Temu Shipping Guide: How to Deliver with Temu (+ How Long It Takes)

Temu is quickly becoming a go-to ecommerce platform. Having hit a gross merchandise volume of $15.1 billion in 2023 and with over 167 million monthly active users in Q1 2024, they’ve cracked the code to connecting global sellers with eager consumers.

With the Temu app, shoppers enjoy browsing a wide range of items at low prices, while sellers benefit from massive exposure. However, keeping up with customer expectations means having efficient fulfilment in place. Whether you’re managing inventory, shipping out orders, or trying to grow your business, streamlined logistics and the right partners make it easier to succeed on Temu.

In this article, we’ll cover how Temu’s shipping and fulfilment processes work, what delivery times to expect, and how sellers can optimise their operations, with the help of a fulfilment partner like ShipBob.

How does Temu shipping and fulfilment work?

From keeping inventory organised to teaming up with delivery partners, Temu’s system is built to make the shipping and fulfilment process smooth for buyers and sellers. Here’s how:

Inventory management within Temu fulfilment centres

Good inventory management is a big part of what makes Temu’s fulfilment system work so well. To give sellers more control, Temu offers two main ways to handle inventory, both of which are supported by effective inventory management software:

• Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI): Sellers pre-stock products in Temu’s warehouses, ensuring quick shipping when orders arrive. While this reduces delays, it requires covering shipping costs and managing unsold inventory, which can increase storage expenses.
• Just-In-Time (JIT): This presale option lets sellers ship products to the warehouse only after receiving an order, reducing leftover stock. However, products must arrive within a strict timeframe (usually 72 hours) to avoid penalties.

Order processing and preparation

Once an order is placed on Temu, the fulfilment centre moves quickly to process it. The order processing stage includes:

1. Picking: Warehouse staff locate the item in storage using advanced picking systems, ensuring accuracy.
2. Packing: Items are securely packed to prevent damage during transit.
3. Labeling: Shipping labels with a tracking number are added to ensure accurate delivery.

Delivery partner collaboration for efficient shipping

Temu relies on local and international couriers to deliver orders quickly and affordably. Couriers handle tasks like last-mile logistics and customs clearance, ensuring packages from warehouses in China, for example, reach customers in Europe efficiently. These partnerships are crucial for sellers with global customers, enabling reliable delivery to even hard-to-reach locations.

How long does Temu take to deliver?

Free shipping and fast delivery remain key factors influencing consumer choices. Temu provides multiple shipping options, but actual delivery times depend on a variety of factors.

Average Temu shipping times

Depending on where you live, Temu generally offers two shipping methods:

• Standard shipping: 5-10 business days. This is often the default choice for budget-conscious shoppers.
• Express shipping: 3-8 business days. This option is ideal for customers who prioritize speed over cost.

That being said, some Temu suppliers speed up delivery by using local warehouses to ship their items. For example, the eBike below offers delivery in just two business days because it doesn’t rely on Temu’s China-based fulfilment network. 

Instead, the supplier has stock stored in a nearby warehouse, cutting down shipping times significantly. This approach not only benefits customers who want their orders faster but also helps suppliers stand out by offering expedited delivery options.

Factors impacting delivery speed

In a perfect world, shipments would always arrive on time. But the reality is, delivery speed can be affected by various factors. Some of which are often beyond a seller’s control, such as:

1. Customs and cross-border logistics: International shipments often face customs clearance delays, which can add days or weeks to delivery.
2. Shipping zones: Deliveries to urban areas are typically faster, while remote locations with limited infrastructure may take longer. Geographic challenges like islands or mountainous regions can further delay shipments, requiring couriers that specialize in delivering to these areas.
3. Inventory location: Storing products closer to customers can significantly reduce transit times.
4. Courier and service levels: The choice of courier and service type (e.g., standard vs. express) impacts delivery speed. Some couriers are better suited for specific regions or offer faster last-mile solutions.
5. Seasonal demand and peak periods: High order volumes during holidays or sales events like Black Friday often slow down shipping.
6. Weather and unpredictable events: Extreme weather or events like strikes or pandemics can disrupt shipping speed.

Customer expectations vs. reality

Temu sets clear delivery expectations at checkout, but unexpected issues, like the ones mentioned above, can still lead to delays. When this happens, Temu offers compensation — $5 credit for late standard shipping and $13 credit for late express shipping.

