Around 2022, with the launch of Temu, many similar cheap virtual retailers, such as Wish, Alibaba, and Shein, gained popularity among online shoppers. These marketplaces are known for their affordable items but come with many disadvantages, like poor product quality and potentially toxic materials. Not all blame can be attributed to online retailers themselves; instead, the third-party sellers are responsible for the production and possibly unsafe materials used in these products.
Affordable clothing is a hot commodity often sold on these marketplaces. However, many shoppers criticize the type of clothing sold on these sites, with one being fast fashion clothing — clothing that is quickly and mass-produced to meet the latest trends. For example, the online store, Temu, can reduce clothing prices to as low as 20 cents a piece by not following environmental guidelines and using low-quality fabrics, according to “Is Temu Fast Fashion? How Sustainable Are They? Let’s Discuss,” an article written by Grace Greaves from eco-stylist.com.
If one buys clothes to follow trends, only to discard them after the trend ends, then that is bad for the environment. Even if not thrown away, the inexpensive fabrics used in these clothes tend to be unsustainable and can easily deteriorate over time, according to the eco-stylist article.
Not to mention, relying on third-party sellers is inherently unsafe. This is because these products tend to be cheaply produced, which is only possible through the use of tawdry materials and sellers cutting corners. Last year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched an investigation into Shein and Temu for selling baby and toddler products that do not meet U.S safety regulations, according to the CPSC.
The CPSC is also trying to investigate the relationship between the retailers’ companies and third-party sellers in an attempt to “ensure safety.” These retailers often employ sweatshops in third-world countries as a means of production. For instance, in 2023, Shein was outed for having two instances of child labor in its supply chain and scrutinized for utilizing sweatshops, according to the BBC article “Shein reveals child labor cases at suppliers.”
As stated before, online retailers mainly act as hubs for third-party sellers, which has many pros and cons for the retailers themselves. For the positive aspects, the retailers do not need to produce their own products and always take a cut of the profit from third-party sellers. On the other hand, not all third-party sellers follow the guidelines and safety protocols of the online retailers, which can severely harm the reputation of the marketplace and the quality of products.
Overall, the third-party seller system only benefits the retailers in the end, in turn, sacrificing the trust and security of customers. It is a better idea to invest in long-lasting, safe products rather than inexpensive and dangerous items.
