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Shein/Temu tat-tax

113 replies

SheinIsShite · 27/11/2025 13:06

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c078j4kylz3o

Missed this in the budget yesterday with all the coverage of the changes to child caps and electric cars. But AIBU to think this is about time too? In fact, I'd argue it doesn't go far enough.

France is imposing a levy of 10 euros (capped at 50% of retail value) on these "fast fashion" items along with incentives to encourage buying second hand and repairing clothing. They are also banning advertising of these companies, and banning influencers from promoting their "Shein hauls" and similar.

https://esgnews.com/france-targets-ultra-fast-fashion-with-eco-tax-ad-ban-and-transparency-rules/

So it's a start.

A woman receiving parcels at her front door

Tax-free parcels rule used by Shein and Temu under review

Retailers argue that cheap foreign rivals are undercutting business using a tax-free status on small parcels.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c078j4kylz3o

OP posts:
TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 29/11/2025 09:11

Goldeh · 29/11/2025 09:04

No one said it's a human right. People have said that a lot of their customers shop there for more complex reasons than capitalist consumerism and it's not particularly fair to price them out without first addressing those complex reasons.

We mustn’t do anything about companies which bring problems including,
‘the sale of unsafe and illegal products, potential use of forced labor, exploitation of tax loopholes that allow them to ship in lots of stuff without paying import duties, deceptive commercial practices and bad environmental practices’
until we have solved poverty?
Even though only a minority of its business is people who can’t afford alternatives, and those people have other options.
Not sensible.

Goldeh · 29/11/2025 09:04

AliceMaforethought · 28/11/2025 17:52

SMH at all the people who think that buying Shein and Temu tat is a human right. Pathetic.

No one said it's a human right. People have said that a lot of their customers shop there for more complex reasons than capitalist consumerism and it's not particularly fair to price them out without first addressing those complex reasons.

Goldeh · 29/11/2025 09:02

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 28/11/2025 22:31

When I was a nipper in a skint family it was home made, hand me downs and church jumble sales all the way.

Doesn't sound like that was in an ultra-deprived area like the west end of Newcastle though?

New things are a conspicuous symbols of status, of self-esteem, of validity, etc. There is a lot of scholarship on the issue and there's a link between high levels of economic disparity and consumer spending on new items rather than second-hand.

Goldeh · 29/11/2025 08:57

BettysRoasties · 28/11/2025 17:16

That brings back memories. My Nan used to be that lady haha. But also everyone had the provident lady at their doors. Do they still exist?

I think Provident are gone? But yes, that was another example of easy credit and often spent on things other people would seem unnecessary.

Goldeh · 29/11/2025 08:55

BarbieShrimp · 28/11/2025 17:08

Genuinely the weirdest "...and that's why I shop at SheIn" I've ever heard.

I don't shop at Shein. My parents had aspirations and moved away from there before they had children.

Carycach4 · 29/11/2025 04:03

smallglassbottle · 27/11/2025 14:17

You can often buy perfectly reasonable good quality clothing and footwear on ebay. This is what I do if I want a better quality thing. As long as it's not worn to death or dirty. I often do this and have found some nice things. Vinted is also an option. I've never bought from the cheap tatty Chinese sites or Primark etc.

If you've never bought from them, what qualifies you to decide their goods are 'tat'?
Ive bought quite a lot if non-clothing items for my business and they are exactly the same as from other sellers

justasking111 · 29/11/2025 03:46

SheinIsShite · 27/11/2025 15:25

Agree. 1 January 2026 at the latest.

I've wandered round places like B&M on occasion. The tat in there is endless. Middle of Lidl. I've come to the conclusion that tat is in most shops, just different price points.

Stephybris62 · 29/11/2025 02:10

Most places including high st stores are fast fashion.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 28/11/2025 22:31

Goldeh · 28/11/2025 16:52

Catalogues mostly and all the debt that goes with it.

