The BIG negative about Temu that nobody is talking about

I’ve raved about Temu skincare. I’ve recommended some of the platform's makeup products. And, pretty much, I’ve been 99.9 per cent positive about my experiences with the brand. But, there’s a catch - and nobody is talking about it! This is what you really need to know before you order from the marketplace…

While Temu is fantastic for bits and bobs, it shouldn’t be your go-to for large electricals - even if you’re tempted by rock bottom prices. I’m talking about products that cost a pretty penny and would be deemed ‘bulky’. I’ve had an unexpected, horrendous experience - one I’m too embarrassed to share with my other half. (He’d go ballistic, if he knew everything I’m going to tell you.)

Let's just say, I won't be dispensing with my Marigolds for the foreseeable future - thanks to Temu!

The dark side of Temu

Right, here goes… My partner and I both work with commercial dishwashers. We love them! Unfortunately, our fitted kitchen would need considerable remodelling to accommodate one at home - even a regular dishwasher would be a no-no. Hence, we’ve been drawn to the mini, countertop version. Because it’s something we both want, I’ve done a lot of product research online. You name a platform, a brand or deal site and I’ve been on it - looking for the perfect addition to our kitchen. 

Enter Temu! They currently have the best mini dishwasher, at the best price. Considering the previous, fantastic customer service I’ve experienced on the site, I had no hesitation in parting with more than £180 for one. Note: this is a story that doesn’t end well.

I have to say, it started off great. The overseas seller has a UK warehouse, which means ultrafast delivery. I ordered on a Monday evening and my dishwasher was with me on Wednesday morning. Honestly, the delivery could easily rival Amazon's (that’s where the similarity ends). 

While delivered by ParcelForce and in seemingly perfect condition, the dishwasher was actually faulty. During shipping, the front touchscreen panel had shifted away from the controls behind. It means, they don’t marry up. It took us an hour-and-a-half just to find the right spot and the right finger pressure to switch the damned thing on. It took another two-and-three-quarter hours to get the mode function to work. You get the gist. 

The other half said it had to go back. It’s not functional.

And this is where my problems with Temu began….

As you can see, the lights behind the panel veer to the left because the control board does not align with the touchscreen on this Temu dishwasher. This image was taken during the initial set-up when we were excited to try the machine for the first time.

Don’t order large items off Temu if you don’t have transport

We live in a small seaside resort and we don’t have a car. I’ve had two mastectomies and cannot lift anything heavy myself. I reported the fault to Temu and was asked to return the item for a refund. We really, really want this model of dishwasher, but one that works as advertised, at the touch of a button. What I actually needed was a replacement. In an ideal world, the faulty one would be collected at the same time a new one was delivered. No-can-do! We were asked to supply photographic evidence of the issue, which we did. However, we wanted to provide video evidence too but the customer service rep (we only got one after telling a bot we needed to speak to a human) said that wasn’t necessary as he ‘understood the problem’. 

I asked for a replacement - to be delivered when the faulty one was picked up. It’s not too much to ask. After all, it’s not down to us that we’ve been supplied with dodgy goods. Nope. That was not an option. I was told I had to request a return and a refund. If the return was accepted, I’d have to print out a label and take the said faulty dishwasher to a drop-off point. Bear in mind, I live in a tiny town. The main drop-off is a village post office over two miles away and it barely has room for customers, let alone a dishwasher in a box! 

It’s not like an Amazon Prime item, which is collected from your door.

No, I was told to return, get a refund and reorder. Not a chance!

We asked around, to see if anyone was willing to come and give us a lift to the village post office with the dishwasher and, while we had positive responses, we’d have to fit the ‘return’ in with the lift’s schedule. Everyone is so busy! It was another worry. What if ‘their’ schedule didn’t fit in with ours, or Temu’s? It’s the stuff of nightmares.

I initiated a conversation with the seller, PARA, and it boiled down to ‘request a refund and return’. Nothing else. 

In the end, I accepted a ‘keep the item and partial refund’. What am I getting back? £30.

I’ve lied to my other half and told him the refund was over £60 - the amount I asked for. Before I knew what the eventual offer would be, I spent more on Temu! 

It could be some time before this casserole dish gets the wash it desperately needs!

The bottom line

Let’s lay this on the line. And I am not going to be polite. What a fucking pisstake!!!! I’ve got a dishwasher that can take up to three hours each time to set up to work (I've never been able to do it, but other half can with a lot of patience and perserverance) and I’ve paid over £150 quid for it. It’s quicker to wash dishes in an entire restaurant than my own kitchen. We know - the other half is a kitchen porter in a beach-side gourmet food pub and I work in a hotel! 

I’m going to say this once and mean it: I'll think twice in the future.

Temu is fantastic for storage boxes, the odd beauty item and sofa throws, etc., but not for bulky goods. I'll stick to cheap Temu knick-knacks from now on! If you are prepared to lose money on a big purchase, go for it. If you aren’t, shop elsewhere.

I’ve had some really positive customer experiences with Temu, but this definitely wasn’t one of them. I'll be more selective in what I buy from the marketplace in the future.

We'll be spending the next couple of months attempting to place spots of sticky paper on the parts of the panel that work!

Because I don't want this feature to be all negative about the platform, here's an image of an amazing kitchen island I previously snapped up for just £96! That came flat-packed from a British company with a growing presence on the site.

The fabulous kitchen island I purchased on Temu for £96!

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