What is Temu? Is it legit in the UK and how does it work?

If you shop online and love a good bargain, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Temu.

Temu is an online shopping app which has become super popular in the UK and in other countries including the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Temu offers goods of all kinds shipped directly from Chinese factories and warehouses, at heavily discounted prices.

But with prices so low, it’s only natural to wonder - is Temu legit and safe to use? As with anything where it seems too good to be true, it’s sensible to be cautious before handing over your card details. In this guide, we’ll look at what Temu is and crucially, how safe it is to use.

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Table of contents
What is Temu? Is Temu a legitimate site? How does Temu work? Is Temu safe to buy from in the UK? Does Temu really give free items? Does Temu ship purchased items to the UK? How long does Temu take to ship items to the UK?

What is Temu?

Temu is an online shopping marketplace, available both on the Temu website and dedicated mobile app.

It’s based in Boston, Massachusetts in the US,¹ but also has a headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.² The company is owned by PDD Holdings, which was founded by Chinese billionaire Colin Huang.¹ In the UK, Temu’s legal entity is called Whaleco UK Limited.³

Temu is an ecommerce site like any other, except that products all come directly from China and prices are super low.

Is Temu a legitimate site?

Temu appears to be a legitimate site, with real products that will arrive if you order them. Product quality may vary, like with a number of other discount retailers, and you won’t find name-brand tech products listed on Temu.⁴

However, the company has been embroiled in a few controversies since it started to become popular. Over in the U.S, the government has accused Temu of posing a potential data risk, and has also alleged that the company isn’t complying with laws over forced labour. So for some shoppers, there may be an ethical quandary about using the site.⁴

How does Temu work?

From the shopper’s perspective, Temu works just like any other retail website. You browse categories or search for a particular product, add it to your basket and check out. Temu sells a vast range of products, so you can buy everything from car accessories to clothing, electronics to furniture.

However, Temu is a little different to other similar retailers out there. It connects customers with manufacturers rather than brands, and they ship products directly from Chinese warehouses and factories to customers in the UK. This is one of the reasons that Temu’s prices are so low. The only snag is that sometimes it can be difficult to get detailed information on who you’re actually buying from.

Is Temu safe to buy from in the UK?

Temu should be safe to buy from, as it offers the following security features:

• HTTPS encryption on the Temu website
• Safe payment methods, including Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal⁵
• Temu Purchase Protection Program, which offers a full refund if your item isn’t delivered, isn’t as described or arrives damaged.⁶

Like other companies, Temu does collect customer data. So, you’ll need to check its data and privacy policy carefully to make sure you’re happy with how it uses your data.

You can also check out Temu’s reviews on sites like TrustPilot, where it has a current score of 3.3 out of 5 based on over 8,500 UK reviews.⁷

📚 Read more: Virtual debit cards you can open in the UK

Does Temu really give free items?

Along with a number of discounts and special offers, Temu also offers the chance to win free items. The offers for Temu free items can vary, but generally involve promoting the app on social networks and getting others to sign up.

Does Temu ship purchased items to the UK?

Yes, sellers on Temu do ship to the UK. What’s more, standard shipping is free on almost all orders. If you want express delivery, there’s a fee of £9.⁸

As items are being shipped from as far away as China, you will need to wait a little longer compared to ordering from a UK-based company. We’ll look at average shipping times with Temu next.

How long does Temu take to ship items to the UK?

Temu delivery isn’t quick, due to the distance involved in shipping items from China all the way to the UK.

Standard shipping takes anywhere between 6-14 business days. If you pay the £9 fee for express delivery, your order will arrive between 3-8 business days. There’s also the option to choose Click & Collect, where your order will arrive at the collection point between 6-11 working days.⁸

Once your order has been confirmed, you’ll receive an estimated delivery time from Temu.

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And there you have it, an at-a-glance guide to what Temu is, how it works and whether the shopping app is safe to use in the UK.

We’ve looked at everything from who owns the company to what security measures it uses. So, you should have all the info you need to decide whether Temu is right for you.

And when shopping anywhere online, it’s always smart to take precautions to protect yourself, your money and your data. For example, you can use virtual cards to help you shop safely online - like the Wise digital card.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

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Sources used for this article:

1. The Standard - What is Temu?
2. CNBC - Tech giant PDD Holdings moves headquarters from China to Ireland
3. Temu - Terms of use
4. ZDNET - Is Temu legit? What to know before you place an order
5. Temu - Temu’s Story
6. Temu - Purchase Protection Program
7. TrustPilot - Temu.com
8. Temu - Shipping info

Sources checked on 23-Oct-2023.