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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Too wonder why people shop on temu Shein etc

558 replies

HappySunday1 · 20/11/2023 17:32

When we know how bad the environment is how much plastic and stuff ends up in land fill how poor the workers conditions are why are we supporting them. I see so many people doing big hauls of stuff. I know it’s cheap and maybe it’s all people can afford by you buy cheap you buy twice.

OP posts:
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13
BoredOfBeingTired · 20/11/2023 17:35

Really? Not heard of the COL crisis.....
Hopefully nobody comes along to burst your little bubble.

GordoStevensMustache · 20/11/2023 17:35

Because its cheaper (well shein is I don't know about temu) and there's a hell of a lot of choice.

Needmorelego · 20/11/2023 17:37

I use Shein. Some of the stuff they sell is nicer than stuff I see in regular shops.

SaltyGod · 20/11/2023 17:38

My colleague shops on Shein because she doesn’t have much cash and needs clothes to wear.

And as she works full time I’d imagine she doesn’t have much time to schlep around charity shops or shop on eBay (which are probably more expensive)

Would I shop there, no, would I judge someone that does, no.

TheKnittedCharacter · 20/11/2023 17:38

I don’t think many people generally research the ethics or carbon footprint when they buy online.

Nchanged89 · 20/11/2023 17:38

Pretty much everything is made in China, big brands included. Same factories, same working conditions different sticker or tag sewn into the product.

Needmorelego · 20/11/2023 17:38

I don't do the 'big haul" nonsense though. I just buy what I need when I need it.

Sherrystrull · 20/11/2023 17:39

Shein do clothes I like and I can't afford to spend a fortune. It's easy to have morals when you can afford to choose.

fairymary87 · 20/11/2023 17:39

It's cheap and last just as long as High street, not got a lot of money

HomeBird43 · 20/11/2023 17:40

Oh op. Unclench and download the Temu app. It’s a game changer, I promise.

ManateeFair · 20/11/2023 17:40

I know it’s cheap and maybe it’s all people can afford

You've answered your own question.

'Buy cheap, buy twice' is perhaps true in many cases, but the idea of spending a lot of money on one good quality item that will last you a lifetime only really works for people who have the money sitting there in the first place. For example, if someone badly needs a winter coat, then yes, of course spending more on timeless, top-quality well-made one will mean that coat lasts you a lot longer. But you still have to have the money to spend on the initial outlay, and if you need a coat, you need a coat - you can't sit there saving up the pennies for six months because by the time you've got enough for a quality coat, you'll have frozen to death. So people who are skint buy one for £15 from Shein and it will just about last them the winter.

Stroopwaffels · 20/11/2023 17:41

Because it's cheap.

People want endless tat as cheaply as possible and are happy to turn a blind eye to data harvesting, slavery and the environment to fill their lives with that tat.

Don't give me "cost of living" - 99.9% of what is sold on Temu is not life's essentials which people cannot manage without.

ChimChimeny · 20/11/2023 17:41

I know someone who shops on shein for her teenage daughter. Said daughter hates shopping, is a pain of they do go shopping and never finds what she wants so it's easier to let her browse online at her leisure and choose what she wants that way.
She then passes the clothes on (to me sometimes!} Or. To charity shops so it doesn't get wasted
And it's for growing children so won't need replacing if it wears out

RudsyFarmer · 20/11/2023 17:41

I’ve never shopped in either of these places but i’m now considering it!

Diamonde · 20/11/2023 17:42

BoredOfBeingTired · 20/11/2023 17:35

Really? Not heard of the COL crisis.....
Hopefully nobody comes along to burst your little bubble.

People living hand to mouth aren't doing Shein hauls and buying pineapple egg slicers from Temu.

TinkerTiger · 20/11/2023 17:42

Maslow.

When you're trying to fulfil your basic needs at the bottom of the hierarchy, you don't have the time (or care) to indulge in such fancies environmental duty. You're just trying to make it through the day.

Hellocatshome · 20/11/2023 17:42

Also you buy cheap you buy twice isnt always true I say as I sit here in my 20 year old Primark jumper.

HappySunday1 · 20/11/2023 17:42

I would want anything from temu I don’t want a house full of plastic badly made crap I’m currently trying to clear out my house don’t need to add more to it x

OP posts:
FlamingoFlamboyance · 20/11/2023 17:42

I don't have the time or the money to go shopping on the high street or buy from more expensive places.

What makes you think the ethics of SHEIN and Temu are any worse than other well known brands? They're all largely the same, with a few exceptions. Any fast fashion brand is not going to be socially or environmentally ethical.

Notts90 · 20/11/2023 17:42

It's reasonably priced. I won't say cheap as such because I've noticed the prices are more inline with the likes of PLY, boohoo now.

Your point about buy cheap buy twice may be true but what about people who cannot afford the higher priced items?

I've had a few bits of shein and have actually been quite surprised at the quality. Not any different from some shops on the High Street.

mcdonaldschip · 20/11/2023 17:42

I buy from shein and temu as it's cheap! I can't afford to spend loads on clothes and I don't buy clothes often. Fast fashion is only bad if you keep buying clothes every month and only wear them once or twice before getting rid of them.

I do buy from vinted if I can afford it!

ManateeFair · 20/11/2023 17:43

Also, I guarantee you that most high street items, and quite a lot of very expensive ones, are also made by people working in terrible conditions.

Ihatethenewlook · 20/11/2023 17:43

Because I can kit my entire teenagers wardrobe out for £100. And it’s the exact same quality as high street stuff, the only thing I've found are a bit shit are the shoes.

LolaSmiles · 20/11/2023 17:43

Some will come down to needing stuff and finding somewhere at a lower price point.

Some will come down to wanting more stuff, wanting more clothes/a new look and places like Shein/Temu mean people can buy lots of stuff at cheap prices.

People in the first group have fewer choices. People in the second group do have more choices but choose to prioritise lots of stuff from questionable pipelines.

This thread will then to whataboutery soon though. If we were to play bingo it won't be long before people point out the human and environmental cost of ultra fast fashion and someone else will think they've won the internet by saying "if you have children/drive a car then you can't say anything about Shein".

Diamonde · 20/11/2023 17:43

To charity shops so it doesn't get wasted

Nobody wants it, it gets left on the rail then binned. You can tel by looking the cheap Shein, misguided fabrics they look terrible (often even when new) - from experience.