Lorianna Calhoun, a customer of Shein, shared with WIRED that out of approximately 170 items previously on her Shein wish list, 40 recently became unavailable. She noticed this change on Thursday afternoon. While the criteria for item removals from Shein and Temu remain uncertain, Calhoun notes that the majority of the vanished products were eyelash and hair care items. “Typically, when items are sold out, you can still click on them to view all the reviews and details,” she points out. “However, with the lashes, it now states, ‘Sorry, this item has been removed. This product does not exist.’”
A Reddit user, wishing to remain anonymous for privacy, reported to WIRED that half of the items in their Shein shopping cart also became inaccessible on Thursday, mainly from Shein’s Sheglam cosmetics line. They mentioned their intention to be patient and see if the products reappear on Shein’s site shortly. “I’ll still shop at Shein and Temu. If their prices increase, I hope it’s only by a small margin,” the Reddit user remarked.
Neither Shein nor Temu responded to WIRED’s inquiries for comment.
Have a Story to Share?
If you work for Shein, Temu, or another e-commerce platform and have details about the situation, or if you’re a customer with a significant experience to share, we want to hear from you. To maintain your privacy, please reach out to the reporter using a personal device via email at zeyi_yang@wired.com or on Signal at @zeyiyang.06.
In 2023, one-third of de minimis shipments arriving in the US were from China, according to Chinese export and US import statistics. Many of these shipments were air cargo, reaching their destinations in as little as a few days, unlike ocean freight which can take weeks or even longer.
“These companies have honed an impressive feat, enabling reliable and timely shipping from China to the US,” remarked Juozas Kaziukėnas, the founder of the e-commerce intelligence agency Marketplace Pulse. The tariffs announced by Trump last week have not only significantly increased expenses for firms like Shein and Temu, but may also slow down the shipping process as logistics companies and customs brokers adapt to new governmental requirements.
However, not all offerings and services from Temu and Shein are affected, since both companies have been increasingly storing products in American warehouses over recent years to expedite deliveries to customers. Additionally, the Biden administration has consistently indicated interest in reforming the de minimis import duty exemption, urging companies to lessen their dependency on it.
As of Friday, Temu’s US homepage was predominantly populated with items marked as shipped from local warehouses—indicating they have already cleared US customs and possibly crossed the border before the tariffs took effect.
