For the third instalment of The Download, our resident tech expert Marc Saltzman shares his top Temu tips and tricks to help you shop smarter on the online marketplace.
You may not have made a purchase yet, but you're no doubt you’re familiar with Temu, the super popular shopping app and website with low prices on everything from gadgets and fashion to pet supplies and home essentials.
In fact, Temu—which is a marketplace, as you’re buying off other sellers—was the most downloaded free iPhone app from the App Store last year. It’s also available at the Google Play store for Android users, and those who prefer a bigger screen can shop via web browser on a computer.
If you can get past the excessive email marketing and some misleading offers (like the spinning wheel with “freebies” that require you to buy something first), there’s a lot to love about Temu.
Heck, I recently picked up a vacuum sealer machine for better food storage, a pair of pickleball rackets, a smartwatch, white running shoes, a USB thumbdrive and accessories for my robotic mop, all for under $100 and with free shipping no less. (No wonder the company’s tagline is “shop like a billionaire.”)
Whether you’re new to Temu or have used it since it debuted in Canada two years ago, the following are a few ways to get the most out of the experience.
Tip #1: Check seller and product ratings/reviews
Like any online marketplace, like eBay, you want to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller. Look for anything like “Star seller” or “Official brand store” for vetted sellers. Other callouts, like “Low item return rate store” and “High repeat customers store” are also a good sign.
As for products, look for starred reviews (out of 5) and how many people left a review (the higher the number, the better). To fight back against fake reviews, Temu says only verified buyers can leave feedback. You may also know it’s a deal if Temu has a “Mega sale” beside the product.
Oh, and if you've been avoiding Temu because you want to buy Canadian, you should know there are Canuck sellers, too. To buy Canadian, look for the green “Local” icon (or the words “Local warehouse” to imply faster delivery times). More on this shortly.
Tip #2: Price compare
Once you find what you’re looking for, don’t buy it just yet. Take note of the product page but then do a search for a similar model that may cost less, is locally sold or is perhaps higher rated.
If you don’t want to forget what product you’re considering, add it to your cart but continue shopping, and then remove anything you don’t want at checkout.
You might just be surprised to find a similar (or better) product for much less.
The sheer number of items on Temu can be overwhelming, so use the search bar and filters (like “Free shipping”) to narrow down your options effectively.
You can also consider bundle deals as some sellers offer discounts if you purchase multiple items from their catalog.
NOTE: If brand names are important to you, look for blue tags. Most of the items you buy on Temu are lesser-known brands it seems, but there are some recognizable brands on there.
Tip #3: Do your due diligence
On a related note, before you decide on a product, check the photos and read the measurements closely to ensure it’s exactly what you want.
For example, if you’re buying a ring light for shooting TikTok videos, do you need one with a tripod port underneath? The description may not say it, but the photos should show you. On a related note, look at uploaded customer photos of the same product to double check the actual product looks like the seller’s photos.
Also know your measurements when shopping for clothes, rings and shoes.
Before you buy from anywhere, review the estimated delivery dates. Temu deliveries can take longer than sites like Amazon and Walmart, so you may want to limit your purchases to items you don’t need immediately. That said, my experience (in Toronto) is quite good as it may only take a few business days. One purchase, though, across multiple sellers, took a couple of weeks as it shipped from overseas and was personalized, which added some extra time.
Most items are returnable, though there are some exceptions like clothing that was worn, food products, personal care items, etc.
Tip #4: Go the extra mile to get the best deal
Prices are already great on Temu, but you can save even more.
Look for special promotions, seasonal sales and coupon codes to get the best prices. Find special offers like lightning deals and limited-time deals on Temu's homepage. Check your email inbox daily. Subscribe to newsletters or WhatsApp messages from Temu, to receive alerts about sales.
While I alluded to not believing every “deal” or “free credits” offer Temu sends you—and you’ll get them all the time, unless you opt out—it doesn’t hurt to tap or click to see what’s offered.
For example, Temu said it was offering me credits for a delivery that was late (which wasn’t) and when I checked out with a $75 tally, after the credits and other discounts, Temu only charged me $44 for the same six items. Sweet.
I also discovered if you use a web browser extension like PayPal Honey, it works with Temu to apply coupons and promo codes to your cart, as well.
NOTE: Also know if an item's price drops within 30 days of your purchase, you can request a price adjustment for the difference (by selecting the relevant order in the “Your orders” tab and choose “Price adjustment”). Promotional items or ones no longer for sale may not be eligible.
