New (to me) supplier: Temu.com - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 09:18:17 pm
content: I'm trying out a new online vendor,Temu.com, and so far am having pretty good luck with them.They look like another Asian version of Amazon. They appear to be based in the USA (in Massachusetts), though I can't be sure of that.Lotsa stuff, some of it very cheap. Very extensive selection of things electronical.Quality-wise I'd rank them somewhere below the big-house vendors like Digikey and Mouser. I'm recommending this more for hobbyists than for, say, those actually in production.They have a well-designed and easy-to-use website (unlike Arrow Electronics!!!), and very good response when orders are placed. In fact, their response borders a little on the too-aggressive side: I'm getting all kinds of emails from them telling me I have unused credits and such. (These all seem to require the use of a smartphone through QR codes, rather than my preference, which is to use a desktop computah.) However, I can deal with that: these messages are easily deleted.If anyone else here uses them, let us know about your experience.

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 10:27:11 pm
content: Yeah Temu are a good place to get basic household items. I don't like the minimum order system they use. I quite often need just one item, in this case i look up the same item on AliExpress and get it from there(for the same price most of the time). I have not considered buying electronic components from Temu before.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 11:17:05 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 02, 2025, 09:18:17 pmHave you ordered jelly-bean components like transistors and voltage regulators? If so, have you been able to confirm that they aren't "fake" (meet their specs) or otherwise substandard?How does their free shipping work? I've heard complaints, but I know people like to whine. Is it transparent or "gotcha" with high minimums or whatever?They show LM317 (TO220, unknown suffix) at 10 for $2.82, that's half of the price on Mouser for a good quality TI LM317KCS in qty 10. I suppose if they were similar products, then actual free shipping would win the day.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 11:39:14 pm
content: I'll be in a better position to answer that when my first real electronic order comes in soon. Among other things I got a multi-diode kit (1N4148, 1N5819, etc.), which oughta be pretty easy to check for authenticity.Shipping costs are quite reasonable.

author: tunk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 12:04:09 am
content: Temu is Chinese:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temu

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 12:15:56 am
content: Here's another to try:http://www.manmulsang.com.kp/?lang=en

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 12:26:51 am
content: Really low prices. And the one thing I bought from them was excellent quality. But be prepared for the really intense full court marketing that will follow your order. Your email will be full. Your social media inundated.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 01:11:29 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on March 03, 2025, 12:26:51 amOh, yeah; they're actually quite pushy. I get emails with subjects like "Use it or lose it!" or "Your immediate attention required: your credit". But like I say, those are easily deleted.I probably would never allow them into any social media I have (which I don't, aside from this forum).

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 01:24:33 am
content: Quote from: tunk on March 03, 2025, 12:04:09 amThat's what I suspected, at least judging by the name. (Would an American company choose a name like that?*)Which is fine by me, as I like to support non-US/non-Euro vendors.*Heh; which reminds me of the businesses I remember from the 1990s that you could tell were Chinese by their bizarre, non-idiomatic names: in the Bay Area there's "Sincere Hardware" (nothing phony about them!). And computer companies like "Full Yes Hardware". I had a file of advertisements from back then that were just hilarious. Plus the text that was written in a charming dialect of "Chinglish".They seem to have gotten better at figuring out what works in English and what doesn't since then.

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 02:30:32 am
content: There was this lawsuit filed against Temu last June - don't know what the current status is:https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/06/shopping-app-temu-is-dangerous-malware-spying-on-your-texts-lawsuit-claims/

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 11:02:10 am
content: @Analog KidQuoteWhy discriminate? Do you also support enslaved labor?Source:https://www.csis.org/analysis/looking-beyond-tiktok-risks-temuQuotePlus many state lawsuits for data theft and other shady and/or illegal practices.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 09:21:35 pm
content: Quote from: ledtester on March 03, 2025, 02:30:32 amWow. Sure am glad I don't use their app on my phone.Quote from: jpanhalt on March 03, 2025, 11:02:10 amNo, which is why I try to avoid using Amazon.(Yes, there's some hyperbole there, but only a little.)I actually like undermining American capitalism (and Yurpeen as well) to the extent that I can by choosing my purchases.So sue me.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2025, 12:00:39 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 03, 2025, 09:21:35 pmAt least, Amazon is *somewhat* regulated, though exploitive and manipulative.TEMU and other China-based manufacturer-to-customer platforms rely *heavily* on forced labour, also known as slave labour. They are known to put the Muslim minority into concentration camps, to do work in factories and on the fields. That's the easiest way to a) get rid of unwanted people and b) get the cheapest products possible.It is even not DOGE'd yet and officially stated by US govt:https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/against-their-will-the-situation-in-xinjiang

