Chinese shopping app Temu wows US amid TikTok fears

[beijingwalker]

Chinese shopping app Temu wows US amid TikTok fears​

This photo illustration shows the Temu app in the App Store reflected in the company's logo in Washington, DC (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP)

Monday, April 10th, 2023 at News | World

WASHINGTON • Shopping online at Temu, Laurie Silva paid just $1.25 for earrings and $15 for a cardigan — she is among millions of US consumers the Chinese platform is wooing with low-cost bargains and a dizzying array of products.

Temu topped US app download rankings in early April, a spot it held since January, but its rapid rise comes as platforms with links to China face growing scrutiny and when a ban on youth favorite TikTok appears increasingly inevitable.

According to Sensor Tower data, some of the most popular platforms downloaded in the US currently have Chinese roots, including TikTok, video-editor CapCut and fashion upstart Shein.
Temu is positioned as an Amazon-like superstore, selling everything from make-up to homeware and electronics, and its quiet launch last September marked Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo’s first foray into the US market.

Based out of a Boston office block, Temu’s out-of-the-blue success makes it the second Chinese-made shopping app — after Gen Z darling Shein — to make a splash in America in recent years.
“I’ve seen so many things in their catalog… offered on Amazon and other online retailers for much more,” Silva, a 65-year-old in California, told AFP.

She has placed around 20 orders on Temu, buying craft supplies, jewelry and gifts.

Another customer, 38-year-old Stephanie Wolfe, said she first bought items like eyeliner and jewelry to test the service in January.

“It got here so quick, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Once I realized it was legit, I just started ordering more.”

Fueling the frenzy were Temu’s commercial spots during the Super Bowl in February that asked more than 100 million US viewers to “shop like a billionaire.”
“I was like: ‘Oh that’s what I use!’ Since then I’ve noticed it’s gaining more traction,” said Wolfe.

According to Sensor Tower, Temu has had 33 million US downloads since its launch, with user numbers surging on the month of the Super Bowl, the most-watched TV event in the US.

China connections​

The rise of Shein and Temu comes as leading US fashion companies seek to reduce their exposure to China with worries intensifying over growing US-China tensions, said Sheng Lu, a professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.

Both brands primarily source their products from China and Temu mostly ships its goods directly from there as well, he added, contrasting this against Amazon’s US-based distribution centers.
This allows Temu to tap China’s strengths in producing apparel in greater varieties with greater flexibility — all while qualifying for US waivers on import duties for lower value shipments, Lu said.
A recent notice for Shein suppliers in China seen by AFP requires turnaround times of just seven to 18 days on factory orders.

For Shein in particular, artificial intelligence and big data play a “critical role” in its expansion and success, Lu said.

“Shein has utilized data collected from its apps and other social media channels to gain insights into consumers’ shopping habits and lifestyles, enabling the company to offer in-demand items,” he added.

Fast fashion scrutiny​

But the ascent of Chinese apps have been accompanied by scrutiny that Temu may too have to grapple with.

In 2021, non-governmental group Public Eye found that some workers behind Shein’s breakneck production toil for 11 to 13 hours a day.

It has also come under fire for generating fast fashion waste and apologized for products like a swastika necklace in 2020.

“Additionally, similar to the case of TikTok, Shein and Temu’s rapid expansion in the US has resulted in the collection of vast amounts of personal data from American consumers,” said Lu of the University of Delaware.

TikTok faces a potential US ban amid allegations that its data haul amounts to a national security threat and that its algorithm poses a danger to mental health.

So far, Temu and Shein have avoided the fate of TikTok, whose CEO faced a brutal hearing in US Congress last month, with unanimous accusations by lawmakers that the social media app was a threat to America.

Georgia Institute of Technology professor Milton Mueller downplayed the danger of shared data, arguing that that “the nationality of the company is a very crude and nationalistic criterion” in assessing security threats.

A research paper co-authored by Mueller released in January concluded that “data collected by TikTok can only be of espionage value if it comes from users who are intimately connected to national security functions and use the app in ways that expose sensitive information.”

“These risks arise from the use of any social media app,” the paper said.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of US consumers shrug off security concerns.

