A mum who thought she had bagged a stylish bookshelf from Temu was left in stitches after a picture of the item turned up instead.
Mary Jane had picked the product as part of a free giveaway on the budget shopping app and believed she was getting an actual piece of furniture.
But, instead of a metal frame with real shelves, she received a small, 2D-printed metal sign, which showed an image of a bookshelf.
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“When I opened it, I just started laughing,” the 50-year-old told What’s The Jam.
“It took me a second to realise it wasn’t a real shelf at all – just a flat tin sign with a picture printed on it.
“I genuinely thought it was a mistake at first, but then I looked back at the listing and saw it did say ‘2D’.
“I’d just completely missed it.
“It was so funny that I immediately grabbed my phone to take a video.
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“It looked so convincing in the picture – like it had depth and actual shelves.
“But when I held it up, it was thinner than a baking tray and completely useless.”
Mary says she normally checks item descriptions and sizes carefully, but had been rushing through the order to beat a countdown timer on Temu’s free item promotion.
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The mum-of-three said: “I didn’t have time to look closely. The photos made it look like an actual bookshelf – something you’d put against the wall to hold books or plants.
“It wasn’t until I had it in my hands that I realised it was just a decorative sign. I wasn’t angry, just shocked it was that bad.”
Temu offered Mary a replacement item if she returned the tin sign.
But the mum said the process was too much hassle for something she hadn’t paid for in the first place.
Mary, from Columbus, Ohio, said: “It just wasn’t worth it.
“I’d rather chalk it up to experience.
“They told me to post it back to get a replacement, but I thought – why am I spending time and effort returning a free tin plate I never wanted?
“It was more trouble than it was worth.
“Yes, it said ‘2D’ and gave dimensions, but the photos were very carefully done.
“They know how to make something look more than it is.
“I do think it’s misleading.”
Similar items from Temu – hopefully the real deal – are listed on the retail site for around £70-£80.
The experience, albeit funny, has put Mary off using Temu again.
She added: “I won’t be ordering from them in future; I just don’t trust it anymore.
“There are some decent things on there, but it’s a gamble.
“I just threw the item away.
“My advice to others is to slow down, read the full description and check the measurements.
“If you don’t, you’ll probably end up with something you didn’t expect – and not in a good way.”
Temu has been approached for comment.
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