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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you to swerve Shein & Temu

587 replies

DoNoTakeNo · 25/10/2025 18:12

This Christmas?
I know it’s mainly a cost thing but if it’s achievable, can people possibly manage with less stuff?

OP posts:
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8
RoamingToaster · 25/10/2025 19:15

I can’t help but judge well off people who buy this cheap unethical stuff. I get if you’re desperate but like the link posted shows many well off people buy from Temu etc. The issue is there are people who don’t consider the choice behind the purchase. It’s not like they think about the poor safety standards, slavery, funding an authoritarian country etc and think it’s worth it, it just doesn’t come into their mind at all. It’s just about the bargain.

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:14

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:12

Etsy has a huge range of price points.

Vinted is cheap as chips 😂 I sold a t-shirt on there today for £1.50. How much cheaper do you want???

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That’s brilliant. I never find items that cheap in my size. My daughters use Vinted quite a bit though.

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:13

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:10

You realise there are more options out there beyond Waitrose or Shein, right?

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Of course. FFS. Our food is bought in Aldi and my husband goes at knock down time.

The point is, money is really, really tight. If you’re not in that position, you cannot understand.

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:12

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:11

Vinted is pricey, Etsy is REALLY pricey.

I do buy second hand books if we want them. I pick up clothes off free sites.

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Etsy has a huge range of price points.

Vinted is cheap as chips 😂 I sold a t-shirt on there today for £1.50. How much cheaper do you want???

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:11

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:07

How many would you like? All major retailers have websites. Then there's websites like Etsy and Faire, or you could always Google local business in your town. Or you can do vouchers for places if your budget is strict. You can buy good quality second hand books for cheap from Abe Books or World Of Books. You can look at the eBay pages for charity shops like Cancer Research. You can look at Vinted.

In short, if you really wanted to avoid using slaves, you could. You just don't give a crap and are happy to have an enslaved child make your child's Christmas gifts.

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Vinted is pricey, Etsy is REALLY pricey.

I do buy second hand books if we want them. I pick up clothes off free sites.

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:10

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:08

They get very few anyway. COL means we are struggling. I don’t work. We have a mortgage to pay, bills to pay, food to buy.
Wouldn’t I love to shop in Waitrose and buy organic locally sourced produce? Yes of course.

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You realise there are more options out there beyond Waitrose or Shein, right?

Fringegirl1 · 25/10/2025 19:10

I mean I don’t like either of them but yes you’re unreasonable. People can do what they like based on their budget.

TheGoddessAthena · 25/10/2025 19:09

Yup because that’s the only two options, isn’t it? Waitrose organic, or Shein/Temu.

ffs.

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:08

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:04

And do you think people having gifts (which you could get from other places, or get fewer) is more important than not using slaves?

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They get very few anyway. COL means we are struggling. I don’t work. We have a mortgage to pay, bills to pay, food to buy.
Wouldn’t I love to shop in Waitrose and buy organic locally sourced produce? Yes of course.

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:07

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:03

Fabulous, please give me the links to them. Assuming they are affordable?

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How many would you like? All major retailers have websites. Then there's websites like Etsy and Faire, or you could always Google local business in your town. Or you can do vouchers for places if your budget is strict. You can buy good quality second hand books for cheap from Abe Books or World Of Books. You can look at the eBay pages for charity shops like Cancer Research. You can look at Vinted.

In short, if you really wanted to avoid using slaves, you could. You just don't give a crap and are happy to have an enslaved child make your child's Christmas gifts.

Strawberryfields4ever · 25/10/2025 19:06

Yes I don’t buy shein already and don’t intend to.
I only buy known brands from amazon and presumably they pass the safety laws here 🙂

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 19:04

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:02

Like I said, it makes me uncomfortable. But I do want people to have gifts at Christmas.
Many other companies also have connections to child labour. Nestle, new look, h and m, Apple…

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And do you think people having gifts (which you could get from other places, or get fewer) is more important than not using slaves?

GriGreen · 25/10/2025 19:04

99% tat but their Loop style ear plugs are great. Much easier than losing at £25 pair.

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:03

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:59

None of that means you have to buy from Shein or Temu. Other, safer, non-slave labour websites are available.

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Fabulous, please give me the links to them. Assuming they are affordable?

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 25/10/2025 19:02

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:39

I use Shein and Temu. Money is really tight and that is what I can afford.
I don’t have children, mine are all adults, and would probably avoid for toys but gadgets and gizmos, clothes, advent calendars, stocking fillers are fine from there. I probably wouldn’t buy beauty bits.
The link with child labour goes bother me but in an ideal world I’d have enough money to buy ethically locally sourced products. But I don’t.

You've got more money than a Temu slave

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 19:02

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:58

Except for the child slaves though, right?

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Like I said, it makes me uncomfortable. But I do want people to have gifts at Christmas.
Many other companies also have connections to child labour. Nestle, new look, h and m, Apple…

FlatErica · 25/10/2025 19:02

TheGoddessAthena · 25/10/2025 18:22

Depressing. People think they have the right to endless piles of shit for their children, made by enslaved people or children. I hate what Christmas has been turned into with the hauls and piles of tat and “cute bits”. Fuck the planet, fuck sustainability, I want I want I want.

I couldn’t agree more.

TheGoddessAthena · 25/10/2025 19:01

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:59

None of that means you have to buy from Shein or Temu. Other, safer, non-slave labour websites are available.

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Or just deciding that actually you don’t need another pair of jeans to add to the 25 you have, or that instead of plastic shit for your niece, you’ll buy them a pizza or Nando’s voucher.

Nopenott0day · 25/10/2025 19:00

Yabu. Simply for the use of "swerve" and not "Avoid".

TheGoddessAthena · 25/10/2025 19:00

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:58

Well I am very pleased with them.

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And fuck the planet, right?

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:59

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:58

I don’t leave the house so cannot shop in person. I find vinted really pricey.

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None of that means you have to buy from Shein or Temu. Other, safer, non-slave labour websites are available.

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:58

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:42

Is what you buy from there really, truly essential though with no other options (like charity shops or Vinted) accessible to you? Because otherwise the "I know they use child slaves but I really need it" line isn't a good look.

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I don’t leave the house so cannot shop in person. I find vinted really pricey.

Bagsintheboot · 25/10/2025 18:58

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:58

Well I am very pleased with them.

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Except for the child slaves though, right?

ninjahamster · 25/10/2025 18:58

Pleasegetmeacoffeesotired · 25/10/2025 18:41

None of those things are fine from there.

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Well I am very pleased with them.

TheDandyLion · 25/10/2025 18:57

I wouldnt even touch the website, their tracking cookies are following your browsing traffic to profile you and then show you ads of their copycat products to make you spend more money. Never mind the fact they use questionable production methods etc.