If you can’t resist the siren song of online shopping, chances are good that you’ve heard of Temu. Temu’s app is currently the most popular free shopping app on the App Store and Google Play, according to ZDNET. And it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Believe it or not, Temu prides itself on offering free shipping on most items it sells. The catch? You might end up waiting close to a month for your order to arrive.
What Is Temu?
Haven’t heard of Temu yet? Temu is a low-cost online retailer and an offshoot of Chinese e-commerce site Pinduoduo.
While other big-name online retailers in the low-cost space, such as SHEIN and Wish, focus more on fashion, Temu’s selection is more expansive. The e-commerce giant has been compared to an online mall, with its low-cost offerings ranging from tech products to pet accessories to patio furniture. Shoppers have also claimed that Temu’s recommended products algorithm is more accurate than those of other e-commerce sites.
Temu promises to connect its customers with “partners around the world” to offer its items for such low prices. But surely there must be a catch, right? There’s no way you could buy an entire outfit under $30 without paying an arm and a leg for shipping … or is there?
How to Get Temu Free Shipping
As Temu’s website explains, the company offers “free standard shipping on almost all orders.” That said, your order could be delivered by UPS, FedEx, Lasership or a number of other carriers, depending on where you live and what you order.
Temu also doesn’t clarify which items don’t fall under its free shipping policy, stating only that it covers “almost all orders.” You’ll have to wait until you’re at the checkout screen to see whether or not your order qualifies for the free standard shipping option.
How Long Does Temu Shipping Take?
Temu’s description of its standard shipping time frame is frustratingly vague. While you won’t have to pay for standard shipping, it could take anywhere from eight to 25 days for your order to arrive. If you’re buying, say, a gift or a costume that you’ll need by a certain deadline, that extremely open-ended shipping estimate can be frustrating. While Temu’s price points are impossible to beat, shoppers who are used to Amazon Prime’s next-day delivery are likely to be frustrated by Temu’s open-ended shipping policy.
There is one bonus to the vagueness, though. If your order doesn’t arrive within Temu’s (generous) shipping time estimate, you’ll get a promotional credit to use on your next order, according to the California Business Journal. Standard shipping orders that don’t arrive on time will get you a $5 credit, while express shipping orders that don’t arrive within the estimated time frame will earn you a $13 credit.
How Much Does Temu’s Express Shipping Cost?
If you know you can’t wait as long as 25 days for your Temu order to arrive, there is a second option. For $12.90 (or for free, if your order total is above $129 pre-tax), you can take advantage of Temu’s “express shipping” option.
The express shipping choice will get your order to you faster, though there’s still not a set time frame for the faster delivery mode. Under the “shipping time” estimate on Temu’s website, the company advises that if you choose express shipping, you should “refer to shipping estimate when you confirm your order.”
Temu’s express shipping option could be a good choice if you need your items faster (or if you’re spending more than $129 anyway). But if you need your items delivered by a specific date, make sure to place your order with plenty of time to spare — 25 days is a long time.
Why Does Temu Shipping Take So Long?
Your item may not be shipped from the U.S. – Temu “ships its products from a global network of suppliers and manufacturers,” according to its site. Depending on where the items you ordered are coming from, they could require more shipping time.
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