Pro Tip: Check Temu

[ua_guy]

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/trump-tariffs-temu-shein-de-minimis

Zoom in: Applicable duties will be attached to shipments under $800 that are sent from China to the U.S. outside of the international postal system, according to the White House.

• Shipments under $800 that are sent through the international postal network were originally to be "subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025)."
• But the White House tripled those levies on Tuesday — 90% of their value, or $75 (rising to $150 after June 1), citing the retaliatory tariffs imposed by China's government.

[disneysteve]

I doubt it that Target or Walmart has a similar which like this one from Temu especially being this one is water resistant for $12. I just searched Amazon and nothing comes up even close to this $12 Temu watch. I did a price low to high and Amazon has one $12 which is ugly. Prices go up from there and nothing as stylish as this $12 Temu. Good try.

Good deal, then. Enjoy it.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I doubt it that Target or Walmart has a similar which like this one from Temu especially being this one is water resistant for $12. I just searched Amazon and nothing comes up even close to this $12 Temu watch. I did a price low to high and Amazon has one $12 which is ugly. Prices go up from there and nothing as stylish as this $12 Temu. Good try.

[disneysteve]

Rec'd my $12 Temu watch and it came with a bracelet link removal tool. Had to remove 4 links and fit perfectly. When the battery dies this stainless steel back cover doesn't have the notches to unscrew the back cover so this style requires a thin hardened steel pry tool to pop off the back cover. An ice pick might work or a very slim screwdriver. I'm happy with this $12 watch.

That's fair, but you could also walk into any store anywhere and find a similar watch for the same price. Target, Walmart, Boscovs, etc. They all have an array of watches in the $10-20 range and you'd be able to easily return it if you had any issues. Not saying there's anything wrong with the Temu one but in this case, Temu isn't really offering anything you couldn't easily find somewhere else. I'm sure Amazon has plenty, too.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Rec'd my $12 Temu watch and it came with a bracelet link removal tool. Had to remove 4 links and fit perfectly. When the battery dies this stainless steel back cover doesn't have the notches to unscrew the back cover so this style requires a thin hardened steel pry tool to pop off the back cover. An ice pick might work or a very slim screwdriver. I'm happy with this $12 watch.

[disneysteve]

I love eBay and support it whenever I can but I often find it isn’t the economical choice. The other day I needed to order Fragile stickers. The best price I could find on eBay was $7.90/1,000. I got the same ones for $5.90 on Amazon. I realize that’s a small dollar example but eBay was 33% higher. The same has been true for many other purchases. I stick to Amazon for most new items and eBay for used stuff and collectibles.

[QuarterMillionMan]

Ebay $30.99 & free shipping vs Temu $17.99 + $2.99 shipping. I'm looking for a socket holder to put in my tool bucket so this won't work for me where the sockets will fall off but for comparison's sake.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I thought this was funny.

[disneysteve]

In general at Temu half of the items are junk the other half are really good deals.

That's not a great track record. I don't think I'd shop somewhere where half of the stuff might end up being junk.

The socket holder would be the same whether I bought it at eBay, Amazon, Harbor Freight, or Home Depot, etc.

As for returns at Temu the items are so cheap that if it is junk I just trash it and move on with life

With those places, it wouldn't be hard to return it and get your money back. I get that it might not be worth your time for a dollar or two, but you said the socket holder was $18. That's a lot to throw away IMO.

[QuarterMillionMan]

In general at Temu half of the items are junk the other half are really good deals. The socket holder would be the same whether I bought it at eBay, Amazon, Harbor Freight, or Home Depot, etc. Some of the good Temu items were shoes, shirts, jackets, diver's watches, flashlights, bike seats/posts, wetsuits, diving gloves, bike caliper brakes, bike mirrors, tires/tubes, etc. As for returns at Temu the items are so cheap that if it is junk I just trash it and move on with life, no biggie and no stress. Delivery on average is 7 days (Temu doesn't have expedited shipping), but I'm not in a rush. If I need something tomorrow I'll buy it from Amazon or Walmart and pay extra for 1 day shipping.

[disneysteve]

Oh and to follow on your point Disneysteve, the value of Temu is it sells the SAME item as amazon, just for a lower price.

While I doubt that is universally true, it may be true for particular items. In that case, I'd much rather buy from Amazon. They have an awesome return policy. I just need to drop the item off at UPS or Kohl's or Whole Foods. I don't even need to package it. And a lot of the time, especially for cheap items, I don't have to return it at all. They just issue a refund. Does Temu make returns that simple, too? I have no idea since I've never dealt with them. Also, does Temu deliver within a day or two?

[ua_guy]

Oh and to follow on your point Disneysteve, the value of Temu is it sells the SAME item as amazon, just for a lower price.

If you are talking about imposter/knockoff items designed to imitate well-regarded brands, then this is generally true. Unless Amazon's "Haul" service (Temu competitor) is offering the same imposter product for the same price as Temu.

[james.hendrickson]

I wonder how much money you are wasting over time by buying Temu products that you then need to replace rather than just buying the good quality item first.

Oh and to follow on your point Disneysteve, the value of Temu is it sells the SAME item as amazon, just for a lower price.

[james.hendrickson]

I wonder how much money you are wasting over time by buying Temu products that you then need to replace rather than just buying the good quality item first.

This is an age old question - it applies to all sorts of cheap products, not just one ones sold on Temu.

I used by buy "fast fashion" men's shirts - they were half the price of the higher end mens stores. But, the cheaper cloth and stitching of the shirts would start to show only after a few washes. I was better off on a per wash/wear basis going with the higher end shirts. The cheap ones just fell apart too soon.

[disneysteve]

I'm still trying to find a good socket holder. The middle Craftsman black plastic deep socket holder hinge broke but sockets stay put even without the latch and broken hinge. The right side green magnetic $18 Temu socket holder not strong and if turned upside down sockets stay put if gentle movements occur but shake it a little and sockets fall out.

I wonder how much money you are wasting over time by buying Temu products that you then need to replace rather than just buying the good quality item first.