Temu for cycling goods

[Martin Albrecht]

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water.

Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). 
 

I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. 
 

but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

[NC_lurker]

25 minutes ago, Martin Albrecht said:

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water.

Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). 
 

I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. 
 

but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

It should be fine. I seem to remember experiencing something like this. Excuse the poor terminology, but I think the waybill only becomes active to the customer once it's cleared customs in the Temu process flow. I'd say take a breath, give it 48hrs and see what happens. I tend to order, pay VAT/duties when instructed, then be pleasantly surprised when my order magically appears at my gate....the last mile delivery notifications are ***!

Luckily I work from home...

Edit: I think Temu might bulk ship into SA then split into the individual orders. Not sure if that's possible?

Edited February 10 by NC_lurker
Info

[NC_lurker]

4 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Just received my whatsapp and sms now and paid duties. Mine came via Linex Air Services again.

Package was R1550 and duties came to R342 (includes a pair of shoes & bib shorts).

Out of interest what bibs did you buy? I've tried a couple of options but so far they've been so-so. Returned 2, kept 1 for indoor sessions.

[babse]

1 hour ago, Martin Albrecht said:

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water.

Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). 
 

I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. 
 

but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

Give it another day or 2. It'll surface. My last order was also with skynet. I was able to track the day before it arrived at my door.

11 day turnaround for full process.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

15 hours ago, NC_lurker said:

Out of interest what bibs did you buy? I've tried a couple of options but so far they've been so-so. Returned 2, kept 1 for indoor sessions.

I ordered Souke again. I find them perfectly fine for 1.5 to 2hr training rides.

For R250 you can't exactly expect Assos 😊

[dewaldsss]

On 1/12/2026 at 4:08 PM, Paul Ruinaard said:

Has anyone ordered a 3D printed saddle off Temu. I am looking at this:

https://www.temu.com/za/-3d-printed-bike--24-5x14-5-15-5cm-7x9-carbon--mountain-bike-gravel-bicycle-seat-g-601100748033291.html?top_gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kwcdn.com%2Fproduct%2Ffancy%2F6cfb747a-1a1a-44f1-b2a3-beb42852ed0f.jpg&spec_gallery_id=125255&share_token=_wX7G7fHAK5kroPGtrO6COo-EF_YYQgJDWnwko8oecWcE18vN2lPi3jIigkcqL_jsQ5-6cF69OSN0MyaKBGGwBNIFWYNxU-zxI19eV4nxZ7U2qNB6SIbUCwQcJZvtOZ_qJxyW0ZeBZcrHwYDui0jfE4Qyc8j6CWKDa-OlDdClME&refer_page_el_sn=209279&_x_vst_scene=adg&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_x_ns_prz_type=-1&_x_ns_sku_id=17592644404019&_x_ns_gid=601099632077524&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_gmc_account=5327403149&_x_login_type=Google&_x_ns_gg_lnk_type=adr&_x_ads_account=7587261690&_x_ads_set=22450022799&_x_ads_id=178960129860&_x_ads_creative_id=747075879764&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=Cj0KCQiA1JLLBhCDARIsAAVfy7ghfD2jGZlxEXc5pV9x2sO4QaWyyd6CkVKZMaM-aiJ09NWZiyZRU-MaAnq4EALw_wcB&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=17592644404019&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=CkEKCQiAsY3LBhCFARIwADk9B9yikphEMeFlZQwc2othqTON7BdWXbEfmm3eCSEmhP5tsvmQVVpjbB8OX9KIGgJtSA&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICHF5M54ms-m7MCBgeSK96hG3&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2454958358834&refer_page_name=kuiper&refer_page_id=13554_1768226496948_ypzfw5zayl&refer_page_sn=13554&_x_sessn_id=pi5zd3q322

Just wnated to know what the experiences have been as they are a third of the price of the brand names and are also 155 mm which is my size.

A bit late to the temu party.

 

i bought this one, almost a year on the bike now, did last years trailseekers , attakwas & banhoek last month and so far very happy. 3d printed padding holding up very well, was worried about the carbon rails and base but already tried and tested and keeps up well.  Fits better than my spec Phenom elaston and the mimic version...

https://share.temu.com/sqFWoucnFcB

 

Edited February 11 by dewaldsss

[Alouette3]

17 hours ago, Martin Albrecht said:

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water.

Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). 
 

I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. 
 

but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

Don't stress, it will arrive 

[Jaco Steyn]

25 minutes ago, dewaldsss said:

A bit late to the temu party.

