in particular have seen an increase in cheaper alternatives to high-end products. According to research by Barclays, 32% of customers are now buying dupes due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Unsurprisingly, Temu has jumped on the bandwagon, though its Brazilian Bum Bum Cream dupe has been nothing short of disappointing for one Temu customer.
Temu’s version of the popular Sol De Janeiro product was priced at just $7 (£5.39) – a hefty difference compared to the original’s £36 price.
Sara Helyse tested the alternative on TikTok, but was disappointed to find it had a paste-like texture and smelt like paint. Just goes to show that sometimes a bargain isn’t worth the sacrifice in quality.
“I will never betray you again Sol De Janeiro.” the video caption reads.
@__sarahelyse I will never betray you again @Sol de Janeiro 🥲🫶🏼 #bumbumcreamdupe #dupefail #bumbumcream
Temu takeaways
Temu’s appeal lies in its rock-bottom prices and vast selection, making it a hit among bargain hunters. However, as these stories prove, the quality can be unpredictable. So if you’re willing to take a gamble, Temu can be a treasure trove of unexpected finds – just be prepared for the odd surprise when the package arrives.
For SMEs, there are a few important lessons to take on board. Most notably, consistency in product quality and clear, honest descriptions are important for building a good customer experience and lasting trust. While low prices can attract buyers, quality and accurate representations are what truly stick and get the best feedback.
It’s about focusing beyond price, such as offering reliability, thoughtful branding and customer service. Quality control and transparent communication can work hand-in-hand to build trust, ensuring customers feel confident that what they see is truly what they’ll get. Meanwhile, SMEs can avoid the pitfalls that come with disappointing customers, turning first-time buyers into loyal supporters and avoiding unnecessary returns.