On the estate that my family members lived on, there was someone who ran catalogues under her own name, Freeman's, Littlewoods, those sorts of catalogues. People could choose from the catalogue and order items. In return they'd leave their Child Benefit book with her with the chits pre-signed so she could collect it. She would do that every week until the debt was repaid. She had a massive line of credit because of the massive orders + massive repayments. That she was skimming off a percentage for "interest" was by-the-by. Her husband was also in the financial business and happy to lend money to members of the community in need of a loan on easy credit terms. No one needed to leave their Child Benefit book with him because he'd just break legs to ensure repayments. All money laundered through the social club where they were on the committee.

When I was a nipper in a skint family it was home made, hand me downs and church jumble sales all the way.

Pollyanna87 · 28/11/2025 18:02

Orangepate · 27/11/2025 13:17

None of this stuff is simple though, the people making stuff use their wages to feed their families.. what happens to them if we stop buying tat?

The people making this stuff are slaves.

AmberRose86 · 28/11/2025 17:56

AliceMaforethought · 28/11/2025 17:52

SMH at all the people who think that buying Shein and Temu tat is a human right. Pathetic.

Oh well that’s sure changed my mind. Thank you for enlightening me.

AliceMaforethought · 28/11/2025 17:52

SMH at all the people who think that buying Shein and Temu tat is a human right. Pathetic.

soupyspoon · 28/11/2025 17:30

BarbieShrimp · 28/11/2025 09:30

What did low-income people do before SheIn etc.? Just not wear clothes?

See my previous posts about why SheIn isn't generally used by (or appealing to) low-income people.

We got cheap stuff down the market

SheinIsShite · 28/11/2025 17:30

"Poor people" just had less. They did not have this idea that they needed separate outfits for every night out and 12 pairs of pyjamas. Clothes were worn until they were worn out, not worn for a few times then chucked. Handed down. Going even further back, made from scratch.

Your average Shein customer who is spending £80 or more a month is not on the bones of their arse.

OP posts:
MakeMeAnOffer · 28/11/2025 17:20

Strange how environmental policies never seem to be aimed at changing the behaviour/consumption of the rich, isn’t it?

BettysRoasties · 28/11/2025 17:16

Goldeh · 28/11/2025 16:52

Catalogues mostly and all the debt that goes with it.

On the estate that my family members lived on, there was someone who ran catalogues under her own name, Freeman's, Littlewoods, those sorts of catalogues. People could choose from the catalogue and order items. In return they'd leave their Child Benefit book with her with the chits pre-signed so she could collect it. She would do that every week until the debt was repaid. She had a massive line of credit because of the massive orders + massive repayments. That she was skimming off a percentage for "interest" was by-the-by. Her husband was also in the financial business and happy to lend money to members of the community in need of a loan on easy credit terms. No one needed to leave their Child Benefit book with him because he'd just break legs to ensure repayments. All money laundered through the social club where they were on the committee.

That brings back memories. My Nan used to be that lady haha. But also everyone had the provident lady at their doors. Do they still exist?

YaWeeFurryBastard · 28/11/2025 17:12

People are forgetting that one of the crucial flaws with Vinted and eBay is that you cannot try stuff on and return if it doesn’t fit/suit.

BarbieShrimp · 28/11/2025 17:08

Goldeh · 28/11/2025 16:52

Catalogues mostly and all the debt that goes with it.

On the estate that my family members lived on, there was someone who ran catalogues under her own name, Freeman's, Littlewoods, those sorts of catalogues. People could choose from the catalogue and order items. In return they'd leave their Child Benefit book with her with the chits pre-signed so she could collect it. She would do that every week until the debt was repaid. She had a massive line of credit because of the massive orders + massive repayments. That she was skimming off a percentage for "interest" was by-the-by. Her husband was also in the financial business and happy to lend money to members of the community in need of a loan on easy credit terms. No one needed to leave their Child Benefit book with him because he'd just break legs to ensure repayments. All money laundered through the social club where they were on the committee.

