I’ve seen a number of warnings recently saying don’t load the Temu app or purchase from the shop. There have been loads of accusations however few precise, validated information.
Whereas I’ve been very leery of Fb advertisements as a result of I’ve misplaced round $150 on Fb scams to this point, I did just lately purchase a wise rest room from Homary to interchange my $5,000 (now extra like $7,000) Toto Neorest, which had began to sound prefer it was going to swallow me. Fortunately, the brand new one is working effective.
Let me share my experiences with each corporations as they evaluate to their far costlier U.S. and Japanese opponents. We’ll finish with my Product of the Week, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, which is at present between six and 12 months forward of AMD and Intel and units the near-term bar for the AI PC.
Temu vs. Amazon
To say I purchase loads from Amazon can be an understatement. I not often store anyplace else, although I nearly stopped procuring there after a $200 Amazon reward card was stolen in transit, used, and never refunded. I’m nonetheless upset about that and have stopped shopping for Amazon reward playing cards, which, up till then, have been my go-to reward buy.
Amazon’s benefits are that it delivers extra rapidly, the products are higher packaged, and the standard and buyer assist, apart from that reward card situation, has been distinctive.
Temu is a ton cheaper. For instance:
I purchased a pleasant computerized dragon buckle belt from Amazon for $23.99. I bought an analogous computerized belt from Temu with a Jaguar (automotive) buckle for $9.19.
I purchased a pleasant again brace from Amazon that set me again $29.97. I purchased a greater one on Temu for $10.88.
Most apparently, on March 3, I purchased an LED exhaust tip from Amazon for $41.39 out of China, which has but to reach, and the identical actual factor from Temu on March 23 for $22.07, delivered on April 2.
A keychain from Amazon was $11.99, and the identical factor from Temu was $1.74, although it was delivered per week and a half later than the one from Amazon.
Sure, some issues from Temu have been low high quality, however I’ve had high quality points with eBay out of China once in a while, in addition to stuff from Amazon. You need to watch out, however the Temu merchandise is 50 to 90% cheaper than comparable issues from Amazon.
Some questionable objects included a $15 smartwatch that labored however was hardly an Apple Watch substitute. I purchased a pair of $17 tennis sneakers that appeared nice however felt low-cost, making me doubt whether or not they’d maintain up. I’ve bought a number of instruments from Temu, and all have labored effective and have been of comparable high quality to Craftsman, although not the identical stage of high quality as Snap-on instruments. Nonetheless, for me, they have been effective, and for a bit of bit of cash, I’ve actually fleshed out my software units.
Temu Worth, Privateness, Packaging
Usually, I’ve been pleased with the Temu expertise as soon as I obtained over the transport time. They have an inclination to textual content me loads, however I’m not discovering that notably annoying, and I’ve purchased from the presents a few instances.
So far as information seize is worried, I obtained the app by way of the Google Retailer, which implies it’s curated, and I’m not but seeing my on-line advertisements shift to no matter I shopped for, as I typically do with Amazon. All on-line retailers seize information and use it to advertise product gross sales. Whereas 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, though the priority is actual, the dimensions of the issue doesn’t but seem like problematic.
It may be addictive as you’ll be able to store for what looks as if a number of issues and nonetheless not spend a lot over $100. The identical expertise on Amazon, or Costco for that matter, would sometimes have you ever spending lots of extra. All of these items generally is a bit addictive, however a minimum of Temu is way cheaper on common.
One vital distinction is packaging high quality. Amazon’s is sweet, although wasteful when it comes to cardboard use. Temu shoves all the pieces right into a plastic bag, which is extra sustainable, although I’ve had two shipments arrive with the bag torn open. Whereas nothing was misplaced, it helps the thought of not shopping for something costly on Temu but.
Homary vs. Toto
For a while, the Toto Neorest good rest room has been the gold commonplace for this class of loo merchandise, however it’s costly. If there is no such thing as a restore facility near you and you’ve got an issue, it’s important to disassemble the bathroom, ship its “mind” again to Toto, after which anticipate it to be repaired earlier than you should use it once more.
