Has Anyone Actually Won Anything Substantial from Temu?

TimApple on 17/06/2025 - 10:58

Every time I go to Temu, the following happens:

  • They told me I'm a special customer and ask me to spin
  • I spin, got like 100% off, or $100 Cashback or anything
  • I am forced to pick like 5 items from a short list, that I absolutely don't need
  • After I picked the 5 "Free items", suddenly they asked me to spend $50 to get those items.

It's always a variation of those, and it's a waste of my time it seems like. I am quite close to deleting the app, but before I do that, has anyone actually won anything substantial from them? I find AliExpress is much more straightforward and I can actually shop for something that I want at a reasonable price.

Poll Options

  • 255
    All deals in Temu are scam
  • 7
    I actually got a substantial Cashback/promo from them
General Discussion

Related Stores

Temu
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Marketplace

Comments

  • Hybroid on 17/06/2025 - 11:02
    +28

    It's a basic leading marketing ploy to get you to spend. Most 'free' items are worthless landfill.

  • brendanm on 17/06/2025 - 11:08
    +37

    The fact that you actually took the time to make a thread and ask this question is worrying.

    • TimApple on 17/06/2025 - 11:52
      +6

      How is so many Temu deals upvoted here though? https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/902654

      It seems that Ozbargain is in two minds whether Temu is good or bad.

      • Protractor on 17/06/2025 - 12:37
        -2

        I'm off to stick my head in a fire. Care to join me?

      • brendanm on 17/06/2025 - 13:26
        +9

        People will upvote any crap. Temu sells cheap garbage. The stupid spin a wheel thing is a scam. You don't win shit. It's to try and get the simple minded to spend the $50 to get their "free items".

        • Dr Phil on 18/06/2025 - 08:01
          -1

          Some stuff Temu sell is actually quite reasonable.
          No different to AliExpress quality.
          But the Temu spinning wheel is definitely a scam to trick you into spending more.
          At least with Temu the advertsied price you see is the price you pay.

          AliExpress uses similar tricks.

          Like "Buy 3 items for free shipping"
          When you buy 3 it then says: "Buy another 3 to receive $2.50 off"
          And then their coins which you can never use.

          Also the fact that the amount AliExpress charge for GST is a bit of a jackpot.
          It can be over 20% as I just paid yesterday.
          I think they work it out on the full list price of an item.
          Not the advertised discounted price you actually pay.
          So thats an AliExpess scam few have picked up!

          Then you have items advertised cheap jumping up as you browse pages.
          But when you clcik the link and log in, the price increases because its a lure for first time users only.

          So if you ask me, AliExpress igets the price for the most scams. Not Temu

          • banana365 on 19/06/2025 - 16:22

            @Dr Phil: I've used the coins. It only gives you a dollar or so off an order, so barely noticeable.

      • Rochie on 19/06/2025 - 08:27

        The cashback deals are great. The wheel spin is a scam. I got a few parts and tools to fix my pit bike I have. If i bought them from a shop here in australia, I was probably looking at well over $100. On temu, I got essentially the same thing for like $30 but then with 50% cashback brought it down to about $15. There are some great deals to be had on there.

  • Fredfloresjr on 17/06/2025 - 11:11

    Really? Lol

  • CodeXD on 17/06/2025 - 11:12
    +16

    wait til you find the temu farming and fishing game…

    Free gift on 100% -> currently on 99.999999999999995

    • ghoulie1 on 18/06/2025 - 12:39

      My nephew made me play these games. Took me about 3 months before I gave up and bought the same things for him on AliExpress.

  • MS Paint on 17/06/2025 - 11:14
    +18

    I clicked on a Temu link once. It was forcing me to download their app. Haven't tried since. FFS.

    • borrisz0r on 18/06/2025 - 06:51

      Ms paint diagram required…

  • trustnoone on 17/06/2025 - 11:23
    +2

    My browser wipes its cache every time I close it. So I've noticed Temu does what you get above 50% of the time, the other 50% of the time its a different one that essentially gets me to spin twice to get the item free.

    So the whole spin thing is fake IMO its always one of two things each time.

    • jv on 17/06/2025 - 15:59
      -5

      My browser wipes its cache every time I close it.

      Have you reported it to their support team….

      • Forfiet on 18/06/2025 - 00:46
        +2

        He tried, but they got wiped out…..

  • Protractor on 17/06/2025 - 11:24
    +9

    There is a law on the internet.
    If you spin after being told you're special, then you are indeed special.

