Be careful when buying Temu: Consumer advice center warns of hype app with low prices and hidden costs

Be careful when buying Temu: Consumer advice center warns of hype app with low prices and hidden costs

According to a report from www.stern.de, the consumer advice center warns against the Chinese app Temu, which tops the app download charts in many countries. The app promises low prices and bargains, but there are numerous problems with product quality, customs duties and advertising.

Temu is a platform that gives third-party sellers a platform for their goods, similar to Amazon. Customers do not buy directly from Temu, but the goods usually come directly from the manufacturer. This leads to very low prices, but Temu assumes no responsibility for the quality or product descriptions of external retailers.

The defects of the products range from defective goods to missing operating instructions. Electronics in particular often lack the CE mark, which can affect safety. In addition, there may be sudden customs duties and consumption taxes upon receipt of the packages, which are not included in the prices on the platform.

Despite the problems, the consumer advice center does not generally advise against purchasing from the platform, but rather recommends being critical and taking other customers' reviews into account. You should also find out about customs duties and taxes and pay on account when purchasing to avoid disappointment. It is also recommended to limit the app's permissions to access personal data.

The negative impact of these problems on the market and consumers cannot be underestimated. Customers could fall into a price trap due to the supposedly low prices and not receive the quality they expected. This could lead to a decrease in overall trust in such platforms and consumers looking for more trustworthy alternatives.

The source complains according to a report from www.stern.de.