I haven't used many of them and I started wondering if there's any real difference in most of those cheap Chinese marketplaces. Do they all basically sell the same stuff cheap, or do you find one is better for some categories over others? When in search of something do you search all of them or have a favorite marketplace?
And what about customer experiences etc.
I guess Amazon and eBay have fundamental differences though, like amazon takes stock from 3rd parties and distributes them. eBay is literally old school marketplace that connects sellers and buyers.
But yeah, I guess I am just surprirsed how Temu is all the rage now when Aliexpress has been here for ages now.
Temu is all the rage now
Probably because Temu has spent $$$$$ on advertising, especially on youtube from my experience.
It's because Temu spent a crapload on marketing in Australia- ads everywhere and special incentives to sign up with them. Looked to me like Oz was used as a test market before a bigger push to launch elsewhere, but far as I can tell they didn't push hard in bigger markets- I've spoken to people in the US and they've never heard of Temu.
From what little I've observed, Temu seems to be skewed even further left on the quality scale than Aliexpress- some Ali sellers carry good stuff. e.g. the Ali AMD CPU deals that get posted here. Not sure if Temu does a reliable equivalent though.
Temu definitely operates at a fairly large scale in the US, although that's currently under a cloud due to the tariff situation. Temu is also very well known in Canada.
Just like eBay and Amazon.
Exactly, all the same shit.
Just how here we've got JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys, Preston Market and Coles Express —all basically interchangeable.
Mostly the same stuff and similarly priced
There some weird differences between them, for example I find Aliexpress better for watch straps (as in better quality and options)
Shein is very different in that it's mostly clothes and not much else. Temu is the new Wish and sells pretty much everything (electronics, toys, clothing, homewares), except a lot of it is cheaper and lower quality. AliExpress is a combination of both, but sells a lot of big brand stuff, i.e. Lenovo and Xiaomi.
All three of them have their own fulfilment warehouses, like Amazon FBA or products can be shipped directly from the seller to your door, or shipped from the seller's warehouse to Shein/Temu/AliExpress who ship to you.
would you say, if i was searching for an item that is stocked in multiple marketplaces, that it'll be similar in price and quality in all marketplaces? say kitchen accessories or gadgets.
Not necessarily. For generic items the price and quality is going to vary between all 3 due to having different sellers, different suppliers, different shipping methods, different currency conversions and different promotions. It's just too broad.
Now if we were talking branded items you're going to likely see more consistent pricing.
No, from my experience AliExpress you can rely on qty ordered and reviews of listing and there is a high chance the product will be of acceptable quality.
Shein you'll get the product but it might not be to spec (ordered a fridge can holder, showed coke cans in the pic. Couldn't fit a 375ml can)
Temu is just downright scamfest, often the product is clearly used. More often than not the product is useless/designed for the bin.
Temu also has the worst predatory practices of the 3 (spin the wheel, constant emails despite unsubscribing. Phone app will spy worse than Facebook/Snapchat).
In no particular order, one is junk, another is landfill, and the other one is cheap crap.
lol. Any example of this you would like to share to validate your comment?
Different marketplaces have different products come into fashion, they tap into different supplies and ship those things at different speeds.
There’s some that say Temu is malware masquerading as e-commerce.
Wut?
They're all distinct entities, with different (but overlapping) target markets and different business models. They may source some of their products from the same manufacturers to some extent, but there are a lot of items on one that won't be available on the others.
I mainly associate Shien with clothing, and I don't buy anything from there.
Temu is good for low-priced household items in particular. My primary use based on past orders is pet beds and pet toys, and a few small consumer electronics items.
AliExpress is really good for niche electronics in particular. My primary use is spare parts for various devices, micro-controllers, 3d printer and radio control parts.
Temu has a spin to win thingy wheel.
My kids have never purchased anything from AliExpress but love Temu for cheap rubbish.
Last time they ordered something, they must have a Fulfilment Centre in Australia. Half the order was delivered faster than me posting a letter to the next suburb. Couldn't believe it.
I used AliExpress for electronics, cables etc. I've never purchased anything over $100 from there. Got to say, have never been scammed and can't remember an item going missing.
they must have a Fulfilment Centre in Australia
Temu definitely do have an Australian warehouse. Some of their items are flagged as local in the listings, and items from local and international can't be mixed for combined checkout value.
I was super impressed with the speed at which local shipping happened - almost as quick as Amazon.
Thought so.
I've never purchased from or browsed Temu but my wife and kids do (using her account). It's like an arcade to them.
I don't like buying them them as I think most of the items are landfill but it's cheap enough for me not to worry about the cost. I have to pick my battles.
Their AU warehouse is Amazon. Stores with Amazon stores have Temu stores and ship their orders from Amazon. Similarly there are bigger AU names like Umart operating on Temu too.
Go on to Google and look up what 21 US states’ attorneys general have said about Temu - questioning the company’s business practices around forced labor and consumer data privacy, as well as its potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). There’s loads of articles.
Yes, CCP did the seed round and now owns 50%
Is AliExpress, TaoBao, JD are all the same?
I believe they all based in China may be source from the similar factory but the middle man(Seller) are different.
Just like eBay and Amazon.