    • jv on 17/06/2025 - 16:00
      -4

      There is a law on the internet.

      No there isn't…

      • Protractor on 17/06/2025 - 17:22
        +4

        There is so. I saw it in Fin Review. Dan and Albo drafted it. Scomo enacted it when he was 5 Ministers and the PM. Were you still on planet hypocrite then,too?

        • jv on 17/06/2025 - 17:23
          -3

          That about sums up your credibility…

  • life is suffering on 17/06/2025 - 11:30
    +2

    Oh sweet summer child

  • Archi on 17/06/2025 - 11:31
    +7

    the problem is you want something for free. nothing is free.

    with that in mind. click the X skip it, then browse what you want to buy, its that simple.

    i buy stuff from temu all the time. i skip the prize draws and all that crap and just buy what i need

  • wallet72 on 17/06/2025 - 11:38
    +2

    Free stuff and the 'games' on Temu are things that remind meof sideshow alley prizes - look good until you get close up then they are cheap trash.

    Searching Temu and using your brain when shopping can find decent stuff at decent prices.

  • beltdrive on 17/06/2025 - 11:41
    +5

    it's a bit concerning how many ecommerce sites are becoming gamblified with "spin to win" wheels that vie for your email address

  • Wiadro on 17/06/2025 - 11:58
    +7

    temu is absolute trash

  • mskeggs on 17/06/2025 - 12:51
    +1

    When you shop at Temu, or most advertisers on social media, you are shopping in China or the US and the laws we have about fake advertising and product quality aren't respected.

  • Naigrabzo on 17/06/2025 - 13:38
    +5

    If you really want to win something, send me your deets, photo of your drivers license, passport, mothers maiden name and we can take it from there.

    Temu spin to win is a scam though.

  • joka on 17/06/2025 - 14:55
    +1

    I assume the Nigerian prince has not yet been in contact with you?

  • jv on 17/06/2025 - 15:55
    +1

    Has Anyone Actually Won Anything Substantial from Temu?

    a genuine iPhoon.

  • wetsandwich on 17/06/2025 - 16:33
    +5

    Fake gambling on a site that prides itself on misleadingly advertising disposable plastic scam junk?

    Yes mate, it's completely real and legit…

  • prodrome on 17/06/2025 - 16:42
    +2

    I won a free spin.

  • payless69 on 17/06/2025 - 17:35
    -2

    Temu?
    Nearly as bad as shopping at HN.

    • payless69 on 18/06/2025 - 14:38

      Then again there was Wish

      and that kept Gerry going…

  • hasher22 on 17/06/2025 - 17:50
    +5

    My 3 mates and I tried to "scam" the rolls

    On my account I needed 1 X referral to reach like 100 coins or something as I was at 99 coins to get a $100 voucher. I sent the link to my mate, he has to play the game too AND COMPLETE the game but it can't be completed cause when he reached 99 coins, he needed a referral. So it's just a never ending chain of incomplete games.

    I knew it was a "scam" per se but I thought I would see if there was a chance it was real. It isn't.

    Just buy shit from temu as normal without expecting discounts.

    BUT when temu became popular, they had offers like spend 70 and get 20 back… Those deals were legit.

  • Clear on 17/06/2025 - 17:59
    +2

    Close to $5000 worth of stuff for $700ish using exploits before they were patched 😪

    Coincidentally many were removed with the arrival of US tarrifs. Some exploits still exist for freebies.

    • picklewizard on 17/06/2025 - 20:14
      +1

      You know those weren't accidental right… this is just one of about a million different marketing schemes they implemented to see the meteoric rise they did.

      • Clear on 17/06/2025 - 20:20

        Perhaps but I made $8k profit out of it so no complaints, besides it ending of course.

        • coffeeinmyveins on 18/06/2025 - 14:56

          made 8k profit

          Are you the same type of person that thinks you make money by buying stuff to write off the tax for?

          • Clear on 18/06/2025 - 17:12

            @coffeeinmyveins: There was no tax involved. $8000ish profit tax free.

            That's not including the 50% TCB cashback uncapped on GPUs when they were listed cheap.

            • Muppet Detector on 18/06/2025 - 17:52

              @Clear: How did you generate $8,000 that was tax free?

              • Clear on 18/06/2025 - 17:54

                @Muppet Detector: Better question - how can you sell anything tax free? I.e. how do people on marketplace sell without tax.

