PETALING JAYA: Malaysians are increasingly turning to cross-border platforms such as Temu and Pinduoduo for bargains, but with mixed results.
For Hannah Toh, 28, the appeal lies in their affordability and convenience.
“I usually order from Temu once or twice a month, especially when there are promotions or free shipping.
“The prices are much cheaper than what I usually see in local shops,” said the administrative executive.
She avoids expensive electronics and buys only small household items, phone accessories, kitchen gadgets and stationery.
“I am willing to take the risk because replacing a RM10 or RM20 item is not a big loss.
“But for something expensive, I would rather buy from a local seller where I know I can contact someone if there is a problem,” she explained.
She admitted that delivery could be slow and packaging inconsistent.
“I have had some orders take longer than expected, but generally, the items do arrive.
“Sometimes the product looks slightly different from the pictures, so buyers need to manage their expectations,” she said.
Toh, from Shah Alam, said she would continue to support local shops if their service were better.
Aina Ahmad, 32, a marketing executive also from Shah Alam, said she shopped on Temu or Pinduoduo only occasionally.
“I used to buy items from these platforms because of their enticing discounts and free-item offers.
“You have to add six or seven items to the cart but only pay for one or two, so it feels like a bargain.
“But in the end, the bill could still come up to RM100 or RM200,” she said, adding that she felt it was a sales gimmick to get people to buy more.
Her purchases included T-shirts, handheld massagers, cup accessories and mobile phone merchandise.
“I don’t really look at the warranty.
“Once, I thought I was buying a miniature toy, but it turned out to be just a picture of the toy,” she said.
For a 55-year-old housewife who wanted to be known as Loi, these platforms are attractive for bulk purchases involving clothing, hair accessories and home appliances.
“It’s cheaper to buy everything in one go. But after I bought them, I found that some items stopped working after a month,” she said.
Loi said she caps her purchases at RM200 and does not mind slow delivery, even if it takes more than a month for them to arrive.
She will continue buying from these platforms but will only buy home appliances from local shops.
