The web can link us tofantastic bargains, but occasionally they appear almost unbelievable. You’ve likely noticed those “How is this so cheap?” listings on the online marketplace Temu. That’s largely what propelled its rise in popularity. At one point it was the most downloaded app in the United States. It seems to offer many items at rock-bottom prices, but is Temu trustworthy?
We’ll explain why its prices are so low, whether it’s a scam, and share suggestions and strategies for shopping there.
Save Money Beyond Shopping on Temu
You may already be browsing sites like Temu to find bargains, and that’s a solid first step toward better spending habits. But there are other ways to save that you might not have considered. Below are some of our preferred methods to cut costs.
What Exactly Is Temu?
To begin with the fundamentals: what is Temu? Temu is an online marketplace that ships goods straight from China to customers to keep prices low. Although it operates out of Boston, its parent company, PDD Holdings, is based in China. Temu’s sibling platform is the shopping app Pinduoduo, which serves the Chinese market.
Comparable marketplaces, likeWish.com, have also removed middlemen to deliver rock-bottom prices. Instead of third-party vendors buying goods and reselling them on Amazon, you can get them straight from the source.
The Temu platform carries a broad assortment of products, including appliances, smart home devices, apparel, lawn and garden gear, health and household items, beauty products, musical instruments, toys and games, electronics and pet supplies.
Is Temu a Scam?
Temu is a bona fide e-commerce retailer offering real products at real prices. However, it was hit with alawsuitin 2023 alleging it collects more customer data than it discloses and needs, and that it fails to sufficiently safeguard user information. The company has faced additional legal actions, including a suit inNebraskaclaiming consumer protection violations.
Although Temu advertises free returns within 90 days for some purchases, there are negative reviews reporting damaged or delayed deliveries. Temu responds to such issues by offeringpurchase protectionif an order isn’t as described, arrives damaged, or goes missing in transit.
Temu supports several payment methods. One option worth considering is PayPal, which provides buyer protection for items that come damaged, aren’t as described, or never arrive. You can also usebuy now, pay later optionssuch as Afterpay or Klarna.
How Tariffs Affect Temu’s Prices
During 2025, the Trump Administration pursued a trade battle with China, largely via tariffs. It also shut the de minimis loophole that let Temu bypass storage at U.S. warehouses and ship directly to customers when merchandise was valued under $800.
This change significantly affected Temu’s business approach. At times during the year, it was still possible to order products directly from Chinese sellers. However, prices sometimes more than doubled once Temu added tariffs and logistics fees as separate charges. At other times, you might order without those extra fees from Temu itself, but you would personally face USPS fees of a similar amount. Essentially, the tariff burden shifted from the company to the buyer.
There were periods when cheap items from Chinese sellers were unavailable on Temu. You could still purchase from Temu, but often you’d be buying from U.S.-based sellers where production costs are higher. Consequently, prices rose.
Some tariffs on China remain, but they aren’t as steep as earlier in the year. Right now you can still buy inexpensive items from Chinese sellers on Temu. They cost more than before the tariff changes, but not as much as during the peaks when Temu temporarily removed the option to buy from many of those sellers. Whether tariff levels (and prices) change during the holiday season remains uncertain. They could improve, worsen, or stay about the same.
How to Shop on Temu
If you decide to use Temu, go toTemu’s siteor download the Temu app foriOSorAndroid. From the website or app, you can begin shopping.
If you find an item you want, add it to your cart. Many listings on Temu are limited in stock or available for a short time, so check out when you’re ready to avoid missing out.
At checkout, using a service like PayPal can give an added layer of buyer protection if something goes wrong. If you prefer to pay directly with a credit card, consider using a virtual card. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also accepted.
Temu Shopping Tips and Tricks
As you browse Temu, you’ll notice the app employs tactics to encourage extra purchases. Opening the app might present a “deal,” such as four free items if you buy eight. You may also be prompted to share the app with friends to unlock lower prices.
While these promotions can be tempting—especially if you intended to buy several items—they can quickly increase your spending. Not every bundle or promotion is a true bargain if it leads you to buy more than planned.
Temu may nudge you to purchase by claiming an item is available only for a limited time or that only a few remain in stock. Pause anddecide if you genuinely need the productbefore you hit “Buy.”
Daniel Mercer is a senior writer at Savinly specializing in technology.