But Wolfe said she uses virtual private networks and makes payments through PayPal for added layers of security.
“Because I’m taking precautions, I’m not worried,” she said. – AFP

https://themalaysianreserve.com/2023/04/10/chinese-shopping-app-temu-wows-us-amid-tiktok-fears/

 

[Zsari]

Chinese shopping app Temu wows US amid TikTok fears​

This photo illustration shows the Temu app in the App Store reflected in the company's logo in Washington, DC (Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP)

Monday, April 10th, 2023 at News | World

WASHINGTON • Shopping online at Temu, Laurie Silva paid just $1.25 for earrings and $15 for a cardigan — she is among millions of US consumers the Chinese platform is wooing with low-cost bargains and a dizzying array of products.

Temu topped US app download rankings in early April, a spot it held since January, but its rapid rise comes as platforms with links to China face growing scrutiny and when a ban on youth favorite TikTok appears increasingly inevitable.

According to Sensor Tower data, some of the most popular platforms downloaded in the US currently have Chinese roots, including TikTok, video-editor CapCut and fashion upstart Shein.
Temu is positioned as an Amazon-like superstore, selling everything from make-up to homeware and electronics, and its quiet launch last September marked Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo’s first foray into the US market.

Based out of a Boston office block, Temu’s out-of-the-blue success makes it the second Chinese-made shopping app — after Gen Z darling Shein — to make a splash in America in recent years.
“I’ve seen so many things in their catalog… offered on Amazon and other online retailers for much more,” Silva, a 65-year-old in California, told AFP.

She has placed around 20 orders on Temu, buying craft supplies, jewelry and gifts.

Another customer, 38-year-old Stephanie Wolfe, said she first bought items like eyeliner and jewelry to test the service in January.

“It got here so quick, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Once I realized it was legit, I just started ordering more.”

Fueling the frenzy were Temu’s commercial spots during the Super Bowl in February that asked more than 100 million US viewers to “shop like a billionaire.”
“I was like: ‘Oh that’s what I use!’ Since then I’ve noticed it’s gaining more traction,” said Wolfe.

According to Sensor Tower, Temu has had 33 million US downloads since its launch, with user numbers surging on the month of the Super Bowl, the most-watched TV event in the US.

China connections​

The rise of Shein and Temu comes as leading US fashion companies seek to reduce their exposure to China with worries intensifying over growing US-China tensions, said Sheng Lu, a professor of fashion and apparel studies at the University of Delaware.

Both brands primarily source their products from China and Temu mostly ships its goods directly from there as well, he added, contrasting this against Amazon’s US-based distribution centers.
This allows Temu to tap China’s strengths in producing apparel in greater varieties with greater flexibility — all while qualifying for US waivers on import duties for lower value shipments, Lu said.
A recent notice for Shein suppliers in China seen by AFP requires turnaround times of just seven to 18 days on factory orders.

For Shein in particular, artificial intelligence and big data play a “critical role” in its expansion and success, Lu said.

“Shein has utilized data collected from its apps and other social media channels to gain insights into consumers’ shopping habits and lifestyles, enabling the company to offer in-demand items,” he added.

Fast fashion scrutiny​

But the ascent of Chinese apps have been accompanied by scrutiny that Temu may too have to grapple with.

In 2021, non-governmental group Public Eye found that some workers behind Shein’s breakneck production toil for 11 to 13 hours a day.

It has also come under fire for generating fast fashion waste and apologized for products like a swastika necklace in 2020.

“Additionally, similar to the case of TikTok, Shein and Temu’s rapid expansion in the US has resulted in the collection of vast amounts of personal data from American consumers,” said Lu of the University of Delaware.

TikTok faces a potential US ban amid allegations that its data haul amounts to a national security threat and that its algorithm poses a danger to mental health.

So far, Temu and Shein have avoided the fate of TikTok, whose CEO faced a brutal hearing in US Congress last month, with unanimous accusations by lawmakers that the social media app was a threat to America.

Georgia Institute of Technology professor Milton Mueller downplayed the danger of shared data, arguing that that “the nationality of the company is a very crude and nationalistic criterion” in assessing security threats.

