The Chinese online shopping platform Temu attracts bargain hunters above all with sometimes unrivalled low prices. For some time now, the range has not only consisted of gadgets, but also supposedly high-quality offers. This also applies to water sports enthusiasts. And more and more of them seem to be finding what they are looking for at Temu.
The range extends from cordage material to blocks, shackles, clamps and stainless steel clickers. But can you simply buy them without hesitation? Apparently, fewer and fewer customers have any doubts. Even a quick rummage will turn up something. For example, if you believe the Temu data, a mooring set has already been sold over 4,000 times, shackles, blocks, cleats and even shroud tensioners have been ordered hundreds of times. So even with safety-relevant equipment, the usually very favourable price obviously catches on.
Is the quality right?
However, when it comes to safety, every buyer should be aware of how the low prices come about. On the one hand, products are often not manufactured in accordance with the much stricter guidelines that apply in the European Union. In addition, the labour costs are completely different. This makes it difficult for the buyer to judge the quality of a product. For example, whether a shackle is made of high-quality or cheap stainless steel, whether it actually does not rust and what its exact breaking load is. If such a part fails at an unfavourable moment, a cheap purchase can be expensive. The Consumer advice centrethat low prices can go hand in hand with a lack of quality and safety.
No customs duties
Temu often does not have to pay customs duty due to the low prices of items, as this is only incurred from a value of 150 euros. Nevertheless, import sales and excise duties may be incurred, which are payable from a value of 5.26 euros. Delivery services advance these costs and then collect them from the buyer when the parcel is delivered.
Buyer becomes importer
In addition, the purchase is almost always made via the manufacturer, eliminating the need for a dealer network, which also enables favourable prices. However, the buyer becomes the importer and is liable accordingly. This may not be a problem for private use. However, if a part is lent out or ordered for a mate, this person can take recourse against the buyer in the event of damage.
Difficult complaint
Another aspect that should be considered is complaints. If an order does not arrive at all or is faulty, it is not Temu that is the point of contact but the seller, usually a manufacturer in China. It can be very difficult to get in touch with the seller and demand a refund or a replacement delivery. Temu only sees itself as an intermediary.
What buyers should look out for
The consumer advice centre has published the following eight tips for buying from Temu:
- Find out about the applicable customs regulations when ordering from retailers outside the EU. Otherwise you may incur additional taxes and customs duties.
- If possible, do not pay in advance, but only pay when you have received the goods and are satisfied. If you receive payment requests before you have received the goods, do not ignore them, but contact online customer service and explain that you have not yet received anything.
- If goods come from retailers in the Far East, delivery times can be long.
- Look for authorised CE marks on electronic devices.
- Overall, it is important to be critical and well informed before buying. Check the reviews of other customers.
- Anyone who feels disturbed by constant advertising should switch off push notifications in the app or in the smartphone settings, unsubscribe from the email newsletter or reply to an advertising text message with STOP (according to the Temu terms of use from 8 July 2023).
- Temu makes no secret of the fact that it is interested in personal data and also uses it for commercial purposes. If you want to use the platform sparingly, you should make sure that location tracking is deactivated in your smartphone settings, for example. We also generally advise against single sign-on.
- There is also the problem of sustainability. Products from China that are shipped far away (and possibly sent back) are a burden on the environment. The mentality of "buying cheap products new" instead of reusing, repairing or buying second-hand is at the expense of our world's finite resources.
