Temu

Nine dimensions merchants should review before joining:

Merchant snapshot

Na ultra-low-price cross-border platform; full-managed model dey good for factory/supply-chain sellers, semi-managed dey good for sellers wey get local warehouse; price power dey strong but regulatory an compliance risk na di highest, an brand value dey weak.

Entry requirements

Barrier to enter dey low: you need business license (Chinese sellers enter with company entity). Two models dey: full-managed (seller supply goods, platform dey price/operate/fulfil) an semi-managed (seller dey run im own pricing + platform go verify price, need overseas warehouse). Deposit: full-managed about 1,000 yuan RMB, semi-managed 10,000 yuan or $1,400 (Cifnews research, C-level source, as e dey for official). Cross-region: North America/Europe/Australia-NZ/Korea etc multiple sites one backend, but each country compliance an tariff rules dey different.

Fee structure

No monthly fee an no entry fee; technical service fee about 0.5%–2% of sales, commission about 2%–8% (dey float by category/activity, Cifnews research, as e dey for official latest rule). Logistics fee based on weight/volume about 10–50 yuan per order; advertising/shop decoration dey pay as you need. Di platform dey control pricing as main, so seller profit space dey thin. As e dey for di official latest fee table.

Getting traffic

On-site algorithm recommendation + ultra-low-price activities (flash sale, spend-and-discount) dey drive am; US advertising investment nearly $2B (MediaPost estimate). About 12% of US consumers dey shop on Temu/Shein every week (2025.8 Omnisend). Social viral/affiliate promotion na di main way to get new users. Seller control over traffic allocation dey weak; you dey mainly rely on price an product selection, no brand accumulation.

Fulfilment & logistics

Full-managed: start with direct shipping from China; after US de minimis ($800 tax-free) end for 2025, direct shipping don suffer heavy blow an daily active users nearly cut half (Reuters); e dey now shift to US warehouse + local fulfilment. Semi-managed: seller overseas warehouse self-ship (faster). Europe dey face €3 per small parcel tax from 2026.7.

Payments & settlement

Di platform dey collect payment as one and pay back according to settlement cycle: full-managed settle by supply price, semi-managed settle after deducting fees from sales. E dey support RMB/US dollar etc multiple currencies, you fit link third-party collection (Payoneer etc). Payment-back cycle an fine rules use official agreement as final word.

Compliance

US: de minimis exemption cut from 2025.5, fully end for 2025.9; direct-ship goods must declare an pay tax normally. FDA/CPSC etc product compliance pressure dey big. EU: DSA investigation dey on (maximum fine 6% of global turnover), €3 per parcel tax from 2026.7; fake goods/quality complaints make US Republican lawmakers write to Department of Justice to investigate (2025). Di platform control over seller price/quality dey very strong.

Key risks

1) US GMV stagnant (2024 ~$25B → 2025 ~$22B, MP estimate) an daily active users nearly cut half; 2) de minimis end + tariff continue to rise dey directly push up direct-ship cost, di model dey force to shift to local fulfilment; 3) Fake goods/quality governance risk (judicial investigation, DSA fine up to 6% of global turnover); 4) Sellers no get brand accumulation, profit dey pressed by platform price verification, Amazon Haul/Shein/TikTok Shop dey attack from many sides.

Best-fit sellers

E dey good for Chinese factory-type/supply-chain sellers (full-managed: only supply goods, no touching operation) an sellers wey get US/Europe overseas warehouse ability (semi-managed). E dey good for no-brand low-price standard goods (apparel, home, 3C accessories, small household goods). E no dey good for sellers wey want brand premium, heavy compliance or high-order-value categories — price-oriented an regulatory risk go erode brand an profit.

Sources

1. cifnews.com
2. investing.com
3. emarketer.com
4. mediapost.com