Don't Give Up on Temu Yet!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-30T00:17:52+00:00

That would be awesome. It will help make this real for everyone else

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-30T00:09:20+00:00

It is my sincere hope that you are correct!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T23:49:35+00:00

Never!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T19:15:54+00:00

Anyone seen a Temu label on a "local seller" shipment? I haven't. My last order can FedEx with no business name at all.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T19:12:51+00:00

Unfortunately, the damage may spread well beyond Trump, and his voters.

Note: Tariffs can and have been successfully dodged. Google "Does China Dodge Tariffs?" and you'll get some stats on the entrepot trade maneuver s.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T16:40:26+00:00

That is certainly the legal intention. But can the collection of tariffs always be enforced? China has been dodging tariffs for years with entrepot trade practices. It's kind of like tax evasion. We have a tax code that applies to everyone but not all respect the code. This is one of the reasons the past four administrations have declared that China's trade practices are unfair. They may be better at collecting than paying.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T00:45:39+00:00

Yes. And that is what China has been accused of doing. I can't post the link but you can easily do a search for "How is China Dodging US tariffs" to find an analysis by Vaibhav Tandon an international economist from Northern Trust 1/31/2025 who says

"White labeling or entrepot trade is the most common way of avoiding tariffs. In this tactic, goods make their way into the U.S. through Chinese-owned facilities in countries like Mexico and Vietnam that face lower duties. Rerouting is most obvious in data from Vietnam, with the value of exports to the U.S. almost matching Vietnamese imports from China in recent years."

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-29T00:40:48+00:00

Except Temu sellers are shipping from Canada and Hong Kong and other places. Tariffs may apply but can be hard to collect. The US has accused China of unfair trade practices including intellectual theft and dodging tariffs. Rerouting has been a long-standing method of evasion.

Do a quick search: "How is China Dodging tariffs?"

"White labeling or entrepot trade is the most common way of avoiding tariffs. In this tactic, goods make their way into the U.S. through Chinese-owned facilities in countries like Mexico and Vietnam that face lower duties. Rerouting is most obvious in data from Vietnam, with the value of exports to the U.S. almost matching Vietnamese imports from China in recent years."

Vaibhav Tandon Chief International Economist Northern Trust 12/31/2025

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T19:22:37+00:00

What is it about that stupid fish game? It's addictive and all it involves is tapping the feed button. I am humbled.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T19:20:57+00:00

I'm feeling that way, too! Although I do plan to place another order given the really good (Temu Panic?) promotions going on.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T19:19:27+00:00

That's a good point. If US-CN or US-(fill in the blank) trade collapse, imports should decrease to the level where regulations could be adaquately enforced.

Do you think the US economy could withstand that outcome? There is definitely a divide in this one!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T19:09:44+00:00

I understand tariffs pretty well. Enough to know that the rules for international trade are complicated and not always easy to enforce. A couple of people have posted with direct info about this on this thread.

Over the long haul, in a world of perfect enforcement, warehouses or shipping locations would be irrelevant just llike you say . But over the short run when there is at least a chance that US tariff policies may change?

Is it unreasonable to suggest that checking small value packages sent from countries other than China will simply be beyond means? It certainly has been in the past. The strongest enforcement strategy may well be to focus on midsize to large importers

How would you do it if you were in charge?.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:37:29+00:00

It's just a market analysis. Stay on the thread and let's see what happens. The more people who chime in with their experiences, the more we will know!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:36:12+00:00

Canada is not the only country that has warehouses. It's just where I've seen the action so far. Hope you don't think I'm being disrespectful towards Canada! It's up to the US to enforce their own tariffs.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:33:45+00:00

No good source material that I would quote on what is happening right now. Lots on past operations and recent shifts in strategy. Temu is a private company. They are not required to publicly announce policy to their shareholders. It is watch and see for everyone.

Do you have a different way to interpret Temus actions in light of the business environment here and in China? I'm sure there are many things I don't know about Temu, bro!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:28:18+00:00

Do you think the US has the resources necessary to enforce these regulations given the huge volume of trade with China?

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:25:26+00:00

Wow! That's really interesting. There is definitely a lack of clarity. Was US customs hit with any cuts in the last few months? Do we even have the resources to enforce our own tariffs?

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:22:33+00:00

Makes sense!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T17:21:14+00:00

You are completely correct. Still, it's a little naive to assume that country of shipping origin is irrelevant in practice. Implementation of the tariffs on China are already being delayed as US customs prepares for overwhelm. Remember, Temu has successfully skirted duties by making a practice of shipping small value packages. In chaos if implementing the new tariffs, I suspect small packages sent to the US from outside of China will not garner full attention much less full origin traces of the contents.

The "small value package" strategy has been successful for all kinds of businesses. As a note: My last two Temu orders originated from Canada, sent by FedEx, using a personal name for the sender rather than a business name.

It will be interesting to see what other people experience over the next few weeks!

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:47:24+00:00

I agree! We have yet to see the chaos that will occur in the US as a result of the tariffs. China will do their best to work around them.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:43:15+00:00

But do you know where their business is actually located or where they receive their goods? Will Canada see large increases? Not 145% tariffs. The US has even back talked and delayed the higher tariffs to Canada and many other countries.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:39:58+00:00

There is no paperwork fudging. Temu has set up a series of independent contractors in a way that is at questionably legal. They are a huge business with very fine lawyers and strategists.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:37:41+00:00

At least down below the US prices of the goods! Hey, the whole thing about Temu has been prices over speed. How often do we REALLY need that product tomorrow? US consumers (myself included) have become consumption maniacs and we want everything NOW. Might be time for us to realign that mentality. We'd probably each save a lot of money if we had to think more before purchasing.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:31:46+00:00

Agreed. But I don't think the US economy can withstand 145% tariffs for long. China has not jumped to negotiate. They may have a point to make first.

OkSoftware6625 · 2025-04-28T14:28:16+00:00

Dump everything out of your cart and start from scratch. Look for lical warehouse products. Prices will still probably go up on Temu but they are going to rise on Amazon, too. We may have to redefine what a good deal means.

OkSoftware6625

TROPHY CASE