Over the past six months, shopping on Temu has felt like a rollercoaster ride filled with uncertainty and mixed emotions. Ever since President Trump announced sweeping tariff changes and plans to close a major shipping loophole, many budget-conscious shoppers like myself have been left wondering whether our inexpensive orders from China would soon come with a hefty price tag. But after placing a new order recently and receiving it without any additional fees, I can say at least for now that bargain hunting on Temu is still possible.
To understand the full story, we need to go back to spring, when Trump announced new tariffs on imports from China and proposed ending the de minimis exemption. This exemption previously allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. without being subject to customs duties. It was the cornerstone of how e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein could sell ultra-cheap items by shipping directly from China to individual consumers. By bypassing traditional import duties that bulk shipments incur, they were able to offer rock-bottom pricing.
When the new policy took effect in May, I managed to place one final order just before the exemption expired. In response, Temu and Shein quickly adapted by updating their apps to display only products shipped from U.S.-based warehouses for American shoppers. This pivot allowed them to continue operating under the new rules, as products shipped domestically wouldn't trigger any surprise duty fees.
Not every shopper was so lucky. Reports surfaced of buyers who faced shocking charges when their orders arrived from international sellers unaffiliated with Temu. One individual was hit with a $600 duty bill on just two dresses valued at $400 total one of which she intended to return. That incident, and others like it, fueled anxieties about whether platforms like Temu could truly insulate their customers from future shipping costs.
Then came a surprising development in late August: Temu resumed direct shipping from China. The move followed a period of renewed negotiations between Washington and Beijing, signaling a possible easing in trade tensions. I decided to test the waters by placing a modest order for a kid’s birthday gift a small remote-control car, a set of Velcro paddles with a tennis ball, and a quirky water balloon toy.
A week or two later, my order arrived. The quality? A mixed bag. The water balloon thing was a total failure it didn’t work as described and ended up in the trash. The remote-control car survived some rough use before breaking down, but the Velcro paddle set? A surprising win. Still, as I unpacked the items, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of nervous anticipation. Would the postman suddenly arrive with an unexpected customs invoice? Was this the end of carefree bargain shopping?
Now, a month later, I can officially breathe easy: no tariffs, no surprise fees. At least, not this time.
That said, even without new duties applied at checkout, prices on Temu and Shein have noticeably crept upward. One research report noted that prices on Shein increased by roughly 30% over the summer a reflection of higher costs being passed along to consumers. The bottom line is, even if tariffs aren’t directly hitting buyers yet, we are still feeling their effects through gradual price adjustments.
As consumers, it’s worth asking ourselves whether these small savings are truly worth it. Environmental concerns, overconsumption, and product quality issues remain real. But for those who still find joy in scoring low-cost items, at least for now, it appears the door is still open without that dreaded knock from customs.