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 09:27:30 pm
content: Aaaaargh: just discovered something really fucked up about Temu:I reviewed an item I received (a couple cheap temperature modules). Then I clicked the link to look at all my reviews (I had submitted one other review).Imagine my surprise when I saw thatevery single item I ordered from them had a review under my user ID!Even those where I never actually submitted a review at all! And of course they were all the maximum # of stars.(I can delete these phony reviews if I want, but then I can apparently never submit an actual review for that item afterwards.)Dishonest sons of bitches ...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 09:35:45 pm
content: Oh, what a surprise. Are you aghast? I'm not. And what happened to your personal data that was collected from your most recent purchase? 10 mg of Ambien, HS, will help you sleep, but won't eliminate the problem.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 09:49:09 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 02, 2025, 11:39:14 pmONSemi/Fairchild 1N4148s from Mouser are $0.039 each at quantity 10 and $0.03 at quantity 100.DO-35 leaded package, similar price for other legitimate manufacturers.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 10:05:16 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on March 08, 2025, 09:35:45 pmWell, so far personal data to them is at a bare minimum; everything I've ordered is pretty vanilla stuff. (No sex toys, etc.)And at some point I might just pull the plug on them. Their incessant emails ("Use your credit now or lose it!") are getting quite annoying.Thank [insert deity here] I don't access them on my phone ...Your cautions noted.

author: rteodor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 11:08:06 am
content: Now, isn't this situation hilarious and sad at the same time ?Quote from: Analog Kid&&Quote from: Analog Kid

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 11:35:59 am
content: It's said that if you don't know what the product is, it's you. That applies to Google, of course. It might apply to some low-cost vendors whose profit margin is provided by you.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 12:52:50 pm
content: They use shady selling schemes (illegal in the EU) and some (many?) products are outright dangerous and unhealthy. You can find many reports about customers injured by Temu products and consumer TV shows testing product safety (mostly clothing, jewelry, household appliances). Often the amount of problematic chemicals is several times higher than permissible, containing very unhealthy chemicals, or the lack of flame proofing. IIRC, there was case of a cosmetics set for kids with nail varnish dissolving human skin. Shein isn't any better. I guess, if you only shop for electronic parts they are as good or bad as AliExpress.

author: rteodor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 06:54:39 pm
content: This I do not understand:why people keep buying basic electronic components from such marketplaces ?Electronic components are so specialized - even a simple 1N4148 has so many particular parameters - its impossible to compare, search is a gamble. UI of these marketplaces just can't accommodate a proper trade of such products.Is it that so many buyers don't care and they just buy, maybe it works maybe it doesn't ? Maybe it performs properly, maybe it doesn't ?Is there enough market demand for such products ? Is the market swayed by these trades and established players enter a vicious cycle of lost clients <-> increase prices ?"Not everything that flies gets eaten", but many humans behave like gamblers and often ignore that saying. That is why I have so many questions.So, did the gambler won ?

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 06:59:40 pm
content: Especially for inexpensive parts such as the 1N4148, available from legitimate sources for $0.03 USD.For hobbyists who prefer leaded parts, resistors are also cheap.Capacitors from good manufacturers are readily available from surplus dealers.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 07:11:57 pm
content: I plead nolo contendere.The only things I have bought from AliExpress were stuff that I could not find in the US at a reasonable price. Two examples: A 192x64 ST7525 GLCD w/ SPI interface and 24 awg Kynar (generic), solid yellow, silver-plated hook-up wire. The latter was available in the US at 3x the price, barely met minimum spec, and had transparent insulation (Jonar). No country of origin was given, so I returned it, and got the same or better from AliExpress. My "good stuff" was from OK Industries years ago, but Jonar acquired OK Industries awhile back and the products are not the same. I have also bought from StepperOnline that seems reputable and have not been disappointed either with the product or customer service. Manuals are poor, but customer service stepped in and provided what I needed.Temu? No way at any price.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 08:10:10 pm
content: With all enshitification enabled by Kicad people just do not know any better. They cant draw proper schematic diagrams, what do you expect from them about using proper parts suppliers.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2025, 11:59:30 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on March 09, 2025, 07:11:57 pmWell, I've come around to that.The last straw was when I went to use the plastic laminating sheets I got from them, really cheap.I printed one (laser printer), tried to separate the sheet from the paper backing: no success.Thinking maybe the heat from the fuser had messed things up, I then tried peeling a blank sheet.The backing just would not come off, leaving paper residue on the back of the plastic sheet.The product is fucking useless.I've had it with Temu. Live and learn.Compared to them, Ali Express seems quite reasonable (and just about as cheap). And no barrage of annoying emails!

