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 details.
Whereas I’ve been very leery of Fb adverts as a result of I’ve misplaced round $150 on Fb scams to date, I did not too long ago purchase a wise bathroom 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 superb.
Let me share my experiences with each corporations 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 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 quite a bit from Amazon can be an understatement. I not often store anyplace else, although I virtually stopped buying 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, had been my go-to reward buy.
Amazon’s benefits are that it delivers extra shortly, the products are higher packaged, and the standard and buyer help, apart from that reward card concern, has been distinctive.
Temu is a ton cheaper. For instance:
- I purchased a pleasant automated dragon buckle belt from Amazon for $23.99. I bought an analogous automated 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 curiously, 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 every 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 every now and then, in addition to stuff from Amazon. You need to watch out, however the Temu merchandise is 50 to 90% cheaper than related issues from Amazon.
Some questionable gadgets included a $15 smartwatch that labored however was hardly an Apple Watch substitute. I purchased a pair of $17 tennis footwear that regarded 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 superb and had been of comparable high quality to Craftsman, although not the identical stage of high quality as Snap-on instruments. Nonetheless, for me, they had been superb, and for somewhat bit of cash, I’ve actually fleshed out my device units.
Temu Worth, Privateness, Packaging
Usually, I’ve been proud of the Temu expertise as soon as I obtained over the transport time. They have a tendency to textual content me quite a bit, however I’m not discovering that notably annoying, and I’ve purchased from the provides a few instances.
So far as information seize is worried, I obtained the app via the Google Retailer, which suggests it’s curated, and I’m not but seeing my on-line adverts 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 influence from Temu than from Amazon, Fb, and even eBay. So, though the priority is actual, the scale of the issue doesn’t but look like problematic.
It may be addictive as you may 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 usually have you ever spending tons of extra. All of these items is usually a bit addictive, however at the least Temu is way 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 concept of not shopping for something costly on Temu but.
Homary vs. Toto
For a while, the Toto Neorest sensible bathroom has been the gold customary for this class of toilet merchandise, however it’s expensive. If there isn’t a restore facility near you and you’ve got an issue, it’s a must to disassemble the bathroom, ship its “mind” again to Toto, after which look forward to it to be repaired earlier than you should utilize it once more.
Once we transformed our dwelling, 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 bathroom, and you may’t get a type of as a Neorest from Toto, at the least not in my space. As well as, the noise brought on by the bathroom has elevated in value 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 toilet from Homary, which prices underneath $1,000.
Switching to Homary: A Sensible Rest room Transition
Getting the Toto out and putting in the Homary price round $750, but it surely was fairly easy. The most important concern is that each bogs are porcelain, making them fairly heavy to work with
Once we put in a black Homary, it regarded 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 related to a TV quite 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 appears to be like like Amazon has an analogous sensible bathroom for somewhat extra with a greater distant. So, if you’re out there, you may also need to take into account that one. (I didn’t suppose to test 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 bathroom is a far cheaper various to the Toto Neorest or Kohler Numi.
Wrapping Up
Whereas you must watch out when shopping for from any new vendor, I’ve discovered Temu and Homary to supply ample high quality merchandise at cheap, or in Temu’s case, actually low costs. Nevertheless, Temu buying is usually a bit addictive. Whereas scripting this column, I discovered a couple of issues I needed to get on the positioning. 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 making an attempt to FUD (Worry, Uncertainty, and Doubt) the seller, a follow I’m not a fan of because it stinks of unfair commerce practices.
However do watch out, and better of luck along with your buying experiences. Now, excuse me, I feel I see one thing else on Temu I need to purchase. Oh crap.
Snapdragon X Elite
Microsoft has been pushing the AI PC laborious, and the poster baby processor for this new idea of a fair smarter PC is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite resolution. It’s the poster baby 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 principally 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 expertise, for a repair.
This laptop computer resolution is predicted 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. Bear in mind, although, that this desktop AI part isn’t absolutely cooked but and is probably not till nearer to the tip of the yr. Nevertheless, for AI use, at the least 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 go away my charger and laptop computer bag within the lodge 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 turn out to be a heavy consumer of Copilot. So, having a laptop computer that runs Copilot (Microsoft’s generative AI resolution) 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.
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