Marcia Clark 
Table of Contents
Baffled about all of the Temu ads that played through this year’s Tremendous Bowl? You’re not alone.
Searches for e-commerce enterprise Temu ‒ which include the phrase “what is Temu” ‒ spiked soon after the firm aired five commercials through and soon immediately after the sport, each displaying colourful animated characters acquiring goods for as minor as 99 cents. A perky track performed in the track record as figures danced throughout the monitor, promising viewers the likelihood to “shop like a billionaire.”
“The industrial marks the emphasize of a Tremendous Bowl campaign that showcased far more than $15 million in coupon codes and giveaways,” Temu said in a assertion cited by CNN.
A fast search on the platform’s website reveals jaw-dropping specials: $8 sneakers $18 Airpod look-alikes a $4 Stanley Cup dupe.
But are the site’s reduced price ranges worthy of it? Here’s what to know about Temu.
What is Temu?
Temu is an online price cut marketplace that offers anything from T-shirts to backyard hoses. The a person thing all its solutions have in frequent? Small selling prices. The corporation states products are shipped straight from suppliers and brands, which assists reduce costs.
Temu released in the U.S. in September 2022 and experienced much more than 50 million month to month U.S. energetic people as of January, according to sector intelligence company Sensor Tower. Which is up practically 300% yr-in excess of-yr.
The business functions likewise to other e-commerce companies like Amazon, but buyers can be expecting lengthier shipping situations mainly because items are normally delivered from China and other parts of the globe.
Even with the shipping time and reportedly questionable excellent of some of the items (Temu’s Superior Organization Bureau score sits at 2½ out of 5 stars), Temu’s app is amongst the most downloaded globally and in the U.S.
“Temu has absolutely captivated shoppers over the training course of final yr,” according to a observe from Sensor Tower.
Pushed by a “flashy” user interface and in-app games that encourage bargains, the organization explained Temu has “dominated shopper attention” in contrast with its rivals. Sensor Tower located Temu consumers put in an normal of 23 minutes a 7 days on the application in the fourth quarter, as opposed with 18 minutes on Amazon and 22 minutes on eBay.
“Temu’s value positioning, the gamification of its application, the maximize in advert shell out, its extensive assortment and its close provider interactions are what we think is driving the company’s expansion,” Sensor Tower’s take note reads.
Is Temu legit?Cybersecurity specialist warns it is really not the discount you want, coupon codes aside
What is Temu’s mum or dad company?
Temu was started in Boston in 2022. Its dad or mum organization is PDD Holdings Inc., previously Pinduoduo Inc., which is headquartered in Shanghai.
PDD’s inventory rate jumped 3.2% Monday, closing the working day at $131.57.
Is Temu safe and sound to acquire from?
PDD Holdings also owns Pinduoduo, a Chinese e-commerce enterprise that has been accused of applying code to bypass cellphone protection settings to spy on other applications, browse private messages and improve settings.
PDD has rejected statements that its app includes destructive code.
Does Temu steal your information and facts?
Temu’s web page suggests the corporation collects several data, together with:
- Call information like electronic mail handle and phone quantity.
- Order and search heritage.
- Locale knowledge and IP addresses.
- Social media profiles (if entered by person).
- Information from third-celebration resources.
A course-motion lawsuit was submitted final yr accusing Temu of violating customers’ privacy legal rights by gathering non-public details with “unscrupulous” strategies, and cybersecurity experts have warned that applying the app will come with pitfalls.
An emailed assertion from Temu said the organization collects details to give and increase its solutions and products and services and noted that it is issue to “intensive” regulatory oversight as section of a Nasdaq-mentioned company with a market capitalization of $170 billion.
“At Temu, we prioritize the protection of privacy and are clear about our data tactics,” the statement stated.
Does Temu use forced labor?
Temu has been accused of skirting a U.S. ban against solutions built in China’s western province of Xinjiang, according to a 2023 report from Ultra Information Answers, a worldwide provide chain verification agency.
The U.S. banned the importation of products and solutions from this location, citing abuses towards the predominantly Muslim Uyghur population in Xinjiang.
Temu says the promises are “totally ungrounded.”
“Our present standards and techniques are no unique from individuals of important U.S. e-commerce platforms, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy,” the firm stated in an emailed statement.
