With over 400 million downloads worldwide via Google Play, an average rating of 4.6 stars and, curiously, an open door to tens of thousands of items that are always on sale: the Temu app is a constant source of inspiration. So what does this virtual store need to do to succeed? The key is yours ridiculously low prices: You can’t get out if you try.

I am one of those who downloaded Temu on my Androids, one of the more than 400 million people who have downloaded the app (figures from AppBrain). By itself, it does not offer much more than what can be purchased on sites like AliExpress, but Temu has known how to create a place for itself on smartphones due to its low prices. And its offers. Because has anyone ever seen a product that is not on sale on Temu?

Temu is the number one free app in most parts of the world

Spain, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia… These are some of the markets where Temu has achieved success. First place on the podium in Google Play StoreAnd it’s been there for a few months: as we saw on Sensor Tower, the store has been number one for at least 90 days. Quite an achievement for an app whose sole purpose is to get you to spend money.

“Shop like a millionaire,” says the headline on Temu’s application. In my experience, the store offers a wide variety of products for all uses and needs, even for those of us who love technology. Much of its success is based on: Recommendations via social networks like TikTokbecause Temu is a subscriber of digital word of mouth. Since these are such cheap products, it is easy for us to waste them, hence the millionaire metaphor.

Sales that reach the point of absurdity, products that promise much more than they actually do, marketing mechanisms that try to sell as much as possible. Combo deals and coupons constant countdown clocks to encourage impulsive buying that cannot be implemented later… Once you enter Temu it is very hard to leave, it is an app that is more addictive than any casino app.

What about the products? The truth is that, on a general level and in my experience, they are not bad, although they do not offer extreme savings compared to buying from any physical marketplace. Not to mention the chaos caused by the shipments: if you buy more than one product at a time These will come drop by drop. Of course, it costs nothing, which is another of Temu’s great mysteries. Because do vendors really make money selling their products so cheaply? Judging by their recent complaints, it doesn’t seem like much.

There is more to offer in Temu than the grains of sand in the sea

It makes sense to me that Temu is number one, the truth is that it opens up a huge window of possibilities for every mobile user. The app is well designed, versatile and allows you to track orders accurately. It is also very addictive, as I said: what falls in usually does not come out. This is a warning.

Cover image | Temu

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