More than 400 million downloads worldwide through Google Play, an average rating of 4.6 stars and a door open to tens of thousands of items that, curiously, are always on sale: Temu’s app is always on the top of the list. But what does this virtual store have to succeed as it does? The key is its ridiculously low prices: If you try it, you won’t leave.
I too have been one of those who downloaded Temu to my Android, I am part of the more than 400 million people who downloaded the app (figures from AppBrain). In itself it does not offer much more than what could already be bought on sites like AliExpress, but Temu managed to make a place for itself in smartphones by relying on its low prices. And on its offers. Because, has anyone ever seen a product on Temu that is not discounted?
Temu is number one in free apps for much of the world
Spain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia… These are some of the markets where Temu has won over first place on the podium in Google Play StoreAnd it’s been there for several months now: as we can see on Sensor Tower, the store has been at number one for at least 90 days. Quite an achievement for an app that aims to get us to spend money on it.
“Shop like a millionaire,” Temu claims in the name of its app. In my experience, the store offers a huge variety of products for all uses and needs, even for those of us who like technology. Much of its success is based on the recommendations through social networks like TikTokbecause Temu is a subscriber to digital word of mouth. Being such cheap products it is easy for us to squander on them, hence the comparison with millionaires.
Discounts that fall to the absurd, products that promise much more than they actually are, marketing mechanics that seek to sell as much as possible based on Combo Deals & Coupons that cannot be applied later, constant countdown clocks to encourage impulsive buying… Once you enter Temu it is very difficult to leave, it is a more addictive app than any casino app.
And the products? The truth is that, in general and based on my experience, they are not bad either, although they do not represent an excessive saving compared to buying them in any physical bazaar store. Not to mention the chaos that their shipments entail: if you buy several products at the same time These will be arriving drop by drop. But without it costing anything, another of the great mysteries of Temu. Because, do sellers really make money selling their products so cheaply? Judging by the complaints they have been receiving lately, it seems that not much.
There are more offers in Temu than grains of sand in the sea
It seems logical to me that Temu is number one, the truth is that it opens up a huge window of possibilities for any mobile user. The app is well done, it is very versatile and allows you to track orders correctly. It is also very addictive, as I said: whoever falls for it usually doesn’t get out. It’s a warning.
Cover image | Temu