In the first week of February 2025, one Temu seller told WIRED his prices had risen and some listings were temporarily unavailable; Shein shoppers separately reported items missing from wishlists and carts. Those accounts were real but anecdotal, not evidence that either platform raised every price or removed products across its catalog. The changes came amid new U.S. duties on China-linked goods and a short-lived attempt to suspend the low-value import exemption.
What Temu and Shein users reported in February
WIRED’s February 8, 2025, report described individual seller and shopper experiences, rather than a representative measurement of either marketplace.
One Temu seller reported higher prices and fewer orders
A Chinese seller of arts and crafts goods identified by the surname Shi told WIRED that Temu raised prices on his goods by 50% during that week. He said his Friday orders were about 30% below normal and that some of his products had become temporarily unavailable. He expected those items to return. These figures describe one seller’s account, not an average price or sales change across Temu.
Shi also said customs clearance was taking longer and could delay deliveries by a few days, potentially leading to bad reviews or refund requests. His comments show the concern a seller faced, but do not establish that every Temu shipment was delayed. WIRED’s report did not confirm a platform-wide removal policy.
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Shein shoppers found some saved items unavailable
One Shein shopper, Lorianna Calhoun, told WIRED that 40 of about 170 items on her wishlist were unavailable on a Thursday afternoon; many were eyelashes and hair products. Another shopper shared screenshots in which about half the products in a Shein cart were unavailable, particularly items from Sheglam cosmetics. These are observations of particular wishlists and a cart, not a count of Shein’s overall inventory.
The report did not establish why each item was unavailable. Tariffs or logistics may have affected some goods, but the evidence does not identify a confirmed cause for any particular listing. The companies did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment for that article.
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What the de minimis rule had to do with it
Two related but distinct policy changes drove uncertainty in early February: additional duties on certain China-linked goods, and an order initially suspending de minimis treatment for covered low-value imports from China and Hong Kong. De minimis treatment had allowed qualifying low-value shipments to enter the United States without duties. A change to the exemption could affect the cost and processing of qualifying shipments; it is not the same thing as a tariff rate on a product.
On February 1, 2025, the administration issued an order imposing additional duties tied to the synthetic-opioid supply chain and initially suspending de minimis treatment for covered goods from China and Hong Kong. On February 7–8, the administration reversed the planned suspension until systems were available to process and collect duties. WIRED reported disruption and uncertainty around the reversal, while also noting that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had said its automated system had been updated to process the clearances. The initial duties and the attempted suspension of the exemption were separate measures.
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The February episode was only the first stage of a changing policy sequence. Later developments should not be confused with the February seller and shopper accounts.
| Date | Development | What it means for the February story |
|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2025 | The White House said duty-free de minimis treatment for covered China and Hong Kong goods would end beginning May 2. It described covered nonpostal shipments as subject to applicable duties and specified separate treatment for covered international postal items. | This was a later policy change. The postal treatment should not be applied to all shipments. White House fact sheet |
| April 16–17, 2025 | Temu and Shein announced price adjustments for U.S. customers starting April 25. They did not disclose the size of the changes. | These announcements were a separate, later episode—not proof of the scale of February’s reported changes. AP and CBS News covered the announcements. |
| May 2, 2025 | Axios reported that Temu’s U.S. site and app had switched to listings stocked in U.S. warehouses. A spokesperson said U.S. sales were being handled by domestic sellers and fulfilled within the country, and that prices remained unchanged at that moment. | This was a dated snapshot, not a statement about Temu’s current fulfillment or prices. Axios report |
| August 29, 2025 | CBP says a later order suspending de minimis treatment globally took effect, subject to exceptions and possible application of other tariff provisions. | For current purchases, check the customs rules and product-specific treatment in effect at the time. Do not assume a 2025 rate or example applies today. White House order and CBP guidance |
Why prices or listings could change without a universal platform rule
Import duties can raise the cost of bringing covered goods into a market, while changes to customs processing can affect how shipments are cleared. A seller or platform may respond by adjusting prices, changing which items it offers, or using different fulfillment arrangements. But the February reporting does not establish which factor caused a specific Temu or Shein price change or unavailable listing. It also does not show that either company applied the same response to every item.
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For shoppers, an unavailable listing can mean that a particular item cannot be ordered through that listing at that moment; the February accounts alone do not show whether it was permanently discontinued, temporarily out of stock, or affected by customs. A marketplace-wide conclusion would require broader, comparable catalog and price data than the reported anecdotes provide.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What shoppers should check before ordering now
The February 2025 examples do not establish today’s prices, catalog availability, shipping routes, or checkout fees. For a current purchase, use the live listing and checkout information rather than assuming the February or May conditions still apply.
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- Check the item’s current price, shipping estimate, and availability in the live listing.
- Review the checkout total and any displayed duties, taxes, or other charges before paying.
- Look at the stated ship-from location and delivery estimate; do not infer the route from the platform name.
- For a costly or time-sensitive order, check current U.S. customs guidance for the goods and shipment involved. Rules and exceptions can vary.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
