Too wonder why people shop on temu Shein etc

[HappySunday1]

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.

I knew someone once who worked in a food factory, on a production line of jam they they had a very well known supermarket luxury brand going to the left..to the right the exact same jam was going in to a supermarket own pot. It's all about branding and marketing.

You can choose to be the plastic tat and clothes police but be aware that the shops buy this stuff from China. Temu and SHEIN are cutting out the middle man. It's not made in the UK...

And as defenders of charity shop pricing often point out, they're there to make as much profit as possible, not provide cheap clothing for people. Hence the phenomenon of Primark, Amazon, Shein and presumably now Temu clothing in them being sold for the same price as new, if not more.

Baby clothes in particular aren't difficult to find for free even. I'd seriously avoid dressing a baby in untested temu chemicals.

My £3 quilt bags won't end in land fill they're in the attic with summer quilts in them..

Do you eat meat? choose you own battles, not other peoples!

I know it was a long time ago, but I very much doubt somebody in the position I was in years ago is going to be given bin bags of the 2023 financial/fashion equivalent of Osh Kosh B'Gosh dungarees, pure new wool coats/cardigans and immaculate organic cotton t-shirts by other women in the baby and toddler group as I was. And not everybody wants secondhand - I've been caught out by clothes moths in the past and there's apparently a massive increase in bedbug infestations these days, even before the aspect of never knowing until it's received whether something being sold BNWT/Smoke free/Animal free house is actually any of those.

That's true, they are there to raise money for charity. But they're still a worthwhile option for inexpensive clothes for children who are going to outgrow them quickly, with less of an environmental impact.

My post about the perceived moral high ground was actually to point out that I imagine most people who take this high ground don't really do much research into the purchases they make and who makes them. It's all very well to look down on those who buy from the likes of Temu/Shein and feel superior to them - but do you really know the working conditions of those who made your oh so much better higher end purchase?. It has already been pointed out numerous times on this thread that a lot of high priced goods are made under the same conditions - just because you pay more for something does not mean it has been made by someone working in excellent conditions for a good wage.

Sigh. Dunning Kruger rules ok

And as defenders of charity shop pricing often point out, they're there to make as much profit as possible, not provide cheap clothing for people.

Honestly, even the most fancy charity shops will have reasonably priced clothing when it comes to kids, definitely less than new. You can get free (!!) clothes online from people.

With adults clothes, it is hard to buy secondhand but it's kinda ridiculous to say for kids. There is a constant stream of kids clothes that people want to pass on, children domt have unique body types/weights like adults.

Get a baby bed for £50, travel system £70, free bath and changing mat etc.

I agree with the buy cheap buy twice but only for adults. I’ve bought kids stuff on shein and it’s been a mix of quality but it was because I needed summer stuff in the winter for a holiday. But my kids grow out of things so quickly it is not worth my money buying the expensive things. It’s not ruined either when they grow out of it. Usually pass it on.

It has already been pointed out numerous times on this thread that a lot of high priced goods are made under the same conditions

But people don't buy more expensive clothes (as in mid range) to throw away. They're made to keep for years unlike Shein.

How many posters do we have here proudly declaring that they like having different clothes, don't care and chuck away the old ones?

A big part of fast fashion is bad quality clothes that break, weird styles that you won't like after 1 year, cheap looking. They are designed as junk, and you buy more. Throw away more.

That's not people's fault if that's all they can afford but it is true.

The idea of buying much less, but spending much more on each item (on the assumption that it is that price because it's been ethically and responsibly sourced) requires a huge mindset shift. I know this isn't true of everyone, but a lot of people who truly think they can't afford it actually can...but as before, it does mean a lot less stuff. Since ethical companies don't overproduce, they tend to follow "slow fashion" so you aren't going to get all the very latest trends but you hopefully get something a bit more timeless.

It's hard, a real shift in thinking, and Shein and all the others are such behemoths now, I don't know if it's ever going to catch on enough to make an impact. But if you can...

A little bit of money goes a long way and in this climate, it suits a lot of us. I’ve just bought stocking fillers for my two kids off Temu. Loads of stuff for less than what I paid last year and it arrived and was far better than expected quality wise. Some stuff is hit and miss and I’ve experienced this but it cost me less and as a family, this is what we are up against so we cut a few corners to save a few quid which will go towards a bill or clothes for our ever growing kids.
Locally we have an independent soap and bath bomb shop. Usually I’m first to support any small business but the prices are too high so I bought Christmas presents for family members from Lush instead for much less. Money saved went towards a replacement blazer for my son.
Im not thinking about my carbon footprint or waste when I shop, I’m thinking about saving where I can.

I saw a documentary of fruit and veg. All from the same place. Perfect ones going to M&S and Waitrose and the wonky stuff going to cheaper shops.

I can't really be bothered to reply, other than to say I have never shopped at either Temu/Shein or any of their cohorts - and I couldn't care less about the UK economy, given that I don't - and never have - lived there.

I still maintain that it is not my place to judge how people spend their money, and am empathetic enough to realise that some people don't have much to spend and therefore are going to buy cheap goods online rather than spend in their local shops where the prices will be considerably higher. Have you looked at the price of things recently? Do you know how much of a mark-up there is on many goods sold in stores? You can judge all you like, but unless you can get the entire nation behind you - which as can be seen from this thread is not going to happen - you are just whistling in the wind.

Where did I say I lived in China? As for my dinner set, if I broke some of it and wanted replacements they would be made in China - there is literally no choice (unless I got second hand, which would be older pieces obviously). The company which makes it obviously has moved their manufacturing to China, which is extremely common - whether you approve or not doesn't change that.

Do you know how much of a mark-up there is on many goods sold in stores?

Chicken or egg? Everyone used to buy from stores 50 years ago, poor, rich.

Now, people can't because they are competing with massive offshore companies like Shein that don't have to pay for units on the high street, or pay they workers properly.

I think.. it's my business where I shop.
I think.. it's your business where YOU shop.

Yes, everyone does need food - but from what I can see people in the UK want and expect certain types of food all year around, unlike other countries where people tend to eat more seasonally. But that's different of course. Busymom has made some very valid points - including the one about the use of supermarkets driving smaller speciality stores out of business. People are so quick to judge others, without taking a good hard look in their own backyards.

I think you will find that not "everyone" used to buy from stores 50 years ago. Yes, they bought what they absolutely needed, but otherwise the poor had to go without new goods and make do with what they had, whether it was fit for purpose or not. Some of you really do live in a bubble - how I would hate to be so blinkered. As for overseas workers not being paid properly, that has been happening for as long as I can remember, it's hardly a new thing.

Everyone bought from shops.

And let's not forget for the bingo- everyone I don't agree with is privileged, blinkered, lives in a bubble

Has anyone said yet that Shein provides jobs and so buying from them is somehow an act of charity? Can we add it to the card yet?

Wouldn't shop there at all, I don't shop at primary either. All my clothes are from charity shops (except jeans and underwear). I can see why people do it but when I have other options available to me I think I should use them.

Years ago my parents bought my clothes either from the catalogue so they could pay it back, or from the local Sunday (and Thursday in the holidays) market where we got the unbranded or copy type versions from. There was always a guy printing t shirts with the current bands on!! lol. Then suddenly at some point in my teens the ‘big Asda’ opened and was selling cheap clothing next to the food.