                • Muppet Detector on 18/06/2025 - 18:01

                  @Clear: To what are you referring when you say "tax free"?

                  Still curious about no tax responsibilities on generating $8k profit though. Unless you earned under $16k or whatever that limit is in that FY I guess.

                  Still interests me how many people think that selling their second hand stuff over more than one transaction a year is considered by the ATO to be a hobby as well. But there ya go.

    • turk182 on 17/06/2025 - 23:13
      +1

      The temu cashback provided by temu themselves was the best

  • AustriaBargain on 17/06/2025 - 18:27

    I got 100% off on the wheel. Turns out it it was a scam though.

  • Some Human on 17/06/2025 - 21:43
    +6

    One time I downloaded the temu app and it bombarded me with so many notifications, i had to delete it.

    I consider that a win.

  • ScribbleSass on 18/06/2025 - 00:14

    Temu is for newbies. Once you get ripped off and (if) you realise it, you never order again.

  • Ruddaga on 18/06/2025 - 01:02
    +1

    yeah i had a friend swear on it (shes an idiot) and I went ok and went to check it out.

    At first I was like oh this wheel thing seems neat… but within a couple of minutes I realised what was going on and yeah I kept trying to just check out to claim my "free" items but it kept steering me to HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER OFFER WHICH IS A CRAZY GOOD DEAL OF ONLY 20.00 ON SOME OTHER ITEM YOU DONT WANT.

    Scammy mc scammers.

  • haemolysis on 18/06/2025 - 08:43
    +2

    They markup anything purchased with a coupon. You can purchase "$5 +$5 coupon" or you can purchase for whole price at $10. Either way, you are spending $10. If you leave the coupon/game captive windows, and add the items to your cart manually, you will find the total price is almost always the same. Perhaps even less.

    Funnily enough, the games themselves are also totally frivolous - just to make you think you are winning. You will always get the "top prize", and the fine print even says so… look underneath the wheel. Says: all users get top prize. lol.

  • darvian22 on 18/06/2025 - 09:31
    +1

    We have bought a lot for the kids birthday party suppliers. We tend to ignore the offers, however had a cart worth about $150 and when they applied all their "discounts" turns out we paid about $40.

    Comparison, the stuff that arrived was better quality than the junk at BASE WAREHOUSE and we would have easily paid $100 to have it from there.

    overall, pretty happy

  • BLDM on 18/06/2025 - 09:49
    +1

    I got $50 cashback (which was not actually cashback but a Temu credit) 3 times in a row, would use the cashback for my next $50 order once I was offered another cashback. Got three orders of $50 for about $1 each. Think they cottoned on to me though haven’t had that offer in a while. I also pick something (usually a shirt or jumper for my son) and stick it in my cart. Leave it there long enough and Temu will eventually discount it to 1c. The free stuff they offer is usually linked to your previous searches and stuff you have clicked on to look at. I don’t use the app I use the website on my laptop.

  • IpGem on 18/06/2025 - 09:56
    +2

    Anything Substantial from Temu?

    Yes, marketing emails

  • sandman20104159 on 18/06/2025 - 10:03

    nope, the catch with those are spend $50 now to get $100 of free cr@p but you need to spend more than $20 to get it… so yeah screw that.

  • dojomojo on 18/06/2025 - 11:04

    The best deal I got from Temu was $150 off on a $200 self emptying robot vacuum (new user cashrewards). Still use the vacuum daily.

  • dtc on 18/06/2025 - 11:18

    Jeez people. When the wheel comes up then there are terms that say ‘this is not a game of chance, all participants will win the maximum prize’ or something along those lines

    It’s just a voucher tarted up as a game. It’s not a ‘scam’, they literally tell you in advance what you will get

    • mrvaluepack on 18/06/2025 - 17:01

      This note only appeared this year after numerous complaints.

      • dtc on 19/06/2025 - 09:46

        This post is from this year

  • rexanator619 on 18/06/2025 - 11:33

    My experience has been pretty good with Temu. Yes it's full of cheap products and deceiving marketing tactics so you have to shop smart to get the most out of it.

    To buy products you actually need/want, initially you have to individually spam search them manually before selecting their special offers. That way Temu will show more or those products you show interest in when asked to shop with a bundle.

    They have different minimum spend bundle offers so I just go for the lowest one available - sometimes minimum of $10 or $20 even. As a bonus, they sometimes throw in a free product or two to get you to buy the bundles.

