Trendyoo, a Frankfurt-based seller of refurbished iPhones, has become a dominant player in its field. It holds over half the market share in Germany’s refurbished phone segment, where second-hand devices account for about 18% of smartphones in use.
But the company believes that high fees, rigid policies, and slow support on the major e-commerce platforms where it operates have held it back from gaining even more ground.
“It was making it harder for us to grow while maintaining margins,” said Nuri Goksu, CEO of Trendyoo.
In response, Trendyoo joined a growing wave of local businesses seeking alternative e-commerce platforms that promise greater efficiency and profitability than traditional sales channels.
When Trendyoo heard that Temu—a fast-growing e-commerce platform—was opening its doors to German sellers, the team decided to give it a try. They were curious whether the experience would be any different. What happened next took them by surprise.
“After just three weeks, Temu already represents around 20% of our revenue,” Goksu said. “We’ve sold on many platforms, but none of them had such a strong start, not even the biggest names.”
Beyond the initial sales momentum, the real breakthrough came in profitability. “As a seller, the first thing I look at is platform fees. Costs on Temu are less than those of other platforms, so naturally we’d choose Temu,” he said. “We’re in business to earn money, not to pay commissions to platforms. Ideally, we’d move 100% of our sales to Temu, because we earn more from each sale.”
Trendyoo also found the onboarding process refreshingly fast. Expecting delays, the team was surprised to see its store go live just three days after initial contact—far quicker than the weeks or even months typical on other platforms. Temu offered direct communication and hands-on support, helping Trendyoo set up listings and fine-tune product descriptions.
European consumers are increasingly open to second-hand devices. A Kantar survey across 13 countries found that 46% of respondents had bought a used phone, up from 43% a year earlier. More than half—55%—said they were open to doing so in the future, with affordability cited as the main reason by 66% of respondents.
“Nowadays, a lot of people no longer chase the latest iPhones,” Goksu said. “Refurbished phones save money and help the planet. So it's become a mainstream product. We’re seeing more demand across all platforms.”
With its affordability-first model and wide product range, Temu has gained traction among price-conscious, digitally savvy consumers in Germany. According to its latest transparency report, Germany is now Temu’s largest market in the EU, with 17 million monthly users. A recent Ipsos survey found that German users save an average of 27% on Temu, and 75% believe the platform offers strong value for money. For Trendyoo, the fit is clear.
“Temu looks very promising,” Goksu said. “They’re doing many things others either can’t do or don’t do well. It’s faster, more efficient, and cheaper for sellers. That’s why we are very big on Temu.”
