Beyond Amazon’s reach

This weekend brought a flurry of Temu orders to our doorstep. I know some people will disapprove approve of my Temu patronage, but perspectives change when you live somewhere with limited shopping and no Amazon. Who knew there was still a place on earth beyond Amazon’s reach?

The ordering experience is very different. Last Wednesday, I ordered a light fitting from Amazon for our UK property – it was delivered the next day and I don’t even subscribe to Prime. In Dubai, you can get an Amazon order to your hotel concierge within a few hours. Temu, on the other hand, takes 15-20 days to deliver, 10 if the shipping gods are feeling kind.  

But is it all bad? My experience says otherwise. Clothes are hit and miss, usually miss, but occasionally a happy surprise.  Household items though are generally impressive, good quality and even better value. Recent arrivals include golf shoes that look suspiciously like Footjoy, some beautiful crystal earrings that sparkle to rival Swarovski and a mascara in packaging that looks straight off the Benefit counter. I also bought six hot tub filters for the same price one from the local pool shop.

So, are these clever copies or the same goods sneaking out of the same factories with marginally different labels? Nothing on Temu pretends to be original, you have to shop wisely and be prepared for a few things to disappoint whilst enjoying the thrill of the bargain hunt. 

Of course, Temu opens the floodgates to all the usual arguments about sustainability, appalling working pay and conditions, consumerism and the environmental guilt of shipping things halfway around the planet. But honestly, do the “brands” either online or bricks and mortar do any better? If those golf shoes had been bought for hundreds of pounds from a pro-shop in Mauritius, would they have been made any differently – or flown any less miles?  

I will let you know if the mascara gives me conjunctivitis