‘Leave It Out in the Sun:' Atlanta Man Orders Bumper Off Temu for His Chevy Truck. Then He Sees What Gets Delivered
The first video from creator Cam'Ron Carter (
@camroncarter
) has been viewed more than 2 million times. It shows him and onlookers expressing doubt about whether he was scammed with a recent purchase of an automotive bumper from a Temu vendor. Commenters had doubts as well, making jokes like 'Mf got a boneless bumper.'
Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.
back
Sign up
For more information, read our
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use
.
But as the follow-up
videos
show, the bumper wasn't boneless after all. In the second clip, Carter lays it out in the sun, and we see the material has begun to relax, straighten, and take on a shape closer to what you'd expect from an actual truck bumper.
This odd transformation isn't just visual sleight of hand. Many aftermarket bumpers sold online—especially those made of polypropylene or ABS plastic—are
shipped compressed
or rolled to reduce freight costs. These thermoplastic materials are pliable at warm temperatures and often
regain their shape
after being heated or left in direct sunlight. It's a trick that's sometimes recommended even for dented bumper covers, though experts caution that
improper reshaping
can cause weak points over time.
By the
third video
, the bumper is mounted on the front end of Carter's Chevrolet truck. The fit is clean, and he seems visibly relieved and even enthused, noting that the install was a step forward in a longer plan to improve the truck's appearance.
'It's holding up pretty good… it's coming together,' he remarks while listing off paint work and other next steps he's taken to spruce up the truck.
Should Car Modders Trust Temu?
Trending Now
'Express/Savana GM Vans Still Peel:' Man Says White Paint Peels Faster on Cars. Is He Right?
'They Have About 70% Tread Life Left:' Man Buys Tires Off Facebook Marketplace. Then He Takes Them to Discount Tire
Temu is a Chinese-owned e-commerce marketplace that gained significant popularity in recent years, primarily by offering rock-bottom prices on consumer goods shipped directly from overseas warehouses. Its parent company,
PDD Holdings
, also operates Pinduoduo, one of China's largest digital marketplaces.
While Temu has drawn attention for its ultra-low prices, it has also
faced scrutiny
over product quality, shipping times, and customer service. Car parts, in particular,
raise questions
because safety, fitment, and durability can have more serious consequences than buying, say, $2 socks or a novelty keychain.
Still, for DIY modders looking to stretch their budget, the platform's growing catalog of automotive accessories, such as bumpers, grills, light kits, and spoilers, can be tempting.
Buying a bumper online is always a roll of the dice, but TikTok videos, like Carter's, show that some shoppers are willing to take a chance. His experience isn't unique;
other TikTokers
have documented the installation of Temu-sourced parts with mixed results.
Common complaints
include:
Fitment issues (mounting holes that don't align),
Finish inconsistency (thin paint or discoloration), or
Missing hardware.
A commenter noted that the bumper Carter installed by itself may not be enough to ensure safety.
'I would definitely buy some metal and build small supports behind the bumper, since it's the kind that rolls out in the sun it could flop around driving at high speeds on hot days, depending on where the mounts are.'
Should You Buy Car Parts From Temu?
While Temu prices may be appealing, there are important trade-offs to consider.
Quality and fitment may vary. Most automotive parts and accessories sold on Temu are not OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) certified, and third-party suppliers with limited brand transparency produce many. While some listings may closely resemble factory parts, others may differ in fit, finish, or material quality. Notably, most parts are not Department of Transportation-approved, meaning they may not meet
US standards
for safety or durability.
Temu products are typically shipped from overseas warehouses, which can result in longer delivery times. Most orders arrive within 10 to 20 business days; however,
delays are common
, particularly for bulky items such as bumpers or spoilers. Customers have also
reported
inconsistent experiences with returns and customer service, particularly when parts arrive damaged or do not fit as advertised.
Given the uncertainty surrounding fitment and build quality, most
experts recommend
limiting Temu purchases to non-critical accessories rather than using Temu for parts that play a structural or safety-critical role, such as suspension components, lighting assemblies, or crash-impact systems. Examples include decorative grilles or emblems, light covers or tint films, interior trim kits, and vinyl wraps or bumper covers.
Motor1
reached out to Carter via direct message. We'll update this post if he responds.
