I've seen a whole lot of warnings currently saying don't obtain the Temu app or purchase from the shop. There have been a whole lot of allegations, however few precise and validated information.
Though I've been very upset with Fb adverts as a result of I've misplaced round $150 to Fb scams thus far, I not too long ago purchased a wise rest room from Homary to interchange my $5,000 Toto Neorest (now greater than $7,000), which had began ringing. as if it was going to swallow me. Thankfully, the brand new one works high quality.
Let me share my experiences with each corporations in comparison with their far more costly US and Japanese rivals. We'll wrap up with my Product of the Week, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, which is at present six and 12 months forward of AMD and Intel and setting the near-term bar for PC AI.
Temu vs. Amazon
To say I purchase lots from Amazon could be an understatement. I not often store wherever else, though I virtually stopped purchasing there after a $200 Amazon reward card was stolen in transit, used and never refunded. I'm nonetheless upset about it and have stopped shopping for Amazon reward playing cards, which till then have been my go-to reward buy.
Amazon's execs are that they ship quicker, the products are higher packaged, and the standard and buyer help, aside from that reward card situation, has been distinctive.
Temu is a ton cheaper. E.g:
- I purchased an automated dragon buckle belt from Amazon for $23.99. I bought the same automated belt from Temu with a Jaguar buckle (automobile) for $9.19.
- I purchased a pleasant again brace from Amazon that value me $29.97. I purchased a greater one from Temu for $10.88.
- Probably the most fascinating factor is that on March third, I purchased an LED exhaust tip from Amazon for $41.39 from China, which has not arrived but, and the very same factor from Temu on March 23rd for $22.07, delivered on April 2.
- A key fob from Amazon was $11.99, and the identical factor from Temu was $1.74, though it shipped per week and a half later than the one from Amazon.
Sure, some stuff from Temu was low high quality, however I've had high quality points with eBay in China once in a while, in addition to stuff from Amazon. It’s important to watch out, however Temu merchandise is 50 to 90% cheaper than related issues on Amazon.
Some questionable objects included a $15 smartwatch that labored however wasn't an Apple Watch alternative. I purchased a $17 pair of tennis footwear that appeared nice however felt low cost, making me query whether or not they would final. I’ve bought a number of instruments from Temu and so they all labored properly and have been of comparable high quality to Craftsman, though not the identical stage of high quality because the Snap-on instruments. They have been high quality for me although, and for a bit of cash I actually developed my toolkit.
Temu worth, privateness, packaging
General I used to be pleased with the Temu expertise as soon as I obtained over the supply time. They have an inclination to message me lots, however I don't discover it notably annoying and I've purchased from presents just a few occasions.
When it comes to information seize, I obtained the app by means of the Google Retailer, which implies it's organized and I'm nonetheless not seeing my on-line adverts cross over to something I've purchased like I usually do with Amazon. All on-line retailers seize information and use it to advertise product gross sales. Though I’ve seen the warnings that Temu is spying on you, I see much less impression from Temu than from Amazon, Fb and even eBay. So whereas the priority is actual, the dimensions of the issue doesn't appear problematic but.
It may be addictive as a result of you possibly can store for what looks like a whole lot of stuff and nonetheless not spend a lot over $100. The identical expertise on Amazon, or Costco, would often value you a whole lot extra. All of this stuff is usually a bit addictive, however no less than Temu is way inexpensive on common.
A major distinction is the standard of the packaging. Amazon is nice, though wasteful in its use of cardboard. Temu places all the pieces in a plastic bag, which is extra sturdy, though I acquired two shipments with the bag torn open. Though nothing was misplaced, it helps the thought of not shopping for something costly on Temu simply but.
lobsters vs. This
For a while, the Toto Neorest sensible rest room has been the gold commonplace for this class of toilet merchandise, however it’s costly. If there's no restore facility close to you and you’ve got an issue, it’s a must to disassemble the bathroom, ship the “mind” again to Toto, after which look forward to it to be repaired earlier than you should use it once more.
