In the past we’ve covered if the likes of questioning if Etsy is good for the cross stitch world, and in both cases, the answer remains both as a positive, and a negative. But I regularly get asked to review another retailer; Temu, and let me tell you; it’s pretty much all bad.
The Good
I always start with the good, after all, we need to find the good in everyone, but findin the good in Temu is hard.
Yes, the prices are basement bottom cheap, and there is a reasonable selection too, but are the things you get any good? Nope.
The Bad
OK, so let’s stop beating around the bush, there are two massive issues with Temu; the quality and stolen IP.
The first is probably the most obvious, cheap prices means cheap products, and in this case it’s VERY true. Now, whilst we’re massive advocates of cheaper threads, the brands on Temu, are knock offs of those cheaper brands. CXC Threads have copied DMC threads, but Temu copy CXC, leading to a product that is just massively substandard.
However, the big issue with Temu; is copyright. Whilst the likes of Etsy and eBay both have issues with copyright infringement, there are some, all be it poorly implemented, anti-copyright measures on those platforms. If your pattern has been stolen and reused, you have recourse.
Temu does not have these. And not only that, but the sellers on the platform are very willing to copy work from aspiring cross stitch designers, who simply don’t have the ability to take sellers to court (or even contact them in most cases).
Interestingly, many of these stolen works have been brought to the media’s attention, with people not only having their works stolen, but the quality of the work normally super substandard as well.
The Verdict
As I said in the intro; there isn’t much ‘good’ about Temu for the cross stitch world. Whilst low prices are welcome for many of us, quality is still a factor that needs to be considered.
Thankfully, unlike the strong following platforms like Etsy have, Temu is still a fringe store front, and I hope it remains that way for as long as possible!
Do you have any good stories from the world of Temu? We’d love to hear any!
Happy stitching,
Lord Libidan
Never had a single issue with cross stitch stuff from temu and the like. Personally if I could afford nearly £2 for onedmc thread I would pay it.
Yikes, you shouldn’t be paying that much for a DMC thread!
Try our list of online cross stitch stores. I average about 80p per skein.
But failing that, have you considered CXC threads? They came high on our list of cross stitch thread brands.
Thank you very much for this summary. It’s very useful for me. I also design cross stitch patterns, and I have come across beautiful patterns from other designers that were stolen and sold in kits as their on patterns on temu shop. Thank you again! Timi
I recently bought some thread cards and an organiser box from Temu because health probs meant I couldn’t get to my LNS and postage made mail-order ridiculously expensive. The cards are a little smaller than the standard but are smooth and useable. The box seems sturdy enough but the compartments are too shallow for storing thread cards. When I’m mobile again I’ll get a decent one at the LNS, plus more thread cards.
I’d question the quality and legality of literally everything on Temu. That said, I’m still guilty of using it and did pick up a decent enough 18×10” wooden cross stitch frame for $20 CAD. I’d never buy thread there, or anything with any safety/accuracy requirements, and just assume anything hat involves art is being stolen from somewhere else.