There has always been a risk when ordering online, from scams to just not being able to actually see what you’re getting until it shows up. However, as recent years have shown, it is possible to sell really anything at prices so low that regular consumers will suppress their reservations and just fill up their carts.
So we’ve gathered some of the best (or worst, if you are on the receiving end) online shopping fails, courtesy of Temu and Aliexpress. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments section down below.
#1 Haha
#2 Made Me Laugh
#3 At Least They’re Honest
The secret sauce behind those impossibly small price tags starts with a disappearing act that would make a seasoned magician jealous. Most traditional retailers follow a long and winding road where a product travels from a factory to a brand and then to a distributor before finally landing on a store shelf.
Every single one of those stops adds a layer of profit and overhead like rent or staff wages and electricity bills. Temu and its digital cousins decided to delete the entire map by connecting shoppers directly to the factory floor in manufacturing hubs across the globe.
#4 Unrelated, But Found This On Dh Gate
#5 Stupid Regular Cotton
#6 So I Bought A Ruler Off Of Temu… Cabin Door For Scale
You are basically walking into a giant warehouse and buying a toaster right off the assembly line without any extra people standing in the middle to take a cut of the money. This direct to consumer model means you are not paying for a fancy storefront in a local mall or the marketing budget of a massive national department store.
#7 What The Hell
#8 Temu Is Selling Merch With My Son’s Artwork And I Bought It For Him Not Realizing It! Even His Name Is On The Bottom!
#9 Bought AC From Temu
Then there is the clever use of international trade rules known as the de minimis loophole which is a fancy way of saying small packages often get a free pass. In many countries packages that fall below a certain dollar value are allowed to enter the border without being hit by heavy import duties or extra taxes.
#10 Hehe
#11 A+ Customer Service
#12 Always Check The Size Before Ordering On Aliexpress. I’m Not Disappointed Though. Lifetime Of Erasers For Drawing And Writing
Since most of these orders consist of small items like phone cases or kitchen gadgets they almost always sneak under that financial radar. Traditional stores have to import giant shipping containers of goods and pay massive taxes up front but these individual parcels zip through the mail system for almost nothing. It is a massive advantage that keeps the cost of a sparkly unicorn lamp lower than the price of a morning latte and it is one of the biggest reasons the prices seem too good to be true.
#13 Received My Christmas Tree From Temu
#14 Not Quite Sure?
I ordered 100 pack of stickers off Temu and half of them said things like this!! What does this even mean? Hahaha
#15 Temu’s Scammy “Local” Sellers Send Me Picture Of A Clock Instead Of The Clock!
Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News
#16 Yayy I’ve Been Scammed
I know I’m supposed to be mad but i can’t stop laughing.
These platforms are also absolute masters of digital fortune telling. They use incredibly complex algorithms to track exactly what people are clicking on and hovering over in real time. Instead of guessing what might be popular next summer and filling a warehouse with millions of items that might not sell, they wait for the data to tell them exactly what to make right now. This on demand manufacturing style minimizes waste and ensures that factories are only producing what people are already searching for. When a factory does not have to worry about unsold inventory or dusty boxes sitting in a corner for years they can afford to drop their prices to the absolute floor. It turns the entire manufacturing process into a fast paced game of following the trends as they happen.
#17 Bought This “Scorpion” Plushie On Temu During Their Halloween Sale… Whatis This Creature???
#18 I Ordered This As A Christmas Present For Last Year’s Christmas In 2019, Now It Arrived – 392 Day Delivery
You might also wonder how a package can travel thousands of miles across an ocean for less than the cost of a fancy greeting card. The answer lies in the sheer power of volume and specialized logistics. These companies move such a staggering amount of physical goods every single day that they can negotiate shipping rates that would be impossible for a normal business.
#19 Temu Fail
When you think you bought a nice lamp but this comes in the mail. Its literally a printed photo on aluminium. And i was so excited for this lamp… I guess not reading the description was not a good idea…
#20 Ordered 2 Guitars – Got An Empty Box. Ali Says “No Refund”
#21 Temu Vacuum Exploded
They bundle millions of small packages together into massive cargo planes which creates an economy of scale that defies normal logic. Even if the shipping takes a little longer than a local delivery the trade off is a price point that feels like a total glitch in the matrix. They have essentially built a private bridge across the world made of millions of tiny boxes.
