Summary
It is a downturn the industry did not expect: Temu has posted a significant drop in sales in Germany and at the same time faces new fee regulations that noticeably pressure its long-standing promise of rock-bottom prices. What was long considered the unstoppable rise of the Chinese marketplace is now showing its first deep cracks, and consumers and retailers alike are asking whether the hype around ultra-low-cost shopping has already passed its peak.
Details
Almost at the same time, Shein reports similarly painful figures: a 35.5 percent decline in Germany shows that the second major Asian fast-fashion giant is also fighting strong headwinds, whether due to tighter regulation, changing consumer awareness, or simply market saturation. Decathlon is doing far better: the French sporting goods company drew attention in mid-October with new product and material developments and capped the month with the opening of a large new store in Oberhausen. It is a commitment to brick-and-mortar retail at a moment when many are debating the decline of city centers. On the platform side, Mein-Deal shows how much demand classic bargain culture still generates, with a conspicuously high number of new deal and voucher posts that clearly strike a chord with budget-conscious shoppers. The structural shift is even more evident in the second-hand segment: Vinted remains the trendsetter of an industry that, according to recent reports, is experiencing a real boom in pre-owned fashion. momox, with its straightforward buy-and-sell model for clothing and media, proves that convenience often matters more in the end than the widest selection. Sellpy is also riding this wave, positioning itself as a reliable option for anyone who wants to turn clothing into cash quickly and without much effort. At the same time, eBay shows that the traditional marketplace is finding fresh momentum with new reach and recommerce initiatives, while Kleinanzeigen continues to hold its ground as a simple standard channel for second-hand trade outside the big fashion platforms. Otto rounds out the German picture: the Hamburg brand remains visible in the fiercely contested marketplace business and counters international low-price competition with an established, trustworthy shopping experience.
- 1Decathlon is doing far better: the French sporting goods company drew attention in mid-October with new product and material developments and capped the month with the opening of a large new store in Oberhausen.
- 2It is a commitment to brick-and-mortar retail at a moment when many are debating the decline of city centers.
- 3On the platform side, Mein-Deal shows how much demand classic bargain culture still generates, with a conspicuously high number of new deal and voucher posts that clearly strike a chord with budget-conscious shoppers.
- 4Sellpy is also riding this wave, positioning itself as a reliable option for anyone who wants to turn clothing into cash quickly and without much effort.
- 5Otto rounds out the German picture: the Hamburg brand remains visible in the fiercely contested marketplace business and counters international low-price competition with an established, trustworthy shopping experience.
Conclusion
All in all, a market is taking shape that is reorganizing itself: the once seemingly unstoppable low-cost platforms from Asia are losing momentum, while established European names such as Decathlon and Otto, along with the growing second-hand movement around Vinted, momox and Sellpy, are gaining ground. For German consumers, the focus is shifting noticeably away from pure price comparison toward sustainability, trust, and a shopping experience that must also convince in physical stores.