Temu: love it or hate it
There are few things in modern life as guaranteed to start an argument as politics, football, or asking people what they think about Temu.
Mention it in a Facebook group and you’ll get three types of response.
- The first person will proudly announce that they bought a garden shed, a drone, 47 kitchen gadgets and a pair of flamingo slippers for less than the cost of a coffee in Marbella.
- The second will explain that buying from Temu is personally responsible for the collapse of civilisation.
- The third will quietly read the comments while waiting for their latest Temu order to arrive.
Love it or hate it, Temu has become one of the most talked-about shopping platforms in Spain. It’s no surprise really – most of us have had a little mooch… even if we haven’t bought anything.
It starts innocently enough
Nobody plans to become a Temu shopper. You don’t wake up one morning thinking, “Today I shall purchase a solar-powered dancing cactus, a telescopic back-scratcher and a USB-powered chicken-shaped night light.”
It starts with something sensible… a phone cable, a replacement part, a storage box. Maybe a new dog lead.
Then suddenly it’s two hours later and you’re wondering whether your life would be improved by a miniature chainsaw. For €4.99. Including delivery.
Why Temu has exploded in Spain
Part of the reason is simple.
Spain is fantastic for many things. Finding that oddly specific item you suddenly need isn’t always one of them.
If you live in Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia, you can usually find what you’re looking for.
If you live in a village halfway up a mountain (like us), it’s a different story.
Sometimes the nearest shop that stocks what you need is an hour away.
Temu offers a different solution.
- Open the app.
- Search.
- Order.
- Wait.
- Question your life choices.
- Receive parcel.
- Repeat.
The prices are ridiculous
Let’s be honest, the prices are often what grab people’s attention.
Sometimes you’ll find exactly the same type of product selling for a fraction of the price you’d expect elsewhere.
Of course, there’s a reason for that. Not every product is premium quality. Sometimes you’ll get a bargain. Sometimes you’ll get something that’s “good enough”. And occasionally you’ll receive an item that leaves you wondering whether quality control was carried out by a blindfolded hamster on crack.
That’s part of the Temu experience.
The elephant in the room
Not everyone is a fan.
Temu has faced criticism from consumer groups, regulators and competitors since its rapid rise across Europe.
Supporters argue it gives consumers access to cheaper products and a wider range of choice.
Critics point to concerns around product quality, safety standards, environmental impact and the pressure it places on traditional retailers.
Whichever side of the debate you’re on, it’s fair to say Temu hasn’t had the smoothest relationship with European regulators.
About that €200 million fine…
In May 2026, the European Commission fined Temu €200 million under the Digital Services Act.
The Commission said the company had failed to properly identify and assess risks linked to illegal and unsafe products being sold through its platform. Investigators highlighted concerns around dangerous chargers, unsafe toys and other products that should not have been reaching consumers.
Temu has disputed the findings and described the penalty as disproportionate, while saying it has made significant improvements to its compliance systems.
For shoppers, the takeaway is fairly simple:
A bargain is only a bargain if it doesn’t catch fire.
As with any online marketplace, it’s worth checking reviews carefully, paying attention to seller ratings and applying a little common sense before buying.
What people in Spain actually use it for
Forget the weird gadgets. Most regular users aren’t filling their homes with inflatable dinosaur costumes. They’re buying practical things.
Things like:
- Garden accessories
- Storage solutions
- Pet supplies
- Caravan and motorhome accessories
- Phone accessories
- Kitchen organisers
- DIY items
- Car accessories
- Craft supplies
- Household gadgets
The kind of things that are annoying to spend half a day searching for locally.
Should you use Temu?
That’s entirely up to you. Some people swear by it. Others refuse to touch it. Most seem to fall somewhere in the middle.
They know not everything on the platform is amazing. They know they need to read reviews. They know that a €1.79 gadget probably isn’t going to change their life. Yet somehow another parcel keeps arriving.
Thinking of trying it?
If you’re curious and want to see what all the fuss is about, you can browse the latest offers here:
The bottom line
Temu might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it has undeniably changed the way many people in Spain shop.
Whether it’s a brilliant source of bargains or a dangerous rabbit hole full of things you never knew you didn’t need probably depends on who’s telling the story.
Just don’t blame us if you go looking for a phone charger and end up buying a glow-in-the-dark toilet brush.
Because that’s apparently how Temu works.
Then there’s Amazon Prime…
If you’d like to read our article about Amazon Prime… here you go:
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper.
Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
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