I’ve seen numerous warnings currently saying don’t load the Temu app or purchase from the shop. There have been loads of accusations however few precise, validated details.
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 not too long ago purchase a wise rest room from Homary to switch 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 advantageous.
Let me share my experiences with each firms as they evaluate to their far dearer U.S. and Japanese opponents. We’ll finish with my Product of the Week, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, which is presently 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 hardly ever store wherever else, although I nearly stopped buying there after a $200 Amazon present card was stolen in transit, used, and never refunded. I’m nonetheless upset about that and have stopped shopping for Amazon present playing cards, which, up till then, had been my go-to present buy.
Amazon’s benefits are that it delivers extra shortly, the products are higher packaged, and the standard and buyer assist, apart from that present card concern, 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 identical 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 precise 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 on occasion, 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 gadgets included a $15 smartwatch that labored however was hardly an Apple Watch alternative. I purchased a pair of $17 tennis footwear 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 advantageous and had been of comparable high quality to Craftsman, although not the identical degree of high quality as Snap-on instruments. Nonetheless, for me, they had been advantageous, and for somewhat bit of cash, I’ve actually fleshed out my instrument units.
Temu Worth, Privateness, Packaging
Basically, I’ve been proud of the Temu expertise as soon as I received over the delivery time. They have a tendency to textual content me loads, however I’m not discovering that notably annoying, and I’ve purchased from the gives a few instances.
So far as information seize is anxious, I received the app by 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 usually 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 look like problematic.
It may be addictive as you’ll be able to store for what looks like numerous issues and nonetheless not spend a lot over $100. The identical expertise on Amazon, or Costco for that matter, would usually have you ever spending a whole lot extra. All of this stuff generally is a bit addictive, however a minimum of Temu is much cheaper on common.
One important distinction is packaging high quality. Amazon’s is sweet, although wasteful by way of cardboard use. Temu shoves every part 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 customary for this class of toilet merchandise, however it’s costly. If there isn’t 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 await it to be repaired earlier than you should utilize it once more.
After we transformed our dwelling, we purchased three Toto bogs, two for $3,500 and one for $5,000. After all, 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 may’t get a type of as a Neorest from Toto, a minimum of not in my space. As well as, the noise attributable to the bathroom has elevated in worth to nearer to $7,000. Given the restore points, we thought of getting a Kohler Numi, which does are available in black however prices a whopping $10,000 (and appears actually uncomfortable), or a black rest room from Homary, which prices underneath $1,000.
Switching to Homary: A Good Rest room Transition
Getting the Toto out and putting in the Homary price round $750, but it surely was fairly simple. The largest concern 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 seems extra like one thing that may be related to a TV fairly than a bathroom, 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 seems like Amazon has an identical good rest room for somewhat extra with a greater distant. So, if you’re available in the market, you may also wish to contemplate 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 fairly priced and of first rate high quality. Up to now, Homary is a pleasant various to Amazon, and their rest room is a far cheaper various to the Toto Neorest or Kohler Numi.
Wrapping Up
Whereas it is advisable watch out when shopping for from any new vendor, I’ve discovered Temu and Homary to supply enough high quality merchandise at affordable, or in Temu’s case, actually low costs. Nonetheless, Temu buying generally is a bit addictive. Whereas scripting this column, I discovered a number of issues I wished to get on the positioning. Now I’m down one other $133, so do watch out.
I feel the Temu issues are overblown. It feels to me like “somebody” is attempting to FUD (Concern, Uncertainty, and Doubt) the seller, a observe I’m not a fan of because it stinks of unfair commerce practices.
However do watch out, and better of luck together with your buying 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 fair smarter PC is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite resolution. 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 (presently, AI principally runs within the cloud) has to run on a regular basis to be efficient. But when the platform is just too power-intensive, your battery life craters, which is why Microsoft went to Qualcomm, a pacesetter in high-end smartphone know-how, for a repair.
This laptop computer resolution is anticipated to be out there 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 part isn’t absolutely cooked but and might 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 resolution. Whereas the efficiency leaves a bit to be desired, the battery life is nothing in need of wonderful. I can depart my charger and laptop computer bag within the resort room or at dwelling and simply carry the laptop computer. The brand new half not solely provides AI capabilities but additionally will increase the efficiency of the associated laptop computer considerably whereas nonetheless sustaining that exceedingly excessive battery life.
I principally 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 resolution) properly 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.