A research paper co-authored by Mueller released in January concluded that “data collected by TikTok can only be of espionage value if it comes from users who are intimately connected to national security functions and use the app in ways that expose sensitive information.”

“These risks arise from the use of any social media app,” the paper said.

Meanwhile, the vast majority of US consumers shrug off security concerns.

But Wolfe said she uses virtual private networks and makes payments through PayPal for added layers of security.
“Because I’m taking precautions, I’m not worried,” she said. – AFP

https://themalaysianreserve.com/2023/04/10/chinese-shopping-app-temu-wows-us-amid-tiktok-fears/

It’ll be the next target after TikTok as CNN has already done a hit piece against its parent company.

 

[RescueRanger]

Shame it will get banned.

 

[silverox]

In the 1980s, the United States sent agents from the Soros Foundation to systematically brainwash famous Chinese professors and indoctrinate them with market economy and free market theories. These famous professors began to advocate neoliberal slogans such as openness and democracy, and demanded that China be transformed according to the American model. the
When the United States discovered that free competition would fail, the United States gave up the free trade it had always advocated, and immediately intervened in the free market with legislation and administrative orders.
It can be seen that all countries that believe in the Washington Consensus have been deeply turbulent and impoverished for decades. American neoliberalism is actually a wealth harvester. Brainwash the intellectual elites of developing countries first. Then use these people to formulate economic policies that are beneficial to the United States and harvest wealth in an all-round way

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

In the 1980s, the United States sent agents from the Soros Foundation to systematically brainwash famous Chinese professors and indoctrinate them with market economy and free market theories. These famous professors began to advocate neoliberal slogans such as openness and democracy, and demanded that China be transformed according to the American model. the
When the United States discovered that free competition would fail, the United States gave up the free trade it had always advocated, and immediately intervened in the free market with legislation and administrative orders.
It can be seen that all countries that believe in the Washington Consensus have been deeply turbulent and impoverished for decades. American neoliberalism is actually a wealth harvester. Brainwash the intellectual elites of developing countries first. Then use these people to formulate economic policies that are beneficial to the United States and harvest wealth in an all-round way

Really? Reps from the Soros Foundation were sent in the 1980's to China?
You sure about that? That sounds pretty dubious at best.

Or are you saying they were brainwashing Chinese overseas professors? Which sounds more realistic.

 

[jhungary]

Shame it will get banned.

Well, it's really not a shame, I mean, this "Temu" is probably just another "Wish" judging from the ads I have received, which was big back in the days and now just a meme for bad quality products or scam, I mean it's not unheard of for the west to dove right into Chinese B2P apps, Alibaba for example, but not too many of them can stay as popular like ebay and amazon.

 

[Riea]

In the 1980s, the United States sent agents from the Soros Foundation to systematically brainwash famous Chinese professors and indoctrinate them with market economy and free market theories. These famous professors began to advocate neoliberal slogans such as openness and democracy, and demanded that China be transformed according to the American model. the
When the United States discovered that free competition would fail, the United States gave up the free trade it had always advocated, and immediately intervened in the free market with legislation and administrative orders.
It can be seen that all countries that believe in the Washington Consensus have been deeply turbulent and impoverished for decades. American neoliberalism is actually a wealth harvester. Brainwash the intellectual elites of developing countries first. Then use these people to formulate economic policies that are beneficial to the United States and harvest wealth in an all-round way

Bullcrap. If I wasn't familiar with deng xiopeng I probably would have believed this story.
His famous quote about black cat and white cat and catching mice. He is the one that opened china through some reforms.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Bullcrap. If I wasn't familiar with deng xiopeng I probably would have believed this story.
His famous quote about black cat and white cat and catching mice. He is the one that opened china through some reforms.

Making sure to figure out how to blame outsiders is always the default answer.

 

[RescueRanger]

Well, it's really not a shame, I mean, this "Temu" is probably just another "Wish" judging from the ads I have received, which was big back in the days and now just a meme for bad quality products or scam, I mean it's not unheard of for the west to dove right into Chinese B2P apps, Alibaba for example, but not too many of them can stay as popular like ebay and amazon.

Good point.

 

[silverox]

Really? Reps from the Soros Foundation were sent in the 1980's to China?
You sure about that? That sounds pretty dubious at best.

