The Problem with TEMU | Fast Decor

Nick. You are spot on here. Every single point. The influencer culture. The pay gap. The environmental impact. And the privilege of selectively participating in the economy. Huge kudos for being brave enough to put this out!

The moral of the story is don't shop mindlessly. Save up your money and buy wisely. And you're right: wages have not kept up with reality.

I have been SO SICK of seeing temu plastered every inch of everywhere, THANK YOU for this video! They've brainwashed one of my family members into spending most of her paychecks on these "great deals," packages show up literally every day and it's frustrating all of us when we have to beg her to at least think of what she's buying from where. Yeah it's cheap, but at what cost?

Thank you for doing this! There is a saying "I'm not rich enough to buy cheap things". When you spend money on throw-away items you may as well be throwing your money in the garbage. It's also bad for the environment. The world is burning up. We need to stop behaviors that contribute to this.

“If you’re not paying the price, somebody else is” A slogan of one of our South African companies, which they started when people asked them why there items are more expensive than normal retailers. Food for thought…

This is not above your pay grade at all, this is what it looks like when a creator takes their platform seriously and decides to be a positive influence in their field and in public engagement. 🌿 Thanks so much for bringing up all of these talking points. I really think they're valuable. I can't bring myself to shop at Temu either for many of the same reasons you mentioned and I would also like to see a resurgence of locally based, middle-tier companies providing the home goods we need!

The Shein, Temu and Ali Express situation reminds me of what the big box stores did years ago (and are still doing) to the mom-and-pop stores. They can offer products cheaper at similar or better convenience/price, so it's just impossible to compete. It's nothing new, but that doesn't make it fair or a good idea.

I was sick of Temu ad ALL THE TIME. Never bought from them and never will. I often find a great vintage decor pieces at thrift shops, but lately it’s cluttered with those cheap gadget and clothings. It’s been overdue someone like you tells the truth. ❤

I LOVE how you talk about how it's a privilege to say no. There is a it of condescension in this space which is a real turn off and hurts far more than it helps.

Nick hits us with big comedy and then turns around and gives us empathy and a call to accountability. Love love love this well rounded conversation about fast fashion/decor.

OMG! Finally, someone who has a decorating/design channel has addressed this. I actually dropped 2 channels that over promoted Temu products. I don’t buy from Shein and I won’t ever buy from Temu. I have serious questions about their ethical practices. I’m also rethinking IKEA because I’ve read some questionable things about them. I think I’ll become a minimalist.

Showing that you're socially and environmentally conscious is so refreshing in an industry that is generally so consumerist, you might not like it but you're an independent thought leader. You persistently point out the excesses of wealth in a way that doesn't come off as preachy, you are considerate to people who cannot afford to spend much on décor and consider different budgets in all of your videos. This isn't above your pay grade - we all have a responsibility to highlight injustices in our society and wider world. So refreshing, keep being honest.

I had this exact conversation with my 14 year old daughter recently. Basically, when you can afford ethics you should be ethical.

It's basically Shein for Homeware/ Lifestyle and we all know the environmental and economic shitshow that is! It is the ad that appears 8/10 times on my youtube, even before this video 😅 I will never be buying from any of these companies. Their whole practice is gross.

I bought clothing during the pandemic from Shein. In the pictures the clothing looked gorgeous. When it arrived, it wad absolute crap, totally unbearable. I have read other posts about Temu and their questionable labour ethics and their affect on the environment. Long story short, I will never buy from either Company. If Amazon doesn't clean up their act, I will not use them either. Thank you Nick for being so honest and informative. ❤

Thank you for addressing this! I get SPAMMED with Temu ads on all social media platforms, as they recently expanded their business to my country. The ads looked so shady at first that I thought it must be a scam, but I was shocked when I found out that Temu was a "legitimate" retailer. I agree with you that we do not talk enough about fast decor and how fashion cycles now also have accelerated in the interior bubble. It is a complex topic and I would love more critical videos on fast decor and how to deal with it in the future! :)

Nick, you've certainly enlightened me. You've shown your own kind of integrity here. Well done.

The shein and temu comparison is spot on. Both companies propagate disposable goods which just fills the landfills. They also don’t have to follow any of the labor laws and they cannot be shamed into not using ethical manufacturing practices the way that many companies can that are actual brands. I’m all for saving money but not this way. And when it comes to Shein, it’s estimated that H&M releases something like 25,000 new pieces/styles a year. Shein releases over a million. I would imagine that Temu is similar. I appreciate this video so much. And, thank you for saying no to temu.

Ditto - and I’m personally choosing not to Temu. I’m lower income but…. Have truly a wide variety of second hand and thrift options to accommodate my price points. Your comments are spot on, any politic aside. Brave man to share your research and findings with the world. 👍👍

Hi Nick. This is one of the best videos you’ve ever done imo. You’re a class act and real, so thank you! As someone who loves interior design but is a Vancouverite who looks at rental prices and just want to cry… I can definitely not afford the life sold by influencers… so I really appreciate your down to earth approach to this subject. My alternative to Temu and the like is to thrift. :)