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 09:46:46 pm
content: I've pulled the plug on Temu.I bought maybe ~$30 worth of stuff from them total. Now I'm getting emails from them saying I can get a $60 credit (i.e., free stuff). Cannot be transacted through the web: I'd have to scan the QR code with my phone, then connect to their online app that way.I can see where this would be headed: my phone would then implode with their constant texts, plus whatever silent hooks they'd extend into my private data.Thanks but no thanks.

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2025, 10:19:38 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 14, 2025, 09:46:46 pmWell, I did warn you. The good news is that if you totally ignore them the spam declines with a time constant measured in months, not years.

author: galileo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2025, 05:27:39 pm
content: Tons of bashing but not much useful content so here is some dose of reality.First Temu app is really annoying with their notifications, if you allow it. Just disable the notification permission and get rid of it.I receive no emails from them, unless I check that I want to receive tracking updates and order confirmation.Temu, just like AliExpress, Ebay, Amazon etc is a marketplace where 95% of the products are cheap junk.That is the nature of the beast, we prioritize the lowest price they optimize for lowest price.Their selection is limited, compared to AliExpress, when it comes to components, tools etc.Now why people, including me, use Temu for some items: shipping. Unlike AliExpress they have "free" shipping.There is also a minimum order requirement. In my region (Serbia, SE Europe) they have their own warehouse and logisticsso I can get items that I can't get from Ali, Ebay for a reasonable price. For example: hydraulic cable crimper, price was the same as on AliExpressbut I can't get it on Ali without paying at least €40 for shipping which makes no sense for a €25 item. They also use local courier companies for deliverywhile Ali uses regular (untracked) post for most of theirs and they no longer issue refunds for lost packages. This also means that I get my orders faster.Additionally Temu has nice promotions so very often you can get items quite a bit cheaper that on Ali, Ebay.Additional benefit is disputes and returns. Returns are easy, since they use local companies and they do instant refunds for cheap items, without the hassle of returning the item.I still do most of my component, small items shopping on Ali, since they are usually cheaper and have wider selection but for bulkier items, some tools etc I go to Temu.Anyway maybe someone finds this helpful.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2025, 07:14:34 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 02, 2025, 09:18:17 pmTemu is just another AliExpress, basically. But maybe worse. And not new, you're a few years behind the curve.And no, as others have said, they're not based in USA, it's Chinese.Many believe it should be avoided:Quote from: Analog Kid on March 02, 2025, 09:18:17 pmYa think?!? It's the same stuff as on AliExpress. Some of it is great, a lot of it is garbage. I don't recommend AliExpress electronic components except when they carry something that literally isn't available anywhere else.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2025, 07:44:38 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 02, 2025, 11:39:14 pmReally? Do you have a curve tracer at home, or better yet a beefy source-measure unit with which you can measure them to destruction?I mean, sure, you can measure whether it meets a few specs. But verify authenticity? I very much doubt that.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 12:00:57 am
content: The diodes work OK in my applications, so the seem to be the real deal.I'm going to try to turn off Temu's notifications, because the alternative is to mark all their emails as spam.Hopefully the time constant of the decay of them is short, as posted here earlier.From now on I'll try Ali Express instead (if I can't find what I want cheaply enough at Jameco, DigiKey, et al).It was fun while it lasted.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 06:07:23 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 20, 2025, 12:00:57 amThat conclusion does not follow from the data available. All you know is that they work in your application; you don’t know whether they work in other circuits that push those parts to their limits, or that rely on specific characteristics.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 02:38:55 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on March 20, 2025, 12:00:57 amAt minimum for non-critical applications, have you tested a sample for PIV and current capability? Recovery time and capacitance are difficult to test.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 10:08:39 pm
content: No, Tim, I have not: currently no way to conduct such tests. Just judging by whether they work in my current projects.I could do that at some point: looks like the priority # for that project would be somewhere around 367 or so, here in the House of Unfinished Projects.If and when I get a round tuit to doing such tests, I'll be sure to post my results here.

author: wickeddog
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2025, 05:06:24 pm
content: I came across this thread while searching for crimping tools. Thanks for the discussion, I've learned a lot here. I purchased the SN-025 and IWS-3220M and did some tests. The SN-025 works well, but it feels a bit overkill for my needs since I mainly crimp 2.54mm DUPONT terminals. The smallest die is the only one I use, and the two larger dies crimp barrels around insulation that are too wide to fit into the 2.54mm housing. The IWS-3220M performs decently, but my only complaint is that I can't use my non-standard crimping technique with it.Now, I'm considering buying the TZ-4228B. Does anyone know if it can crimp Molex Picoblade MX1.25 terminals? The MX1.25 requires a 2mm thick die, but from the pictures, it looks like the die thickness of the TZ-4228B is 4mm.