Once we reworked our home, we purchased three Toto bogs, two for $three,500 and one for $5,000. After all, the $5,000 began sounding like he had eaten a bridge troll and that troll was going to eat our backs. In any other case the bathroom was bother free and extremely quiet.
I wanted a black rest room and you may't get certainly one of these just like the Neorest from Toto, no less than not in my space. As well as, the noise attributable to the bathroom elevated in value to $7,000. Given the restore points, we considered getting a Kohler Numi, which is available in black, however prices $10,000 (and appears actually awkward), or a black rest room from Homary, which prices beneath $1,000.
Switching to Homary: A Good Rest room Transition
It value about $750 to get Toto out and set up Homary, nevertheless it was fairly straight ahead. The most important downside is that each bogs are made from porcelain, which makes them fairly arduous to work with
After I put in a black Homary it appeared higher and labored identical to Toto. Sure, it makes extra noise than Toto did when it was new, and its distant seems to be extra like one thing you'd plug right into a TV relatively than a bathroom, however total, we don't appear to overlook Toto and Homary ( which is made in China) labored flawlessly. Granted, it's not as top quality as Toto, however for a $6,000 financial savings, I'm prepared to take a slight lower in high quality.
I ought to add that it seems to be like Amazon has the same sensible rest room for a bit extra with a greater distant. So if you happen to're available in the market, you may need to think about this one as properly. (I didn't assume to examine Amazon earlier than shopping for from Homary.)
I additionally bought a bedside desk from Homary which was moderately priced and first rate high quality. To date Homary is a pleasant various to Amazon and their rest room is a less expensive various to Toto Neorest or Kohler Numi.
conclusion
Whereas it’s a must to watch out when shopping for from any new provider, I've discovered Temu and Homary to supply first rate high quality merchandise at cheap or, in Temu's case, very low costs. Nevertheless, Temu purchasing is usually a bit addictive. Whereas penning this column, I discovered just a few issues I needed to get on the positioning. Now I'm down one other $133 so be careful.
I feel Temu's issues are overblown. It appears to me that “somebody” is making an attempt to FUD (Worry, Uncertainty and Doubt) the vendor, a follow I'm not a fan of because it smacks of unfair enterprise practices.
However watch out and good luck together with your purchasing experiences. Now excuse me, I feel I see one thing else on Temu that I need to purchase. Oh shit.
Snapdragon X Elite
Microsoft has been pushing for the AI PC, and the poster little one processor for this new and smarter pc idea is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite resolution. It's the poster little one for when AI is working it doesn't lose a ton of battery life.
The subsequent wave of desktop AI (at present AI principally runs within the cloud) must run on a regular basis to be efficient. But when the platform is simply too power-hungry, your battery life suffers, which is why Microsoft turned to Qualcomm, a frontrunner in high-end smartphone expertise, for a repair.
This laptop computer resolution is predicted to be obtainable within the subsequent few months. Primarily based on the third-party checks we've seen, it's six to 12 months forward of its PC rivals. Remember, although, that this desktop AI part isn't totally baked but, and it is probably not nearer to the tip of the 12 months. Nevertheless, for using AI, no less than initially, the Qualcomm facet is ready to tackle all rivals.
The Snapdragon X Elite processor is constructed for AI. (Picture credit score: Qualcomm)
My carry-on laptop computer is a second-generation HP Folio with an older Snapdragon resolution. Whereas efficiency leaves lots to be desired, battery life is nothing in need of wonderful. I can go away my charger and laptop computer bag within the resort room or at house and simply carry the laptop computer. The brand new half not solely provides AI capabilities, but additionally considerably will increase the efficiency of the related laptop computer, whereas nonetheless sustaining that extraordinarily lengthy battery life.
I work principally in Workplace and can thus turn out to be a heavy person of Copilot. So having a laptop computer working Copilot (Microsoft's generative AI resolution) properly and effectively could be a godsend.
As a result of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite considerably improves my present laptop computer expertise, it's my product of the week.