To not buy from Temu

[Mayhemmumma]

Thinking I'm being more ethical not buying from Temu.

But I keep seeing identical items for sale...

Every time I see a bloody Temu ad I want to scream.

I've just had to liquidate my bricks and mortar independent shop after 7 years and am in nearly 10,000 worth of debt because I was trying to keep it going.

It was a "niche" store and I tried to find brands that were ethical etc, and I kidded myself for 18 months that it was all my own fault then realised my oh so loyal and devoted customers could buy the same items was trying to sell cheaper than I could buy from wholesalers.

I've had people photograph items on my shelves in front of my face and find them cheaper online.

The High Street is dying and contacts are reporting that smaller online businesses are folding too.

I'm out of retail and very bitter.

There are no ethics or morals in business these days. These big corporations are Behemoths and sole traders will not survive.

It's an environmental disaster zone too. Don't buy shit you don't need. Simple.

don't buy from temu, the quality is terrible and it's essentially the new avon

That really sucks @MistressoftheDarkSide. Lots of people just don't care about quality or ethical sourcing, they just want cheap, convenient and from a brand they immediately recognise.

It's such a shame. And because you're competing with these giant corporations, of course you need to put your prices up! You're offering great products. But you can't win, here.

A really lovely plant and pottery type shop on my high street was replaced with a dreadful vape shop last week. This is the future of retail, sadly. There isn't the space for shops like yours in most places.

That’s why tax needs to redress the balance, as the French have. I really hope labour is watching the French legislation on that.

People need a nudge sometimes and that’s what’s great about the French legislation - make fast fashion more expensive, subsidise repairing.

Im trying hard to avoid all these chinese sellers flogging junk.

Amazon is full of them now.

I have gone back to the trustworthy uk retailers rather than all the online platforms.

Because they weren’t paying uk tax, U.K. rent, employing people in the shop who are paying tax

it goes on and on.

we all love a bargain, and I am someone who can’t afford most high street shops.

the problem is when you hear of massive companies making huge profits, and you know it’s the same item at a third of the cost. That’s when you feel ripped off and justified to buy from temu /shein. There’s a happy medium there where people in the U.K. can be employed, profits smaller but still profits and taxes paid.

I’m sorry. I’m not surprised you feel bitter. It’s not a level playing field by any stretch

They all come from the same factory, it's just branding. M&S are still getting their stuff cheaply made from china.

It is hard to avoid buying products with unethical practices somewhere in the production line, even at our beloved UK high street stores like M&S, Next etc., you often can't actually find out the entire journey of the product.

That is definitely not a justification for buying from somewhere like Temu though, where it is obvious there is slave labour/ dodgy practices involved.

I think it is totally unethical to buy a product knowing that this has happened in order to manufacture it.

My outlook is that I just try to reduce what I am buying generally. When I do buy things new, I try to buy from somewhere that, even if I don't know that it's entirely ethical, at least isn't all over the news for its bad practices.

People talk about ethics, I bet a lot are typing this out on a phone made in China or a Tesla where materials mined in the congo by children.

It seems if you are cheap even like Primark, temu you are vilified but the big names get away with it all the time.

Using my iPhone. Which I purchased second hand reconditioned and will do so until it dies (or I once again drop it down the loo, whichever occurs first ).

Your comparison doesn't work as I'd have to buy my Shein top from a charity shop then not replace with another top until it fell apart.

Did I specifically say you no, but this will apply to plenty on here.

But so what? We’re talking about fast fashion here - the fact that there are many more products that need regulating doesn’t mean that people should carry on buying shein etc.

All the people I know that shop on the likes of Shein and Temu, don't buy the one thing they need. They seem to buy a load of shite too, and often. Those apps hook you in with their daily deals etc, and prey on the FOMO that some people seem to have.

But it isn't about fast fashion Temu sells electronics and phones. But Ok many clothes and shoes shops use shitty suppliers from, your top end to bottom end but it is only bottom end who sell it cheap get called out for it.

There are so so many reasons why they called our for it, all detailed up thread.

If fast retail is a scale then these companies in particular are at the very shit end of it.

But it isn't about fast fashion Temu sells electronics and phones. But Ok many clothes and shoes shops use shitty suppliers from, your top end to bottom end but it is only bottom end who sell it cheap get called out for it.

Yes, other brands do get called out. If you're someone who doesn't particularly care, you wouldn't see it, would you?

You're only going to buy one designer/expensive coat, which you'll repair when broken and sell secondhand when you're done. Because you paid good money for it.

Not happening with Shein. Buy 20 items, none fit properly, half go in landfill. Buy 20 more a month later.

Overconsumption is one of the biggest issues, and what sets them apart from places like Marks.

Don’t we have to start somewhere and build on that, to get people to grow the skills to repair and reuse etc? I’m sure you’re right that many many aspects of consumer products need overhaul.

It's pretty terrible that China are allowed to steal designs like this.

"Allowed"?

Strange choice of words. There is no enforcement of copyright in China, or trademarks. Nothing stopping any Chinese company copying designs from big multinationals like Adidas/Apple or the wee woman along the road who has a side hustle selling her own artwork.

People choosing to shop on these sites are just encouraging the copyright theft.

At least they are based in the UK and if you go to Primark then you are keeping people in employment in the UK and the VAT and their wages go back into the economy to some extent

Tbh I avoid this shop as well.