Temu and Shein

It hasn’t got a very good reputation (poor labour practises and working environments etc) but I don’t have a personal experience.

I ordered from Temu. I was worried too, but finally decided to do it. I posted here about being interested in making wax seals. I didn’t want to make a big investment until I was sure about making the seals as a hobby.

I ordered about $27 worth of supplies (4 items) on Feb 4. My order arrived on Feb 15 via UPS. Everything was really nice, the pictures and descriptions were accurate.

I will say that the items were not packed as nice as the orders I have since made on Amazon. Amazon, as a rule, uses boxes, or if they do use bags of some sort, there is always bubble wrap or other packaging to insulate the items. The Temu shipment was just all the items stacked together, then wrapped in plastic wrap and put inside a thin plastic bag. Amazingly everything survived with no damages to any of the product boxes.

While I couldn’t do a direct comparison of all the items, I estimated that the Amazon order would have cost me $50 versus the $27 from Temu. For 2 of the wax seal stamps, I found virtually identical stamps. On Amazon they would have cost me approximately $16 for the two and I paid $5 on Temu.

I would definitely buy from there again, but I’m pretty impatient, and still order supplies from Amazon because I can get them in a day or two. I’d rate it as an overall positive experience.

I have ordered from and have received numerous packages from Temu. No issues. Of course, there are a few quality issues, but usable and I did not attempt to return anything. I did get a $5 credit for a late delivery.

I also use PayPal. You will get many many emails from Temu reminding you that you have left something in you cart, if you do.

I've ordered from Temu. Twice I've had a problem with an item that didn't work and they credited me right away without asking for it to be returned. They also issued a $5 credit for an order that was late.

Everyone says they don't want to buy from China and I avoid it when I can, but a lot of what you buy on Amazon comes from China anyway. Do you want to give Besos a bonus for what you're going to buy anyway?

My girls and I order from Shein often. No issues. Love the prices. I always read reviews but proceed with caution because they are usually written by people looking to earn points and they give 5-stars to everything! But I do like when reviews have pics attached.

I have returned to Shein a few times. One time they told me to keep the 3 clothing items I was trying to return and credited me without sending anything back.

Temu annoys me with their constant texting, the app trying to win free goodies, the ads all over.. I don't know. Not a fan of that site. I had a client come recently for her daughter's 6th birthday photos and she brought the cutest balloons with her: big disco balls for a Barbie set we were doing, pretty rose gold flowers, etc. She told me she got all of the balloons on Temu! Blew them up at home.

I love Shein.

I hate that I love it because I know they have questionable practices from labor, environmental, and intellectual property standpoints.

But it is just the only place I can find cute summer dresses that I like and fun button up shirts in the material my boys like 🤷🏻‍♀️

The shipping is super fast. They have a warehouse by me now so I get stuff from Shein faster than stuff from Amazon. Returns are free and easy.

So far, the quality of everything I’ve ordered has been better than expected (my expectations were cheap stuff from China and it is, but it’s held up well).

I have ordered once from Shein. Someone on Outfit Formulas (GYPO) had a dress from there. I loved it so I ordered it. It was on clearance for $7. And it was cute! I was impressed with it for what it cost. I used PayPal and it was fine. I have never ordered from Temu but my SIL does a lot without problems.

I suggested the hot glue, because I found that the wax just shatters.

Watch Melts on YouTube and bgoods.lettering and strictlyrita on Instagram.

This.

I have only ordered from Temu and I have been pretty happy.
This is my advice. REALLY read the description. Get out a ruler. Size is sometimes an issue with things like decor, wreaths, etc. I ordered some pretty faux pine branches for Christmas decor and they were about 3" long. LOL I went back and read the description, and YEP that is exactly what I ordered. I thought I was getting large branches, and they looked big from the photos, but nope. They were tiny. I ended up using them on packages and laughed everytime I looked at them.

I have ordered some really gorgeous silk flowers for spring. They cost pennies compared to what I could find online elsewhere and they are very nice. But really read that description, measure, and open ALL of the images with it. For some wreaths - the first picture is something stunning - but go deeper in the images to see what you are really getting. Most are ugly plastic copies that look nothing like that original image, which was probably someones Etsy image.

You should be good on the graduation decorations - but measure and open every photo to look things over carefully!

I know many people have, but I would not. I don’t trust either of them, and you get what you pay for in quality.

They also steal designs and recreate them for cheap.

I order from Temu. I use the site, not the app. I've never had any problem with them. I wouldn't buy clothes- the fabric is often that thin, polyester feeling stuff. It is kind of a crap shoot on other stuff but I do buy stuff from there that I love. I do junk journaling and their stickers, paper, lace, patches, etc. are great. I also like their stencils.

I also buy novelty earrings and canvas posters. Both of those are good.

You are buying the exact same stuff on Amazon, with the same horrible labor practices. I understand the moral issue but I don't know how you get around it when you buy stuff made in China.

My sister buys a lot of cake/pie decorating tools and has liked them, too.

This is my main concern with buying from Temu. They sell “name brand” items that are knockoffs. I haven’t bought from them, but I may be tempted with some cheaper Chinese made/brand goods that you also see on Amazon. But I wouldn’t buy goods that have a well-known name on them, like Prismacolor or Apple.

Practically everything is made in China. Not sure what you're referring to as far as supporting artists, but I'm not really buying anything like that anyway. I'm buying craft supplies that are all made in China no matter where you buy them from, beads and mica and that sort of thing.
Dollhouse miniatures, etc.

You do you as well.