More From Motor1
The Ioniq 5 XRT Is Hyundai's Huracan Sterrato: First Drive Review
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz Looks Better As a Base Model
'Anybody Got Any Idea What These Are?' Mechanic Works on a Customer's Truck. Then He Sees Something Unusual on the Tire
'Instead of Paying $300:' Woman Buys Toyota. Then She Buys Keyfob for $12 Off Amazon and Programs It Herself
Share this Story
X
Got a tip for us? Email:
tips@motor1.com
Join the conversation
(
)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
3 hours ago
- CNBC
Robotaxis are becoming a reality. Who's poised to win in China and beyond
After years of testing, robotaxis are starting to become a normal part of transportation in certain parts of the U.S. and China, where a handful of companies are competing to become market leaders. In the U.S., Alphabet's Waymo has pulled ahead of its rivals and says it has more than 1,500 robotaxis on the road conducting more than 250,000 paid weekly trips in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas. Tesla has just gotten started in Austin . In China, there are proibably about 2,000 robotaxis, primarily operated by a few local companies across the country's larger cities, according to Barclays estimates published last week. The British bank forecasts at least 300,000 robotaxis will be deployed in China by 2030, accounting for at least 5% of on-demand transportation in larger cities. China's capital Beijing has allowed robotaxi operators to charge fares for rides in a suburb since late 2021 . Shanghai in late July became the latest region to allow fully autonomous taxis to charge fares in parts of the city . Pony AI unique U.S.-listed Chinese startup Pony AI is so far the only robotaxi operator in the country that can charge the public for fares in parts of all four of China's largest cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The company hasn't disclosed how many cars it has running, but claims each car receives an average of 15 orders a day. "We believe this milestone [in Shanghai] demonstrates Pony's technological and operational readiness in [the] robotaxi business," Bank Of America analysts said in a report last week. "Pony will scale up its Robotaxi fleet size and see improving profitability, given better economies of scale and unit profitability," the analysts said. Bank of America rates the stock a buy, and gives the American depositary receipts a price target of $21, or more than 60% upside from Friday's close. Improving safety Pony AI Chief Technology Officer Tiancheng Lou said in a late July interview that his focus now is on improving safety, speeding up the ability to hail a robotaxi and cutting costs. The company has started testing its latest-generation robotaxi vehicles in Beijing, claiming to have slashed the cost of the parts needed to build its autonomous driving kit by 70% . Pony AI is set to report its next quarterly results on Aug. 12. Pony's U.S.-listed rival WeRide last Thursday said that its robotaxi revenue in the second quarter rose to a a record $6.4 million . Morgan Stanley rates WeRide a buy, but expects shares to "remain event-driven and show more volatility" subject to robotaxi developments in China and overseas. The bank does not cover "We believe progress in global development of robotaxis will expedite the pace of China's development/rollout of L4 AD/robotaxis," the Morgan Stanley analysts said, adding they do not think legacy global automakers and legislators in major economies "will risk missing out on the transition to vehicle autonomy, particularly after losing ground to China on EVs." Waymo expansion While Waymo has only just begun expanding internationally, entering the Japanese market, Chinese robotaxi operators are already pushing into Europe and the Middle East. WeRide claims it's the only company with autonomous driving permits in Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE, Singapore, France and the U.S. Outside China, WeRide said it has already started pilot operations in Riyadh with Uber Technologies . In mid-July, Chinese internet tech company Baidu reached a deal to offer its Apollo Go self-driving vehicles on the Uber ride-hailing platform, aiming for the Middle East and Asia later this year. The U.S. and mainland China, where ride-hailing app Didi acquired Uber's business, are not part of the deal. Apollo Go's pricing on Uber will likely compare to that of human drivers on Uber, Bank of America analysts said in a separate report last month. "Therefore, we think value in [the] overseas market could be multiple times higher than China, hence its profitability overseas could have much larger room." Bank of America rated Baidu a buy, with a $100 price target. Baidu is set to report results on Aug. 20. Baidu breakeven Barclays estimates that Baidu is probably already breaking even on its robotaxis in the Chinese city of Wuhan, excluding research and investment costs. Most Chinese robotaxi operators are also close to breaking even, the analysts said. "Being able to design and build cheap robotaxi models is the single largest reason why we think Chinese players are likely to reach [unit economics] breakeven (excluding R & D and other headquarters costs) by the end of 2025," the Barclays analysts said. The bank estimates each Waymo car currently costs $200,000, Baidu's Apollo RT6 costs about $37,000, newest vehicle runs at about $42,000 and WeRide slightly more. —CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sam Mayer Captures First Xfinity Win for Haas Factory at Iowa, Snaps Chevy's 13-Race Win Streak
Sam Mayer secured his spot in the playoffs with a win at Iowa Speedway, rebounding after missing his pit box following the first stage on Saturday evening. With this win, Mayer brings the first trophy back to the new Haas Factory Team and ends Chevrolet's 13-race win streak. This was the first time that a Toyota won since Chandler Smith won the 2024 season finale at Phoenix. Mayer led for the first time on the final restart, taking the spot away from Jesse Love. Mayer was cruising to his victory over Love and the rest of the field when the yellow flag waved on the final lap with Garrett Smithley going around, ending the race under caution. Love, who spent most of the day in the top ten, struggled throughout the race with his racing setup. Connor Zilisch got out to an early lead in hopes of winning his fourth race in a row and was leading at the end of the first stage before a pit row issue buried him in the midpack. Zilisch had to go down pit row twice during the first stage break after the No. 88 pit crew failed to secure a tire on the first stop. Ross Chastain took the lead from Jesse Love in the second stage to lead 120 laps and ultimately finished third. JR Motorsports teammates Chastain, Zilisch, and Justin Allgaier were involved in a crash after a restart on lap 213, with the three getting tangled in turn one on lap 214, when a mistake by Zilisch sent Chastain into Allgaier. Zilisch appologized to his teammates after the race, and Chastain was happy to not be the aggressor in a teammate battle. "[He was] apologizing for hitting me into the No. 7," Chastain told The CW Sports." It was nice to not be the aggressor teammate." In the closing laps, Zilisch passed Harrison Burton for fourth as Burton settled for his second top five of the season. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
View Photos of the 1989 Budget-Friendly Sports Sedans
Read the full review The basic formula of the sports sedan is simple: Take a four-door, imbue it with some zoot, and let 'er rip. We pulled together six of our favorite sports sedans for a knock-down, drag-out, test-track rumble. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
