So you want to get into the rep game? But you have no idea where to start? Do not worry. This guide will walk you through the process step by step.
Part 1: The basics
Many of the best replicas in the world come from China. Finding vendors can be difficult, as there are thousands of vendors out there that are willing to sell you something. The difference is knowing where and how to get the best items for your dollars.
To order from China, you will either need to find a vendor/seller that will ship directly to your address, or use an “agent” to collect your items from various vendors and ship them to you all at once. If you are planning to order directly from a vendor, the main sources of communication will be WeChat and WhatsApp. Both of these can be downloaded on any app store. Majority of people use an "agent," as it decreases the likelihood of anything bad happening.
Vendor/Seller: The individual that you actually buy from.
Agent: A middleman or service that will order items for you and take care of the process from start to finish. Agents store your items in their warehouse, provide photos of the items you purchased, and then ship all your items to you at once. They work for you and ease the ordering process.
Recommended agents:
Each of these agents have an easy platform to use and have created their own guides on how to order with them to negate any confusion about the overall replica process. It is basically copy and paste system. But reading the agent guides is very important before getting started.
Part 2 : Finding items and trusted vendors
Almost all replica vendors rely on word of mouth for sales. Reddit is a great way to find vendor shops. So visit Reddit frequently and you will be sure to find some pieces you love. Each reddit post requires a link or contact for the vendor, so this is the easiest way to spot items you want. Many links will be in Chinese, but do not worry, you can just right click and choose “translate to english” on Google Chrome.
There are many trusted seller lists found on Reddit that you can browse and use to spot pieces. Sellers on these lists have provided quality items time and time again and are the easiest to work with.
DesignerReps Trusted Sellers: Luxury Brands, Leather Goods, & Shoes
FashionReps Trusted Sellers: Streetwear, Luxury Brands, & Shoes
RepSneakers Trusted Sellers: Mostly Hype Shoes Like Jordans
Massive List by : List For Yupoo Sellers
Part 3 - Useful terminology
QC: Quality Control (QC for short) is talking about pictures that are posted from an agent of an item that was ordered. Users will post these if they're unsure about the quality and would rather have someone else take a look at them if they're good enough.
LC: Legit Check (LC for short) Much like the name states, this is a tag used for posts requiring a legit check. Legit checks are a great way of finding out if a item you're purchasing is authentic or not.
GP: Guinea Pig (GP for short) Guinea Pigging is much like being a test subject. In this instance you will be the first person to order a seller's new item. This means you'll be the first to get pictures of their product and oftentimes you'll post them to be checked for quality by the community.
FIND: Much like the name states. Posts with this flair are often linked to new products that haven't been posted before.
W2C:: Where To Cop (W2C for short) W2C refers to the search for a desired item. Oftentimes will be linked with retail images for an example.
1:1: One to One (1:1 for short) 1:1 refers to a perfect replica. However, not many exist and oftentimes you won't be able to get these as they're sold out.
GL: Green Light (GL for short) GL Refers to a user who has given their approval of a QC post.
RL: Red Light (RL for short) RL Refers to a user who has given their disapproval of a QC post.
B&S: Bait & Switch (BS or B&S for short) B&S Refers to a seller who has advertised their product and sent goods that are different from advertised.
PSP: Pre Shipping Pictures is just another way of saying QC.
Gen: Genuine item aka authentic. This is a term often used over at r/reptime. People refer to “Gens” when they are discussing retail items.
Haul: A bunch of replica items shipped at once is called a haul or hauling. Hauling is the recommended way of ordering replicas, as it is typically a better bang for your buck when shipping.
Part 4: Shipping and avoiding customs
Whether you are shipping directly or with an agent, you will need to think about import taxes. Each country has different rules for shipping without getting hit with import taxes. We recommend you discuss this with whoever is shipping your goods. They have a lot of experience shipping to your country and will know better than anyone else. Any good vendor or agent will inform you about your country's shipping requirements. You can also use the reddit search bar to search your country.
Part 5: Looking for items on Reddit
There is a function called the Reddit search bar sitting at the top of r/DesignerReps. Basically, you just need to type the brand or item description you are looking for and “sort by new”. A second option is to simply search the web for the item you want and add “Reddit” to your search. Most reps will come up on a search.
