Temu no worse than amazon

[Caronokids75]

So I earn am on a relatively low income and shop on temu. My sister and a few friends are aghast at this for 'ethical ' reasons which i totally accept and do question myself. However they all shop on amazon , don't we all. Amazon although a larger model and hugely convenient is surely no better. Add there next day delivery policies for just one item makes there carbon footprint a real issue. Plus much of the stuff bought cheap on temu is 3 times more expensive on amazon , all made in china from both sellers so amazon to is just screwing us over for profit amidst them not paying taxes. I get it temu isn't great but I struggle being criticised by people who use amazon for a next day delivery on 1 item order several times a month. Happy to be educated on this but the question really is, is it OK to slam one while using the other.

If the label says 'Made in China' or any other country with rubbish human rights then it doesn't matter if you buy it from Harrods or temu, it's still made in a sweatshop.

Most things on Amazon can also be found on Temu. Amazon is a marketplace where people will buy the same stuff that you can find on Temu and resell via Amazon. They will be stored in Amazon warehouses and that way shipped out.

Its all the same tbh, although I feel like temu is terrible quality

Like the plastic toys ive bought from there have been bloody awful

Ethically though, whether youre shopping at new look, primark, Tesco, its all unethical x

Most of the stuff on Temu is only fit for the bin once it arrives.

You're completely correct. It's extremely difficult to shop 100% ethically and I suspect the people aghast at you using Temu may be aghast at their own shopping habits if they cared to dig deeper.

The planet is drowning in throwaway fashion and plastic shite. The option of not buying more is always available.

My recent experience of Amazon is Temu with next day delivery and 3x the price. I've started reading the reviews and sellers reviews very carefully before purchasing on Amazon now.

Safety wise at least items purchased in reputable brick and mortar shops have a better chance of meeting British safety standards. So many toys especially have been found to be unsafe and have high levels of undesirable chemicals and materials in them. When there are so many cheap second hand toys available from known brands its awful parents buy their children this crap. Extends to other online shops too as lots drop ship this same crap and it circumvents legal standards.

What are you buying on Temu that you can't afford to buy ethically?

The people I know who justify their Temu use through citing Amazon as equally bad, are using Temu to buy throwaway tat which they refer to as "bits" usually.

I've been dirt poor before. Couldn't afford food poor. I bought nothing outside of the essentials and they did not come from sites such as Temu.

Do Amazon workers in the UK get a fair wage?

I would buy stuff for the dc in John Lewis over Temu because I want it to be safe.

My main gripe with Temu is their awful adverts.

And especially that when you click the "X" in the corner hoping it will finish it forwards to you a page to download the app. That is really annoying.
If I'm clicking the "X" to get rid of it, sending me to the page to download it will not change my mind one iota. In fact it's far more likely to make me decide that I definitely won't use it.

Completely agree that the toys just aren't as safe!

Toys are too expensive tbh, so I dont judge people for seeking more affordable, easily available options, but I just think buying toys on temu (or amazon if theyre not a well known brand) is dangerous and a waste of money due to the absolute shite quality

This.

Amazon stuff all comes from aliexpress and other Chinese wholesalers.

Go to home bargains or whatever and it’s all made in the same place. However home bargains does at least have to meet safety standards. Most stuff on Amazon doesn’t.

Also you click the link with a Lego logo and what turns up is neither Lego nor the same size as Lego.

Hey , some really fair points and to be clear I do question if I'm OK buying on there especially when questioned on it. I get a lot in charity shops and prioritise saving money to do nice things over consumerism but yeah I do go on there because it is cheap. Brick and mortor shops absolutely but am time poor and don't love shopping . Am defo reading your comments and taking it all on board especially over buying from countries like China and sweat shops . I guess if I did stop then amazon really is no better if it's the same stuff which is what I thought.

😄😄 yes so true

Got a 'Shaun the sheep' for my dd for Xmas

What arrived was not Shaun but a slightly odd looking sheep with odd proportions and sewing

Temu / shein and PatPat are all based on the Chinese model of shopping. It’s very specific and it is somewhat watered down from their equivalents in china, however the reason why it got so popular is because of the unique pop ups and spinny wheels and ‘gambling’ type behaviours. It’s actually fascinating when I looked in to it. In china if a website was plain and simple like we have here in the west, people would think it’s a scam whereas we think the opposite.

I mostly don't buy from Amazon because I don't think its dominance is healthy. And more and more it seems like the quality is unreliable. And I want there to be shops on the high street. Not claiming I don't buy cheap crap that I don't need though.

I only buy brands I know from Amazon. Definitely avoid anything ‘sponsored’. It will be tat.

My last 5 orders on Amazon were my seche vite top coat, dr beckmans whitening sachets, dishwasher tablets, my book club book and Epsom bath salts.
No idea where any of it is made or comes from tbh.
Can you buy this sort of stuff on Shein/temu?
The only things I’ve ever seen shared from Shein and Temu are large hauls of terrible quality clothing with a side attitude of “if it only lasts one wear it doesn’t matter cos it was cheap”, or seasonal decor hauls of absolute (admittedly in my eyes) tat. Everything I’ve seen look cheap and completely disposable and that’s what I object to.
I use Amazon as a quick way to get very specific things delivered, I don’t spent time on there browsing, i know what I need and what brand I want and expect it to be of reliable quality. I don’t claim to be an eco crusader of any kind but I absolutely despair of the mindset of influencers who advertise Shein and temu.