Temu Is Eating Amazon’s Lunch

Let’s talk about Temu — yeah, that app your cousin downloaded, the one with $2 earbuds and dresses cheaper than a Starbucks coffee.

While some Amazon sellers are brushing it off as a “discount bin” or “wish.com knockoff,” Temu just quietly became the #1 most downloaded app in the U.S. for over a year straight.

So what the heck can you, an Amazon FBA seller, actually learn from Temu?

Buckle up — because this isn’t about cheap goods or knockoffs.

It’s about strategy.

📖 The $4.32 Mistake That Opened My Eyes…

I was ordering a new phone case from Amazon — easy, quick, $14.99.

Then my wife said, “Babe, you know you can get the same thing on Temu for like four bucks?”

I laughed.

Then I checked.

She was right.

$4.32. Free shipping. Same photo. Same product. Wild.

And that’s when it hit me:

Temu isn't just selling cheaper stuff — they're selling an experience that makes Amazon look like a cranky old librarian.

🧠 3 Savage Lessons Temu is Teaching Amazon Sellers (Whether We Like It or Not)

1. Speed Wins Attention 🧨

Temu's onboarding is a dopamine buffet:

• Free gifts for signing up 🎁

• Spin-to-win pop-ups (they gamified e-commerce)

• “You have 2 minutes left to claim this offer” countdowns ⏱️

It’s all engineered to grab attention, hold it, and convert it now.

🔍 Takeaway for Amazon sellers:
Your listing needs to be tight. Title, main image, A+ content, pricing — all should scream instant trust and urgent value.

If your product doesn’t make people stop scrolling in 3 seconds flat, it’s invisible.

2. Psychological Pricing Still Works 🧠

Temu thrives on the perception of a deal.

Even if the difference is a buck or two, the way they frame it — slashing fake MSRPs, constant flash deals — tricks the brain.

You and I might scoff at it.

But guess what?

📈 It works. Especially for value-driven shoppers.

🔍 Takeaway for Amazon sellers:
Consider using:

• “Was $39.99, now $19.99” pricing

• Coupons and lightning deals

• Subscribe & Save discounts

Don’t let pride get in the way of profit. Play the game smarter.

3. Temu is Building an Army — Not Just a Store 🏰

Temu turns customers into influencers. Share a code, win free stuff. Invite friends, get points. Post a haul on TikTok, earn store credit.

It's user-generated content on steroids.

Meanwhile, most Amazon sellers are praying for a 5-star review.

🔍 Takeaway for Amazon sellers:
Incentivize your buyers to post, share, review — within Amazon’s TOS, of course.

Here’s what I did recently:

• Added a QR code inside my packaging to a private thank-you page

• That page offered a giveaway in exchange for social shares

• Reviews jumped 27% in 3 weeks 📈

🎯 The Big Takeaway?

Temu isn’t a threat if you’re selling quality and thinking strategically.

But it is a loud wake-up call for lazy listings, boring brands, and sellers stuck in 2018.

If you don’t give your buyers an experience that’s fast, fun, and full of value… someone else will.

The game is evolving.

Adapt or be average.

💬 A Proverb to Remember:

“He who brings the most value wins — but only if he shows it fast.”

🙋‍♂️ You got this.
Stay scrappy, stay sharp, and never stop learning.

To better listings and bigger wins,

Andy Splichal
Founder & Managing Partner of True Online Presence & Author of the Make Each Click Count Book Series

P.S. You’ve got products to sell and a business to scale. If PPC feels like a second job (or a black hole for your budget), let me handle it. I’ve scaled dozens of FBA brands profitably. 💬 Book a quick discovery call — I’ll show you what’s possible.

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