Or are you saying they were brainwashing Chinese overseas professors? Which sounds more realistic.

The Soros Foundation had close ties with China's Economic System Reform Research Institute at that time. During the Tiananmen Square incident in 1989, Bao Tong, the secretary of Chinese leader Zhao Ziyang at that time, was Soros' agent in China.
The Institute of Economic System Reform of China was the most famous research institution on system reform in China in the 1980s. It was responsible for promulgating various economic system reform proposals, which were adopted by the leaders at that time. For example, in 1988, American economist Friedman was invited to visit China. Friedman put forward a proposal similar to the 500-day plan of the Soviet Union. Chinese leaders immediately carried out price reforms and released control over prices. China accepted its suggestion, suddenly let go of prices, and let the market adjust prices. At that time, it caused severe inflation in China.

This was one of the reasons for the unrest in China in 1989

 

[MarcoFields]

It's pretty wild how Temu is making waves in the US, right? Seeing Laurie Silva snagging earrings for $1.25 and a cardigan for $15 sounds like a steal! But I hear you. With all the scrutiny on Chinese platforms these days, it's essential to be cautious. If you're thinking about diving into the world of Temu or any online shopping, you might want to give Temu Clothes reviews a look. They could have some savvy tips for online shoppers like us. It's all about staying informed and making the best choices. As for the China connections, it's fascinating how brands like Shein and Temu operate. They've found their niche in the market, but with that, they might face some scrutiny, too.

 

[Foinikas]

Yeah,99,04 euros item only priced 2,00 euros. Sure.

I've heard Temu "steals" a lot of info from you. I don't trust it. I don't like it.

 

[jhungary]

Yeah,99,04 euros item only priced 2,00 euros. Sure.

I've heard Temu "steals" a lot of info from you. I don't trust it. I don't like it.

that's usually how scam works.

There is this scam here in Australia at the moment where someone is selling an IPhone 15 Max for less than $1000 (which is almost half price) and they really do give you a new iPhone, but what you don't know is that they pre-loaded some program to track your data and when you don't know and didn't format the phone before you use and use it as is believing it was new, that's where they strike, I mean they hack just about everything, from your internet banking log in to even your uber eat account.

I don't trust any website that present "too good to be true" scheme, there are ALWAYS some angle otherwise they won't let you have stuff cheap..

 

[Foinikas]

that's usually how scam works.

There is this scam here in Australia at the moment where someone is selling an IPhone 15 Max for less than $1000 (which is almost half price) and they really do give you a new iPhone, but what you don't know is that they pre-loaded some program to track your data and when you don't know and didn't format the phone before you use and use it as is believing it was new, that's where they strike, I mean they hack just about everything, from your internet banking log in to even your uber eat account.

I don't trust any website that present "too good to be true" scheme, there are ALWAYS some angle otherwise they won't let you have stuff cheap..

Yeah I mean...the prices on Temu ads are ridiculous. How can something go from 400 euros to 4 euros or 90 to 2? And in a supposedly good to new condition?

 

[_killuminati_]

that's usually how scam works.

I don't trust any website that present "too good to be true" scheme, there are ALWAYS some angle otherwise they won't let you have stuff cheap..

Then you are just misinformed. This isn't a "too good to be true" scenario. Temu prices are actually quite inflated to what was already available from China. AliBaba was already supplying the same items as Temu, in bulk, for more than a decade, for a much lower price. Majority of the items on Temu are available on AliBaba and AliExpress at a fraction of the cost, or if you can understand Mandarin, directly from the manufacturer at an even cheaper price. 70% of the products on Amazon and 95% on Temu are sourced from AliBaba. AliBaba is a major mediator between Chinese manufacturing industry and the global retail & consumer industries.

Common man in the West does is just ignorant of this concept. Temu is the glossy, easy-to-use, Western-friendly app that allows consumers access to what was already available but with less hassle. It removes the language barrier and dilutes several manufacturers of the same product into a single supplier.

Anybody who is well-acquainted with import/export of consumer goods will refuse to use Temu, due to it being overpriced, understanding that it's target is the misinformed Westerner, of which there is a huge market.