Why Is Temu So Cheap and Is It Legit (How to Get Free Stuff on Temu)

If you're a regular social media user, you must've come across an advertisement about the shopping portal Temu. The reason this advertisement will grab your attention is the jaw-dropping prices and heavy discounts on the products. Moreover, this Chinese-owned digital marketplace is taking over all the other popular platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, and Shein.

But one question that has been on people's minds since its launch is why is Temu so cheap, and is it even legal? If you're also thinking about the same, this write-up will cover all the required facts and information that you need to know.

Temu Review: What Is Temu and How Does It Work

Temu is a Chinese-based online marketplace that is available as an eCommerce app that offers from which you can buy a variety of products. You can shop for various car accessories, clothing, small home appliances, outdoor furniture, power tools, baby clothes, and numerous other options at exceptionally low prices.

Moreover, this eCommerce app is owned by Pinduoduo Inc. and it expanded into the US market in September 2022 with a high-profile advertising campaign, including a $45 billion Super Bowl ad.

Where Does Temu Ship from

The huge variety of products available on Temu are directly shipped from Chinese suppliers and factories. Nevertheless, some products are shipped to the US as well because the third-party suppliers have their warehouses established here.

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Coming to its carriers, Temu prefers the local ones like DHL and UPS that never compromise with the security. However, there have been several instances of delays in product delivery to China and difficulties in product returns have been a recurring issue.

How Long Does Temu Take to Ship

Top-class shipping experience is one of the factors that have been taking the success of Temu to another level. It ensures free delivery on most of the orders placed and promises to deliver your product in 5 to 25 days. Despite the claims, the customers have received their orders within two weeks. In addition, the US-based customers have stated that they received their orders within 5 days due to the availability of warehouses.

Moreover, you can pay an extra $12.90 for a quicker delivery, but it is not possible for every product. Such products need at least 3 days to get prepared for delivery. Also, if you're paying more than $129, you will surely get free delivery.

Why Is Temu So Cheap

While purchasing, people often get confused and wonder why Temu is so cheap. There's no doubt that you get amazing discounts on products and have to spare no more than $2 to buy sunglasses or only $3 for glow-in-the-dark pet collars. To figure out why the products are so cheap, you can go through the following factors that make Temu a wallet-friendly platform:

1. Rapidly Changing Inventory

Temu operates much like the fast-fashion app Shein, constantly refreshing its inventory based on customer demand. Suppliers produce short runs of various designs and swiftly adjust their offerings in response to customer feedback. This approach ensures that what you see on the app today might not be available tomorrow, or it might appear in a different color or design.

2. Direct-to-Supplier Connection

Temu prides itself on connecting customers directly to suppliers, cutting out middlemen and overhead costs. Hence, the platform is able to keep low prices for its products.

3. Leveraging China's Low Factory Costs

Like its counterparts Shein, AliExpress, and Wish, Temu benefits from China's exceptionally low factory costs. Moreover, Temu taps into Pinduoduo's extensive network of factories and supply lines. This enables selling the products at prices slightly above wholesale rates.

4. Influencer Marketing

Temu heavily relies on influencers for marketing. So, several influencers spread the word about the quality and discounts among their followers. These influencers provide their followers, and the platform gets organic traffic and higher sales.

5. Minimal Ownership of Products

It's important to note that Temu does not own the products listed on its website. Instead, it only acts as a middleman between shoppers and sellers. Hence, it only manages the transactions and logistics and keeps the items affordable.

6. The Minimis Loophole

One key factor contributing to Temu's cost-effectiveness in the US is its operation under the de minimis loophole. With this, there's no need to pay taxes and the required fees while importing the products to the US. Temu leverages this loophole to offer products at extremely competitive prices to US consumers.

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So, these are the factors that allow Temu to offer the product at unbelievably cheap rates. Now, you might think shopping from a cheap online marketplace is legal or not. Proceed to the next section for the answer.

7. Pricing Strategy

Launched just last year, Temu is a rising marketplace aiming to establish itself in the competitive North American market, which is already populated by established platforms like Wish and Walmart. To differentiate itself from the competition, Temu employs a pricing strategy focused on offering lower prices for its products.

While this approach may result in smaller profit margins per order, Temu compensates by generating revenue through a high volume of orders in the long run. This strategy not only helps Temu remain competitive but also contributes to its overall expansion and presence in the market.

The success of this strategy is evident in the rapid growth of the Temu app, which, despite being relatively new, has already achieved significant milestones. It has quickly become the top-ranked free app on the Google Play store, boasting over 100 million downloads, indicating its increasing popularity and user base.

8. Sister Company Affiliation

Another advantage that Temu enjoys is its affiliation with Pinduoduo, its sister company under the ownership of PDD Holdings. Pinduoduo, with over a decade of operation, has established strong connections with a wide network of manufacturers and wholesalers in China. Leveraging the resources and relationships of Pinduoduo, Temu is able to negotiate better prices with its suppliers. As a result, Temu gains a competitive advantage when it comes to pricing its products.

Is Temu Legit

Temu took not much longer to become the center of attention among online shoppers, but questions were also raised about its authenticity. Most people were in doubt about buying anything so cheap and thought is Temu legit or not?

All the available products on Temu are real, and you get time within the promised delivery time. You can read the well-written descriptions and every single detail about the product before making a decision to purchase it. Moreover, if you take a look at the reviews, the section will be full of positive reviews and no mention of hidden charges.

However, some customers stated that the products they received were slightly different from the ones shown on the platform. Some customers had severe issues with the platforms, claiming that they never received the products. Overall, the platform has a decent rating of 3.5 stars on Trustpilot.

How to Get Free Stuff on Temu

You can surely get products at cheap rates, but you can also get free stuff on Temu. That said, there are five ways that you can try:

1. Open a New Account

First of all, when you open a new account on Temu, you get a gift coupon. You can use this coupon to get a gift that will be a product only. Moreover, you also get a Temu $100 Coupon Bundle for your first order with an additional 50% discount, which makes your choice of product almost free of cost.

2. Use Temu Coupon Codes

While using the Temu app, you just have to go to the "You" Section and tap on "Earn Free Credits and Gifts." Then, you can participate in various games and activities that help you earn amazing discounts and even gifts.

3. Share the Temu Referral Code

You can also refer Temu to your friends and get gifts by sharing the Temu referral code. Open the app, go to the Free Gifts section, and choose any product you want. Then, if your friend downloads the app using your referral code and makes a purchase, you get a free gift for sure.

4. Play Games

Getting free gifts is as easy as playing games on the Temu app. You can try the game called Temu Hat trick draw that helps you get free stuff. For that, just open the Temu app, and go to the section gaming. There, you can find Look for Fishling or Temu Hat Trick Draw, and play these to get free stuff.

5. Become Temu Influencer

Lastly, you can join the Temu influencer program. You can join the program with a Temu Influencer Code and if selected, you can get Free gifts from Temu worth $300 with beautiful orange packing.

So, these are a few ways that you can try to get free stuff from Temu. However, there could be some terms and conditions you must take care of.

Conclusion

In a world where you can find enormous online shopping platforms, Temu has emerged as a reliable choice for budget-conscious consumers. With cheap products and hefty discounts, the app has outshone its competitors and drawn the attention of customers globally.

There's no doubt that the platform is legit and has been on the top of its game when it comes to delivering the products on time. Yet, there have been occasional discrepancies and delivery hiccups, reflected in a decent Trustpilot rating. So, as you embark on your Temu shopping journey, you can expect to get incredible discounts, a seamless experience, and free gifts as well.