After we transformed our residence, we purchased three Toto bogs, two for $3,500 and one for $5,000. In fact, it was the $5,000 one which began to make sounds prefer it had eaten a bridge troll, and that troll was going to eat our backsides. In any other case, the bathroom has been problem-free and extremely quiet.
We wanted a black rest room, and you’ll’t get a kind of as a Neorest from Toto, a minimum of not in my space. As well as, the noise brought on by the bathroom has elevated in worth to nearer to $7,000. Given the restore points, we thought-about getting a Kohler Numi, which does are available black however prices a whopping $10,000 (and appears actually uncomfortable), or a black rest room from Homary, which prices beneath $1,000.
Switching to Homary: A Sensible Bathroom Transition
Getting the Toto out and putting in the Homary price round $750, nevertheless it was fairly easy. The most important situation is that each bogs are porcelain, making them fairly heavy to work with
After we put in a black Homary, it appeared higher and functioned the identical because the Toto. Sure, it makes extra noise than the Toto did when it was new, and its distant appears to be like extra like one thing that may be linked to a TV reasonably than a rest room, however general, we don’t appear to be lacking the Toto, and the Homary (which is made in China) has labored flawlessly. Granted, it isn’t as high-quality because the Toto, however for a $6,000 financial savings, I’m keen to take a slight discount in high quality.
I ought to add that it appears to be like like Amazon has an analogous good rest room for a bit of extra with a greater distant. So, in case you are available in the market, you may additionally wish to think about that one. (I didn’t assume to examine Amazon earlier than shopping for from Homary.)
I’ve additionally bought a nightstand from Homary, which was moderately priced and of first rate high quality. Thus far, Homary is a pleasant different to Amazon, and their rest room is a far cheaper different to the Toto Neorest or Kohler Numi.
Wrapping Up
Whereas it’s good to watch out when shopping for from any new vendor, I’ve discovered Temu and Homary to offer satisfactory high quality merchandise at cheap, or in Temu’s case, actually low costs. Nonetheless, Temu procuring generally is a bit addictive. Whereas scripting this column, I discovered a couple of issues I needed to get on the location. Now I’m down one other $133, so do watch out.
I feel the Temu considerations are overblown. It feels to me like “somebody” is attempting to FUD (Concern, Uncertainty, and Doubt) the seller, a apply I’m not a fan of because it stinks of unfair commerce practices.
However do watch out, and better of luck together with your procuring experiences. Now, excuse me, I feel I see one thing else on Temu I wish to purchase. Oh crap.
Snapdragon X Elite
Microsoft has been pushing the AI PC exhausting, and the poster little one processor for this new idea of a good smarter PC is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite answer. It’s the poster little one as a result of, when working AI, it doesn’t lose a ton of battery life.
The approaching wave of desktop AI (at present, AI largely runs within the cloud) has to run on a regular basis to be efficient. But when the platform is simply too power-intensive, your battery life craters, which is why Microsoft went to Qualcomm, a frontrunner in high-end smartphone know-how, for a repair.
This laptop computer answer is predicted to be accessible within the subsequent few months. Based mostly on the third-party testing I’ve seen, it’s six to 12 months forward of its PC opponents. Remember, although, that this desktop AI element isn’t totally cooked but and will not be till nearer to the tip of the yr. Nonetheless, for AI use, a minimum of initially, the Qualcomm half is ready to tackle all opponents.
The Snapdragon X Elite processor is constructed for AI. (Picture Credit score: Qualcomm)
My carry laptop computer is a second-generation HP Folio with an older Snapdragon answer. Whereas the efficiency leaves a bit to be desired, the battery life is nothing wanting superb. I can go away my charger and laptop computer bag within the lodge room or at residence and simply carry the laptop computer. The brand new half not solely provides AI capabilities but in addition will increase the efficiency of the associated laptop computer considerably whereas nonetheless sustaining that exceedingly excessive battery life.
I largely work in Workplace and can thus develop into a heavy consumer of Copilot. So, having a laptop computer that runs Copilot (Microsoft’s generative AI answer) effectively and effectively can be a godsend.
As a result of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite improves my present laptop computer expertise considerably, it’s my Product of the Week.