#22 He Ordered AirPods Through Aliexpress
#23 BF Bought “Venus Fly Trap” Seeds From Temu, What Is This ?
#24 Check Out My Cool New Lap Desk From Temu
Another major factor is the aggressive way these companies handle their marketing budgets and customer acquisition. Many of these platforms are willing to lose money on every single order just to get you to download their app and keep you coming back for more. They treat these low prices as a form of advertising rather than a way to make an immediate profit.
#25 Seems Like It Really Is Joe Over Now
#26 Update On The 2 Laptops Ordered I Received 2 Keyboards Instead LOL Rip
#27 What I Ordered vs. What I Was Sent
They would much rather spend their money giving you a massive deal on a pair of wireless earbuds than paying for a billboard on a crowded highway. It is a long game where the goal is to become your primary shopping habit for everything from socks to electronics. They also lean heavily into the gamification of shopping by using bright colors and countdown timers and spinning wheels to create a sense of urgency. This high engagement keeps the wheels turning and the orders flowing at a pace that keeps the factories humming all day and night.
#28 “Nintendo Switch For 30$ Only On Temu!”
#29 I’ve Waited One Month Only To Receive This Letter In The Package
#30 What I Ordered
Finally the physical reality of the products themselves plays a huge role in the final cost. When you buy a three dollar sweater you are often paying for simplified designs and thinner materials that are optimized for mass production. These factories have mastered the art of creating items that look great in a digital photo even if the physical feel is a bit lighter or different than what you might find in a high end boutique.
#31 My Friend Got A Bodypillow From Temu
#32 My Wife Bought His Snd Hers Yoga Mats For Us From Temu
#33 Aliexpress Seller Just Asked Me Out Guys
#34 Jeff Bezos Sending Out Temu?
#35 Aliexpress – Alihome Tools Scam
#36 What In The Hell Aliexpress?
#37 Temu Scam
Never buy a 4tb external hard drive from temu it is a big scam.
#38 Recieved An Empty Package And Refund Denied
So the US postal service put a sticker on this that they received it empty but AliExpress is still denying me a refund. The refund process is a joke.
#39 Most Honest Aliexpress Seller
#40 My Aliexpress “SSD” Is Actually Just A USB Stick
#41 Got Burned By Temu
First time I got burned buying a relatively pricey item. I usually have pretty good luck getting gardening items so I sprung for a wheelbarrow. It was on the lower end of what a wheelbarrow would cost at a store so it wasn’t dirt cheap. I thought I’d be safe in getting a decent item with the added bonus of being able to use credits and have it shipped to my house.
Well it arrived today and I burst out laughing when I opened the box. I have kids so at least it won’t go to waste but it ended up being a pretty expensive toy.
I have Temu circle so it let me ask for a partial refund without sending it back. But then I realized this was part of a claim credit offer so I’ll have to see if I just forfeited my remaining credit ( it’s the version where they withhold the rest of the credit until everything is delivered so I won’t know until all items are delivered).
The item is already discontinued by seller so I couldn’t leave a review in the app. Thought I’d post here so yall can have a good laugh. Lesson learnt buy your wheelbarrows in store!
#42 Tools From Temu
#43 Wife Ordered Adult Coloring Book, Got Tin Sign Instead
#44 First Time Getting Scammed On Aliexpress
#45 I Bought “Fridge Magnets” From Temu, And They Are The Smallest Magnets Ever!
#46 My Friend Ordered A Figurine On Temu
#47 10/10 Product Picture
#48 What Is This Shipping Info On My Package ?
#49 Did I Get Got..?
#50 You’re Laughing. “Add Your Design” And You’re Laughing
#51 What I Bought vs. What They Sent Me
#52 Is It Normal For Sellers To Kiss You
#53 Anyone Else End Up With This In Their Mailbox?
Package said “delivered”, but I was left with an empty parcel bag in my mailbox. Asked Temu for a refund and they’re gonna “get back to me in 24 hours”
#54 Thank You Dear Seller
#55 After 5 Years Of Buying, Finally Got Scammed