To minimise these disruptions, Temu prioritizes high demand products by ensuring they are well-stocked and ready to ship quickly. Temu also provides detailed tracking updates to keep customers informed. If customers need to return items, Temu’s return policies make it easy to download a return label and exchange or refund purchases within the allowed timeframe.

That being said, customers today have come to expect faster shipping, largely due to ecommerce giants like Amazon. Therefore, the quicker a seller can deliver a product, the better their chances of standing out from the competition and securing repeat business.

How to ship with Temu: An ecommerce seller’s guide

When starting to sell on Temu you need to first set up your account and then decide whether you’re going to leverage Temu’s network or handle fulfilment yourself. Let’s walk through the key steps to getting started.

Set your Temu seller account up for fulfilment

To start selling on Temu, you need to register as a seller and configure your store.

Register and verify your account

• Visit the Temu Seller Centre to sign up.
• Provide your business details, including name, address, contact information, and tax ID.
• Submit necessary documents, such as a business license and personal identification.

Set up your seller profile

• Choose a unique store name and upload a logo.
• Write a store description and create product listings with detailed descriptions and high-quality images.

Choose the right Temu fulfilment strategy for your business

Once your Temu account has been approved, sellers must choose between self-managed fulfilment or relying on Temu’s in-house fulfilment and inventory tools.

1. Self-managed fulfilment: Suitable for sellers who want more control. This option requires significant resources.
2. Temu-managed fulfilment: Provides a hands-off solution, but sellers may have less control over branding and customisation.

Alternatively, partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider like ShipBob combines the best of both worlds. Sellers gain access to scalable solutions, including global fulfilment networks and advanced integrations.

Why ShipBob is the ideal fulfilment partner for Temu sellers

ShipBob’s comprehensive fulfilment solutions are designed to complement platforms like Temu, offering sellers enhanced logistics and scalability.

Distributed inventory network for faster delivery

Technology integration for streamlined operations

ShipBob’s powerful tools, including its API and warehouse management system, make it easy for businesses to streamline their fulfilment operations. Merchants can track orders in real-time, manage returns, and connect seamlessly with a wide range of ecommerce platforms or even social platforms like TikTok Shop. The flexibility of the API also allows businesses to integrate with additional sales channels beyond ShipBob’s native integrations, supporting growth across multiple marketplaces.

This omnichannel fulfilment approach is ideal for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands looking to centralise their operations. Whether they’re tapping into new social commerce channels or expanding their presence on established platforms, bringing together all their sales channels into one streamlined system ensures greater efficiency and scalability.

Scalable and customisable solutions for growing businesses

As your business grows, you need fulfilment services that can keep up — whether it’s handling a sudden rush of orders or expanding into new markets. ShipBob’s scalable logistics solutions make it easy to handle more volume, letting sellers ramp up their order fulfilment capacity effortlessly.

“Being able to expand our business without having to look for new partners was huge for us – and ShipBob makes it possible. ShipBob has a growth mindset, and is constantly adding new features and capabilities that are super beneficial to us, so we haven’t needed to look elsewhere for the tools to scale. There’s just so many ways we can grow with ShipBob, and we’re excited to take advantage of all of them.”

– Jessica Cedarleaf, VP of Operations at Tonies 

Partner with ShipBob to elevate your Temu fulfilment

Succeeding on Temu requires more than just selling great products — it demands a fulfilment process that’s fast, cost-effective, and ready to scale as your business grows. By partnering with ShipBob, Temu sellers can take their logistics to the next level with solutions that align perfectly with Temu’s commitment to efficient and reliable shipping.

ShipBob offers a global network of fulfilment centres, enabling sellers to effortlessly store inventory closer to their customers. This reduces shipping times and costs, ensuring your products reach customers quickly while keeping delivery fees competitive.

Beyond faster shipping, ShipBob provides scalable solutions for growing businesses. Whether you’re shipping a few items a day or thousands during peak seasons, ShipBob’s system adjusts to meet your needs. Plus, with tools like inventory tracking, real-time reporting, and order automation — all included on ShipBob’s platform, you’ll have full visibility into your operations.

Whether you’re growing on Temu or other platforms, ShipBob provides the infrastructure to help you scale seamlessly.

Get started with ShipBob

Ready to leverage ShipBob’s fulfilment solution for your omnichannel ecommerce business? Request a quote to get started.

Temu fulfilment FAQs

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about Temu shipping.