 

i bought this one, almost a year on the bike now, did last years trailseekers , attakwas & banhoek last month and so far very happy. 3d printed padding holding up very well, was worried about the carbon rails and base but already tried and tested and keeps up well.  Fits better than my spec Phenom elaston and the mimic version...

https://www.temu.com/za/-carbon-3d-printed--ultralight-175g-7-9-bicycle--bike-seating--road-mtb-mountain-gravel-cycling-parts-g-601099571889569.html?_oak_mp_inf=EKGL1LOm1ogBGhU3eDlucHRoNzMwZ2U4OHhjbDQzYTYgzKLo3sQz&top_gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kwcdn.com%2Fproduct%2Ffancy%2F1f5358fc-8042-47df-8edd-0306c5341b1b.jpg&spec_gallery_id=5200&refer_page_sn=10040&freesia_scene=14&_oak_freesia_scene=14&_oak_rec_ext_1=MTgwNTAw&refer_page_el_sn=201265&_x_vst_scene=adg&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_x_ns_prz_type=-1&_x_ns_sku_id=17592434249981&_x_ns_gid=601099571884810&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_gmc_account=5327403149&_x_login_type=Google&_x_ns_gg_lnk_type=adr&_x_ads_account=7587261690&_x_ads_set=22450022799&_x_ads_id=178960129860&_x_ads_creative_id=747075879764&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=EAIaIQobChMIouPi1YTRkgMVq5NQBh2SYgGZEAQYASABEgIyv_D_BwE&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=17592434249981&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=Cj4KCAiAy6vMBhBxEi4APY4Zb0wB76hO1JKIt4FCqzkz5OJfkYBT8PFv9nEGd4CKdEHXPSjxcy_fll7fGgKahg&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICGnfvtUauLt7af_AtQAQ-UCk&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2454958358834&_x_sessn_id=i2ph4xkk19&refer_page_name=mall&refer_page_id=10040_1770799109366_higu0a5jtp

A handy tip, next time you want to link to an item on Temu, first hover the cursor over the "Share to" icon, then click on the link icon, furthest to the right. It will generate a link like this, https://share.temu.com/sqFWoucnFcB and not give a long one like the one in your post.

 

Edited February 11 by Jaco Steyn

[dewaldsss]

46 minutes ago, Jaco Steyn said:

A handy tip, next time you want to link to an item on Temu, first hover the cursor over the "Share to" icon, then click on the link icon, furthest to the right. It will generate a link like this, https://share.temu.com/sqFWoucnFcB and not give a long one like the one in your post.

 

Thank you sir, edited 

[Paul Ruinaard]

2 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

I ordered Souke again. I find them perfectly fine for 1.5 to 2hr training rides.

For R250 you can't exactly expect Assos 😊

FWIW i am also riding Souke. Ciovita - I can get through 10 of the Souke bibs for 1 x Ciovita and lets not discuss Assos. 

They work fine TBH. Like the man says. I have other issues which even Assos won't solve.

FYI their cycling jerseys are also cheap as chips and some of them are very nice logos etc, so have a couple of them.

R 200 for a jersey,,,

[Martin Albrecht]

On 2/10/2026 at 6:01 PM, Martin Albrecht said:

I think I have been taken for a ride on Temu. just made my first ever order on Temu. Luckily a small amount, just to test the water.

Apparently my shipping is being done by SkyNet (which should already be a red flag - I work in logistics, and SkyNet is easily the worst courier company in South Africa). 
 

I got an email from Temu this morning urgently telling me my package cannot be delivered, due to an outstanding Duties amount of R63.17. The amount seems sensible for the items I ordered, and I click the link to pay. All easy enough. 
 

but then I decide to enter the tracking number they gave me into Skynets tracking system - and it reckons the waybill doesn’t exist - even though Temu tracking places the item as stuck at the airport awaiting customs clearance….

Just an update on this. From what I can tell off the TEMU app, the package arrived at “The Airport” - strangely they don’t say which airport, at 04:36 this morning. 
 

The Airwaybill they provided me with is still dead on Skytracks side. Will wait another day or so and then try again.

 

on the Temu website, the status is “awaiting customs clearance” but that doesn’t make sense, since I already paid the duties. When I ship with DHL (which is something we do often at work), we also pay the customs upfront - but then the packages are pre-cleared, and go directly to the DHL warehouse to be prepped for last mile delivery. Why are they charging me customs duties in advance on something that hasn’t been pre cleared yet?

So far, my Temu experience has not been confidence inspiring. The fact that they are using SkyNet also gives me chills, they are easily the worst courier service in SA. I still have nightmares from the good old chain reaction days, when they used SkyNet for a brief period and it was a disaster.

Based on my experience so far, I’m fully expecting everything I bought to be totally defective. 

Edited February 12 by Martin Albrecht

[NC_lurker]

3 minutes ago, Martin Albrecht said:

Just an update on this. From what I can tell off the TEMU app, the package arrived at “The Airport” at 04:36 this morning. 
 

The Airwaybill they provided me with is still dead on Skytracks side. Will wait another day or so and then try again.

