I thought I'd bagged a bargain bookshelf on Temu but I was not prepared for what turned up – I'll never shop there again
Mary Jane had picked the product as part of a free giveaway on
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Mary Jane believed she was getting an actual piece of furniture when shopping on Temu
Credit: Jam Press/Mary Jane
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Little did she know she'd missed a key aspect of the item in the listing online
Credit: Jam Press/Temu
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The experience, albeit funny, has put Mary off using Temu again.
Credit: Jam Press/Mary Jane
But, instead of a metal frame with real shelves, she received a small, 2D-printed metal sign, which showed an image of a bookshelf.
'When I opened it, I just started laughing,' the 50-year-old told
'It took me a second to realise it wasn't a real shelf at all – just a flat tin sign with a picture printed on it.
'I genuinely thought it was a mistake at first, but then I looked back at the listing and saw it did say '2D'.
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'I'd just completely missed it.
'It was so funny that I immediately grabbed my
'It looked so convincing in the picture – like it had depth and actual shelves.
'But when I held it up, it was thinner than a baking tray and completely useless.'
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Mary says she normally checks item descriptions and sizes carefully, but had been rushing through the order to beat a countdown timer on Temu's free item promotion.
The mum-of-three said: 'I didn't have time to look closely. The photos made it look like an actual bookshelf – something you'd put against the wall to hold books or plants.
I bought two splash pads from Temu and TikTok shop for £9.99 for my kids to compare - one of them is HUGE for the price
'It wasn't until I had it in my hands that I realised it was just a decorative sign. I wasn't angry, just shocked it was that bad.'
Temu offered Mary a replacement item if she returned the tin sign.
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But the mum said the process was too much hassle for something she hadn't paid for in the first place.
Mary, from Columbus, Ohio, said: 'It just wasn't worth it.
'I'd rather chalk it up to experience.
'They told me to post it back to get a replacement, but I thought – why am I spending time and effort returning a free tin plate I never wanted?
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'It was more trouble than it was worth.
'Yes, it said '2D' and gave dimensions, but the photos were very carefully done.
Why is Temu so cheap?
TEMU exploded onto the scene in late 2022, with people all over social media raving about the low prices.
The company is a Chinese-owned digital marketplace - essentially an online shopping app where people are connected to the retailer directly while the app takes care of the shipping element.
The frenzy over the app is not completely unfounded either as it offers a wide variety of products, including fashion, make-up, electronics and furniture.
The loophole is called the de minimis exception and it means they can ship goods valued up to $800 (£643) to the US without it being inspected or taxed by US customs.
Temu connects customers directly to manufacturers and only manages how the items are sent to customers.
It means Chinese vendors can essentially sell their products directly to customers and ship it without building a network of warehouses across the globe.
By doing this, they cut down on huge costs and ensure the product itself isn't marked up extra.
While many of the products seen on the Temu app are from brands with extensive, original collections, many more are dupes of designer brands.
'They know how to make something look more than it is.
'I do think it's misleading.'
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Similar items from Temu – hopefully the real deal – are listed on the retail site for around £70-£80.
The experience, albeit funny, has put Mary off using Temu again.
She added: 'I won't be ordering from them in future; I just don't trust it anymore.
'There are some decent things on there, but it's a gamble.
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'I just threw the item away.
'My advice to others is to slow down, read the full description and check the measurements.
'If you don't, you'll probably end up with something you didn't expect – and not in a good way.'
Temu has been approached for comment.
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Instead of a metal frame with real shelves, she received a small, 2D-printed metal sign
Credit: Jam Press/Mary Jane
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The mum-of-three said she no longer trusted the site
Credit: Jam Press/Temu
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