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Originally Posted On: https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/02/24/what-is-temu-app-and-is-the-shopping-site-legit/
Temu, a discount shopping app has topped the US app chart after airing a commercial at the Super Bowl but what is the Temu app and is it legit?
The Temu app was launched just months ago and has surpassed both Amazon and Walmart with its number of downloads. Temu’s parent company is PDD Holdings Inc., which owns Pinduoduo, a Chinese e-commerce business.
It comes after Chinese apps like TikTok and the video editing app CapCut have gained huge success in the US market in recent years.
What is Temu app?
Temu app is a Boston-based online marketplace that sells a huge range of products including accessories, clothing, kitchenware and electronic devices.
The app has been downloaded 24 million times within the five months since its release last September, according to Forbes.
The name Temu translates to “team up, price down,” according to its website, while the company’s slogan is “Shop like a billionaire.”
The eccentric array of mostly off-brand products available for purchase through third-party sellers on Temu are generally listed at very low prices, and always discounted from the original retail price. For example, a Hello Kitty basketball that usually goes for $81.99 is listed at $39.59, a 51% discount.
Is it legitimate?
As is sensible when prices seem too good to be true, consumers are wondering whether Temu is legitimate and safe.
As per the company’s current returns policy, “Almost all items are eligible for returns and refunds within 90 days from the purchase date.” However, there is an exception for “items that are labeled as non-returnable.”
Tom’s Guide reports that Temu currently has about 129 complaints on the Better Business Bureau website from shoppers who never received their items or received damaged items despite being charged. A Temu spokesperson told the outlet however that all of the cases had been resolved.
Temu’s overall rating from Better Business Bureau is currently an A-, which is similar to Etsy’s rating.
Temu aired a commercial at the Super Bowl
Temu App took one of the coveted commercial slots at the 2023 Super Bowl. In the commercial, a young woman frolics around tapping on her phone and seeing the item she just bought appear in front of her.
The ad is soundtracked by an original song with lyrics including: “The prices blow my mind,” “I feel so rich,” and “Shopping like a billionaire.”
