Buying From Temu, SHEIN or AliExpress? 5 Things a Nigerian Shoppers Should Check Before Checkout

Buying From Temu, SHEIN or AliExpress? 5 Costs Nigerian Shoppers Should Check Before Checkout

A cheap product price does not necessarily mean a cheap purchase. For Nigerian shoppers buying from international marketplaces, the useful number is what the item costs by the time it reaches your door.

Before ordering internationally, check the final currency conversion, shipping, possible customs charges, payment costs and what returning the product would cost. Nigeria currently exempts qualifying low-value imports of up to $300 from customs duties and related taxes, subject to conditions.

A product can look dramatically cheaper on Temu, SHEIN or AliExpress than it does in a Nigerian shop. But the figure beside the Buy Now button is not always the most useful comparison. For an international purchase, what matters is the landed cost: the total amount you have effectively spent by the time the item reaches you. Before checking out, calculate these five things.

1. What will the currency conversion actually cost?

Start with the final amount your payment method will charge. A marketplace may display an approximate naira price, but international transactions can still involve currency conversion depending on how the payment is processed.

That means two products carrying the same apparent dollar price can ultimately produce different naira costs as exchange rates and payment arrangements change.

Before paying, check the final checkout currency and amount, rather than converting the advertised price yourself and assuming that will be your final debit. This matters particularly for expensive electronics. TechView Africa has previously examined how exchange rates and import costs can change what Nigerian smartphone buyers eventually pay.

2. Is shipping really free?

Next, inspect delivery. “Free shipping” may apply only after a minimum order value, to selected products or through a particular delivery method.

Temu's terms, for example, state that shipping charges can apply depending on the product and shipping method and should be displayed before an order is confirmed.

Also check whether the stated delivery price covers the complete journey to your address or whether another local delivery arrangement may be required.

The number to compare is: Product + shipping, not product price alone.

3. Will Nigerian Customs charge anything?

This calculation changed significantly in 2025. The Nigeria Customs Service introduced a $300 de minimis threshold for qualifying low-value imports, including e-commerce consignments.

Goods within the threshold can be exempt from customs duties and related taxes, subject to applicable conditions. Customs says the exemption is limited to four importations per person per year, and prohibited or restricted goods do not qualify.

That means shoppers should not automatically assume every small overseas order attracts customs duty but neither should they assume every international purchase will enter free of charges.

For purchases above the threshold, check the applicable treatment before ordering.

Nigeria Customs also operates SCADS, its Simplified Customs Advance Declaration System for cross-border e-commerce shipments, including declaration, clearance and payment of applicable duties and taxes.

4. Are there payment or processing charges?

Look at the checkout total carefully. Temu's published terms say customers can be responsible for applicable taxes, customs duties and shipping, while payment processors may also charge fees where applicable.

SHEIN similarly states in its international terms that buyers may be responsible for applicable import duties, taxes and fees depending on the country's import arrangement.

So do not assume the product subtotal is the final debit. Check the complete payment summary before authorising the transaction.

5. What happens if the product is wrong?

This is the cost shoppers often ignore, suppose a ₦20,000 item arrives in the wrong size, does not match the description or simply is not useful. How much would it cost to return internationally?

How long would the refund take?

Who pays return shipping?

Those questions matter because the cheapest product can become poor value if resolving a problem costs almost as much as the purchase itself. Before paying an unfamiliar seller, TechView Africa's guide to checking whether an online store is genuine also explains why buyers should examine refund policies, independent seller history and payment protection rather than relying on the appearance of a website.

Calculate this before you press Buy

A simple comparison is:

Product price + currency/payment cost + shipping + applicable customs charges + realistic return risk = actual purchase cost.

Temu, SHEIN and AliExpress can still offer excellent value. The point is not to avoid international marketplaces. It is to compare them fairly. A ₦25,000 product delivered to your door for ₦27,000 may genuinely be cheaper than buying locally. A ₦25,000 product that becomes ₦38,000 after every other cost may not be.

The cheapest listing is not always the cheapest purchase.