[shivasaxena]

Fine, but I also gave the example of 12 EUR for a wine opener that I can get for 2 EUR on temu. Lots of people in this thread pointed out how Temu doesn't pay VAT and/or other taxes etc which were plain trumpian style misinformation.

In my mind this 10 eur markup on this simple cheap good is directly related to lack of competition in retail in europe.

> I don't know what the answer is. Making Temu (et al) liable for goods' compliance —in the way importers are— seems like a sensible start.

Sure! However the way things are moving, it'll end with Temu/Shein being banned in europe in a few months.

[oliwarner]

Retail has obvious expenses. The trade-off is instant purchase and customer service. And yes, another layer of profit extraction.

> Temu doesn't pay VAT and/or other taxes etc

Many of their orders are below the threshold for import duties. Some come with "gift" declarations which shift the VAT and duty thresholds. Direct sales skirt the tax laws. Again, I'd be shocked if all the tax they collect was declared and paid. The EU would have no way to verify.