Genuinely the weirdest "...and that's why I shop at SheIn" I've ever heard.

Goldeh · 28/11/2025 16:54

Oh, and for people with the biggest amounts of money owed, they'd kindly take over their bank accounts for them. Basically, you'd give them your banking stuff, they'd pay you an allowance each week and keep the rest to repay your debt.

Goldeh · 28/11/2025 16:52

BarbieShrimp · 28/11/2025 09:30

What did low-income people do before SheIn etc.? Just not wear clothes?

See my previous posts about why SheIn isn't generally used by (or appealing to) low-income people.

Catalogues mostly and all the debt that goes with it.

On the estate that my family members lived on, there was someone who ran catalogues under her own name, Freeman's, Littlewoods, those sorts of catalogues. People could choose from the catalogue and order items. In return they'd leave their Child Benefit book with her with the chits pre-signed so she could collect it. She would do that every week until the debt was repaid. She had a massive line of credit because of the massive orders + massive repayments. That she was skimming off a percentage for "interest" was by-the-by. Her husband was also in the financial business and happy to lend money to members of the community in need of a loan on easy credit terms. No one needed to leave their Child Benefit book with him because he'd just break legs to ensure repayments. All money laundered through the social club where they were on the committee.

BarbieShrimp · 28/11/2025 09:30

SpidersAreShitheads · 28/11/2025 03:25

Until there’s an acknowledgement of why some people shop at Temu/Shein etc without just loftily waving it away as “buying tat”, there’s always going to be a problem.

Reading this thread, it’s very clear that some posters make zero effort to understand others.

What did low-income people do before SheIn etc.? Just not wear clothes?

See my previous posts about why SheIn isn't generally used by (or appealing to) low-income people.

HerVagestyTheQueef · 28/11/2025 08:05

SpidersAreShitheads · 28/11/2025 03:25

Until there’s an acknowledgement of why some people shop at Temu/Shein etc without just loftily waving it away as “buying tat”, there’s always going to be a problem.

Reading this thread, it’s very clear that some posters make zero effort to understand others.

Im not sure why posters keep wanging on about the need to understand the customers of these sites. Again, this is NOT about poor people who have no choice but to buy cheap. They are not Shein/Temu’s main customer base. As has been linked above, the average customer spends around $100 a month there on their ultra fast fashion and tat.
So what is there to understand? People like cheap stuff and don’t care where it comes from? Got it!

The problem with Shein, Temu and Ali Express is the sale of unsafe and illegal products, potential use of forced labor, exploitation of tax loopholes that allow them to ship in lots of stuff without paying import duties, deceptive commercial practices and bad environmental practices.
France is seeking to suspend their website due to illegal products, including a child sex doll.

So Britain and other countries are, quite rightly, seeking to sanction/ban/tax these companies for the reasons above.

Christmascarrotjumper · 28/11/2025 06:57

SpidersAreShitheads · 28/11/2025 03:25

Until there’s an acknowledgement of why some people shop at Temu/Shein etc without just loftily waving it away as “buying tat”, there’s always going to be a problem.

Reading this thread, it’s very clear that some posters make zero effort to understand others.

It goes the other way too. Some people aren't inclined to make any effort to understand the complex problems with this sort of shopping.
They want to buy things, so they do. No more thought goes into it than that.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 28/11/2025 06:16

Shein is on the verge of being banned in France for selling child sex dolls.

smallglassbottle · 28/11/2025 05:47

SpidersAreShitheads · 28/11/2025 03:25

Until there’s an acknowledgement of why some people shop at Temu/Shein etc without just loftily waving it away as “buying tat”, there’s always going to be a problem.

Reading this thread, it’s very clear that some posters make zero effort to understand others.

Oh I understand it. It's called dopamine and shopping online can provide a hit. You get another hit when the parcel arrives. Still no excuse though. Those stupid 'influencers' with their so called 'hauls' are part of the problem.