Consumer columnist and West Hartford resident Harlan Levy has more than 20 years of experience writing stories about everyday experiences that anyone could encounter.

These children’s clothes sold by Temu were recalled on July 11 for a burn hazard. Image courtesy of Harlan Levy

By Harlan Levy

You may have heard about Temu, the extreme bargain e-commerce site, the 2-year-old offshoot of Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo. It offers shockingly cheap prices for a very wide variety of products like wireless Lenovo earbuds ($8.98), computer keyboards ($15), clothes ($1.69 for five pairs of socks, for example), running shoes ($17.48), toy hamsters ($6.99), and countless other items at up to 90% off retail prices.

How does Temu do it?

My wife doesn’t care, ordering scads of items that cost almost nothing.

Of course, after doing some research, I must report that Temu doesn’t have a good record with lots of recalled products.

These children’s clothes sold by Temu were recalled on July 11 for a burn hazard. Image courtesy of Harlan Levy

For instance, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on July 11 recalled for a burn risk more than 45,000 sets of children’s pajamas sold on Temu’s website by Fashion Online, in sizes for 1-year-olds to 8-year-olds, between October 2022 and May 2024, for about $23.

Also on July 11, citing a burn risk, the CPSC recalled about 4,360 Lovely Angel nightgowns sold from June 2023 to May 2024 for about $10, and about 18,620 of Temu’s Juvenno Kids sets sold from October 2022 through May 2024 for about $9.

According to customer reviews listed with the BBB (Better Business Bureau), Temu also has a reputation for undelivered packages, incorrect orders, unauthorized charges, and unresponsive customer service. As of Monday, July 22, Temu has a customer review average of 2.45 stars and a BBB rating of B-, the BBB said. Also, Temu is not a BBB Accredited Business.

“Temu has had 2,487 complaints closed in the last [two] years,” BBB Public Relations Director Melanie McGovern told me on Tuesday. Is that a lot? I asked. “For a new business? Yes,” was the response.

These children’s clothes sold by Temu were recalled on July 11 for a burn hazard. Image courtesy of Harlan Levy

Here are some of the reviews on the BBB website:

• 7/17/24 Customer not identified: “Temu is a scam. Their 100% free returns [policy] is not what it appears to be. I spent $70 to get discounts, and instead of putting orders together like always, they charged me separately so I didn’t get a discount like it said.”
• 7/16/24 Customer not identified: “If I could give this company 0 stars, I would. One of my family members got their credit card money stolen from Temu (about $30 dollars). DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.”
• 7/16/24 from Steven G: 1 star. “Very ridiculous. I ordered 5 planters all in one order, got 5 separate deliveries and it took a month to get them all, and all 5 planters were damaged. I contacted Temu and wanted a partial refund. They said no, case closed. They want all 5 units packed up and returned all at once. Also, not like Amazon: When you return to Amazon immediately you get a refund. Not Temu: 7-14 days after they get the request. So figure 45 days, since it took a month to get my request. My wife wanted to get fall flowers planted so they were ready by fall. Temu says, “Oh well.”
• 7/15/24 from Belinda W: “1 star. There is extremely poor customer service, and they do not make things right. One of my packages was torn open when I received it, and I am waiting on another package. They sent me an email saying it was delivered at 12:25 pm, yet it has almost been 30 days and still no package.”
• 7/14/24 from. Amatul M: “1 star. Temu does a bait and switch where they offered me a new customer offer of 6 free items if I spent at least $50 on their site. I received just the items I bought, no free items, and when I contacted Temu they rejected my complaint stating the warehouse said they sent all the items. I also bought 2 pairs of shoes in size 42, and I received them in size 45 instead. Temu refused the refund, because the warehouse stated they sent the right shoes even though I sent photos with packaging and labels proving it was the wrong size.

NOTE: I contacted Temu for a response and am still awaiting a reply.

Now you’re warned.

NOTE: If you have a consumer problem, contact me at [email protected] (“Consumer” in subject line), and, with the power of the press, maybe I can help.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.