 

on the Temu website, the status is “awaiting customs clearance” but that doesn’t make sense, since I already paid the duties. When I ship with DHL (which is something we do often at work), we also pay the customs upfront - but then the packages are pre-cleared, and go directly to the DHL warehouse to be prepped for last mile delivery. Why are they charging me customs duties in advance on something that hasn’t been pre cleared yet?

So far, my Temu experience has not been confidence inspiring. The fact that they are using SkyNet also gives me chills, they are easily the worst courier service in SA. I still have nightmares from the good old chain reaction days, when they used SkyNet for a brief period and it was a disaster.

Based on my experience so far, I’m fully expecting everything I bought to be totally defective. 

Seriously, don't overthink it. Sit back, relax and your parcel will arrive a couple of days ahead of the Temu "latest expected" delivery date. It's the Chinese, it might not work the way you think it should, but it will work 😉

I now don't bother checking the tracking status. Order, get notified to pay custom duties, get notified that my parcel might be delivered today, or more likely tomorrow, receive parcel.... it's not awesome if you're expecting to be able to receive an accurately scheduled delivery, but it works.

Edited February 12 by NC_lurker
Detail

[Martin Albrecht]

5 minutes ago, NC_lurker said:

Seriously, don't overthink it. Sit back, relax and your parcel will arrive a couple of days ahead of the Temu "latest expected" delivery date. It's the Chinese, it might not work the way you think it should, but it will work 😉

I now don't bother checking the tracking status. Order, get notified to pay custom duties, get notified that my parcel might be delivered today, or more likely tomorrow, receive parcel.... it's not awesome if you're expecting to be able to receive an accurately scheduled delivery, but it works.

That alone is enough to put me off ordering again. I wasn’t expecting miracles, but I know a thing or two about logistics, and this is simply piss poor. I don’t care how cheap it is, I doubt I will order again. The highly annoying site/app layout trying to get you to play games that you always win, so that they can try convince you to buy stuff you don’t want was already seriously annoying.

That combined with the totally thumb m sucked and non sensical shipping updates, being sent a link to pay an arbitrary amount for customs, without an actual itemised invoice, which any proper logistics company would provide, is also absurd. 
 

Now realising I have already paid customs duties and vat (I assume, can’t be sure based on no invoice provided), but the shipment wasn’t actually properly pre cleared, and is now “awaiting customs clearance”, at “the airport” (but no idea which airport that is), is simply not acceptable. A business their size should have better logistics, and less “if but and maybe” updates.

[shaper]

16 minutes ago, Martin Albrecht said:

That alone is enough to put me off ordering again. I wasn’t expecting miracles, but I know a thing or two about logistics, and this is simply piss poor. I don’t care how cheap it is, I doubt I will order again. The highly annoying site/app layout trying to get you to play games that you always win, so that they can try convince you to buy stuff you don’t want was already seriously annoying.

That combined with the totally thumb m sucked and non sensical shipping updates, being sent a link to pay an arbitrary amount for customs, without an actual itemised invoice, which any proper logistics company would provide, is also absurd. 
 

Now realising I have already paid customs duties and vat (I assume, can’t be sure based on no invoice provided), but the shipment wasn’t actually properly pre cleared, and is now “awaiting customs clearance”, at “the airport” (but no idea which airport that is), is simply not acceptable. A business their size should have better logistics, and less “if but and maybe” updates.

As others say, chill, it will arrive.  Everything you buy from China whether Temu or Aliexpress, duty is calculated and paid before it arrives.  The only time this doesn't happen is if as back in the day it came via SAPO and then you had to collect at the local post office and pay the duties.  These days fortunately everything comes by courier, so the duties are calculated ahead of arrival and you pay.  It will clear today or tomorrow and they you will get either a whatsapp or email from the local courier saying they have been notified and will be shipped to you in the next couple of days.  It doesn't matter which airport, as you have paid for courier to your door and it will be delivered to your door.

If you get this stressed, you are lucky you never bought off Aliexpress years ago when it would get lost in SAPO for weeks.  With Temu, order, sit back, wait for any notifications, make payment when asked to and wait for the message to say it will be delivered in the next 48hr.  It will arrive and is pretty straight forward.  Many of us here have bought lots over the last few years without issue.  And even if there is an issue Temu customer services are pretty good, especially with refunds.

[dexterdent]

I bought something from Forkmods in Australia, and unfortunately they used SAPO. Suffice to say it has now been stuck at JIMC for a month and customer service just says "they are experiencing some delays, no ETA". Pity, because previously SAPO has not really given me problems.

TEMU has been much better. I think the lack of itemised invoice is due to the way they bring packages into the country - so far it feels like I tend to pay less duties/VAT on every package than expected.

[Alouette3]

The shipping is basically the reason I use Temu, it gets here, every time, cheap and quick.

AliExpress and a bunch of others have better products and variety a lot of the time, but it became to unpredictable, until most vendors stopped sending to SA, loosing too much from non and late delivery and having to refund with buyers protection. There was a time when SAPO worked great, but that's long gone.