Temu, checked: still cheap, but read the checkout line before you pay.
Since the U.S. ended duty-free small parcels, some Temu items carry an import charge. Local-warehouse items don’t. Here’s how to keep the total low and what to skip.
Temu is still very cheap for small household things, gadgets and party supplies. The price you see isn’t always the price you pay: items shipped from overseas can add an import charge at checkout. Filter for local-warehouse items, keep returns to one package per order, and claim price drops within 30 days. Skip it for anything where safety or durability matters.
Ways to pay less at Temu, checked
01 / Deals- Price9Very low, but add any import charge
- Selection9Huge catalog outside groceries
- Quality consistency4Wide swings between sellers
- Returns790 days, first return per order free
- Privacy & trust4Several state lawsuits over data use
- U.S. launch
- 2022
- Owner
- PDD Holdings
- Return window
- 90 days (most items)
- Extra returns
- $7.99 each per order
Temu savings
Items tagged “Local Warehouse” ship from inside the U.S., so Temu adds no import charge and nothing is due on delivery. They also tend to arrive faster.
New accounts, especially on the app, get a coupon bundle or first-order discount. The amount changes often. One coupon per order, and most don’t stack with Lightning Deals.
Standard shipping is free on most orders. A small order minimum can apply, and items shipped by third-party sellers can set their own rules. Checkout shows the fee before you pay.
If an item’s price drops within 30 days of your order, request the difference under Your Orders. It’s paid as Temu Credit and isn’t automatic.
If a standard order arrives after the estimated date shown at checkout, Temu issues a $5 credit. Express orders get a larger credit.
What’s good, what isn’t
02 / ReviewWorth it for
- Hard to beat on small home, craft and party items
- Local-warehouse items skip the import charge
- 90-day returns, and the first return from each order is free
- Price-drop refunds and late-delivery credits, paid as Temu Credit
Watch out for
- Overseas items can add an import charge that changes the math
- Quality varies a lot, and photos can flatter the product
- Extra returns from the same order cost $7.99 each
- Several U.S. states have sued over how the app collects data
Good fit if you want
- Cheap home, kitchen and storage odds and ends
- Party supplies, crafts and seasonal decor
- Phone cases, cables and small accessories you won’t miss if they fail
Skip it if
- You’re buying chargers, kids’ products or anything safety-critical
- You need it by a fixed date
- You’re uneasy about app permissions and data collection
Import charges: the line that decides the real price
Until 2025, parcels under $800 entered the U.S. without duty. That exemption is gone. Temu’s answer was to move much of its U.S. catalog to local sellers and warehouses, and to show an import charge at checkout on items still shipped from overseas.
Read the order summary before you pay. If an import charge shows up, compare the total with a U.S. store, because a $12 item plus its share of duty may no longer be a deal. The simplest fix is the “Local Warehouse” filter: no import charge, nothing due at the door, and faster delivery.
Returns and credits: how to get your money back
Most items can go back within 90 days of purchase. The first return from each order is free and each extra one costs $7.99, so return everything from one order in one package. Once you file a return, ship it within 14 days or the request can lapse.
Refunds to Temu Credit land in minutes. Refunds to a card can take a couple of weeks. Two other credits are easy to miss: price adjustments if an item gets cheaper within 30 days, and a $5 credit when a standard order arrives late. Both show up as Temu Credit, which is only useful if you’ll shop there again.
Quality and privacy: the honest part
Quality is uneven. The same cheap spatula can be fine from one seller and flimsy from the next. Read reviews with photos, check the item’s weight and materials, and skip anything that plugs into a wall, goes near a baby or holds weight.
Arkansas, Nebraska, Kentucky, Arizona and Oklahoma have sued Temu, alleging the app collects more data than users expect. Temu disputes the claims. If that bothers you, shop in a browser instead of the app, pay with PayPal or a virtual card, and keep app permissions tight.
Temu vs the alternatives
03 / Compare| Temu | AliExpress | SHEIN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Home, gadgets, everything | Everything, deep niche parts | Fashion first |
| Price level | Very low | Very low | Very low |
| U.S. warehouse items | Yes, “Local Warehouse” tag | Some | Some |
| Free return | First per order | Varies by item | First per order |
For household odds and ends with no import charge, Temu’s local-warehouse filter is the easiest. For hobby parts and niche items, AliExpress has more depth. For clothes, SHEIN’s size data is better.
Before you check out
04 / Tips- Turn on the “Local Warehouse” filter before you add anything to the cart.
- Check the order summary for an import charge line before paying.
- Set a reminder 30 days out to check for price drops on bigger items.
- Return everything from one order in a single package.
- Use a browser or PayPal if you’d rather not give the app broad permissions.
Temu questions people actually ask
Does Temu charge import fees in the U.S.?
Sometimes. Items shipped from overseas can show an import charge at checkout since the U.S. ended duty-free small parcels in 2025. Items tagged “Local Warehouse” ship from inside the U.S. and have no import charge.
Are Temu returns free?
The first return from each order is free. Extra returns from the same order cost $7.99 each. Most items can be returned within 90 days of purchase.
Does Temu have a price adjustment policy?
Yes. If an item’s price drops within 30 days of your order, you can request the difference in Your Orders. It’s paid as Temu Credit.
What happens if my Temu order is late?
If a standard order arrives after the estimated date shown at checkout, Temu issues a $5 credit. Express orders get a larger credit.
Is Temu safe to use?
Orders do arrive and refunds are paid. The concerns are uneven product quality and data collection: several U.S. states have sued over the app’s data practices, which Temu denies. Shopping in a browser limits what the app can see.