    The important thing is to carefully read all the reviews (and look for customer photos) plus item description and specs.

  • RolandWaites on 18/06/2025 - 11:57

    Temu, AliExpress, Alibaba. It's all a race to the bottom where some impoverished labourer at the other end is paid a subsistence wage to make you a low grade trinket you'll keep in a drawer for a few years before throwing away.

    No person with morals could justifiably add fuel to such socially destructive beasts.

    • nswnotill on 18/06/2025 - 15:03

      I have never used Temu in any form, and do not intend to.

  • Sensiekatie on 18/06/2025 - 12:47

    Like you, early on I wasted time as they said I was due 6 free items. Wasted time choosing and then had to spend the $50. What I actually went in to buy wasn't even available to me at that point. I Got 1 of the free items in that order shipment but it was insignificant. Then it came up with a message that If I wanted to get my other free items I had selected, I had to make a purchase every day for the next 5 dayss as there was only 1 free item per day.

    I keep getting told I'm eligible for a 100% refund (shipment late), but when I try to order, funnily enough that credit is never there to spend. Then there's the emails saying they have sent rewards but if you read them, they aren't sent at all. Again, you have to purchase to supposedly get them.

    So I turn off notifications and ignore all that crap and just order what I want.

  • crowleysimon on 18/06/2025 - 12:54

    All of those spinners have a disclaimer on them basically saying they are fake, everyone gets the same result.

    Having said that though. My first order on Temu was using a 50% cashback and I got over $100 cashback.

    My wife also did one of the "Pick out 10 items and you'll get them free if you refer enough people" and did actually get all 10 items free. I think Temu claimed they were worth about $200 all up.

    I tried the same thing on about $400 worth of items, and only "unlocked" 1, which they did send to me for free.

  • JTTheMan on 18/06/2025 - 13:13

    Yes, I've been very frustrated after being sucked in it to the fake wheel spins! They are so addictive even though I know the prizes are fake.

    But if you manage to avoid falling for those there are actually a few bargains to be found, it just takes a bit of time and can be a bit of hit and miss.

    One example is some microfibre cloths that I purchased for a cheap price and these are surprisingly very good quality. Nothing else I've used matches the mirror-like finish on glass surfaces!

    So for that reason I can't totally give up on Temu but I've definitely reduced my purchases

  • Archi on 18/06/2025 - 15:01

    ohhh this reminds me to add more things to my temu cart

  • SuperMid on 18/06/2025 - 21:14
    +1

    I like when websites straight away have 3 to 4 pop ups which prevent me from actually using the site

  • NEGATIVEVIBESONLY on 18/06/2025 - 22:39

    Temu is okay and they do have some good stuff

  • supersabroso on 18/06/2025 - 23:17

    I didn't get any of the free things that they said I'd get. I also was meant to get a ton of cashback that was too good to be true as a first time user, first time cashrewards denied my claim in like 5 years and said that it didn't track. It's not a coincidence, not back luck, just got scammed.

    Never again, I'm sticking with Aliexpress. TEMU's such a scam. The quality of the products I received from TEMU were also inferior to Aliexpress, they felt like they were 3D printed on a cheap printer.

  • lothus777 on 18/06/2025 - 23:52

    I had to refer up to 10 people, received free products worth 200. eg radio with carplay, weights, tech

    • EyyBanane on 19/06/2025 - 11:10

      Do they hate you now?

  • AlbiesDad on 19/06/2025 - 09:08
    +1

    It's not random. There is an asterisk at the bottom of the spin wheel saying *All customers get the same prize.

    • dtc on 19/06/2025 - 09:47
      +1

      It’s much easier on the soul to claim it’s a scam rather than to admit you don’t read proper.

  • UltimateAI on 19/06/2025 - 10:50

    As others have said, if you read the T&C's it's not random.
    The game does NOT determine the prize.
    You can elect not to play the game and you still get the same prize.

  • Kolky on 19/06/2025 - 15:24

    I won 5 tablets, playing in a big group. It’s no longer winnable. This was over 6 months ago. If anything changes I’ll update this group.

  • xyzzyxyzzy on 19/06/2025 - 15:39

    I'd say in the past two week I have managed to placed more than 10 orders, all for almost free. Using the discount card event, which randomly discounts one item in your cart to 0.01, and loop holes in the system, can actually pull this off. Not "substantial" nevertheless.

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