Rep glossary
This rep glossary explains the 25 words you will meet when you buy reps through a shopping agent, from W2C to volumetric weight. Each one links here, so you can share a single definition.
- Rep
- Short for replica: an item made to look like a branded product, sold by independent sellers on Chinese marketplaces such as Weidian, Taobao and 1688.
- W2C
- "Where to cop": a request for a link to an item. Replies are usually a marketplace link or a spreadsheet entry.
- QC (quality check)
- Photos a shopping agent takes of your exact item when it reaches their warehouse, before it ships to you. You check them for flaws and can return the item to the seller at that point.
- GL / RL
- "Green light" and "red light": the verdict on QC photos. GL means the item looks right and can ship; RL means a flaw worth returning or exchanging.
- Batch
- A production run of a rep from one factory. Different batches of the same model differ in shape, materials and price, so buyers compare batches rather than sellers.
- Shopping agent
- A service that buys from Chinese sellers for you, receives items at its warehouse, takes QC photos and ships everything in one parcel. KakoBuy is one; you pay the agent, not the seller directly.
- Haul
- Several items bought through an agent and shipped together in one parcel, which spreads the shipping cost.
- Rep spreadsheet
- A list of finds with prices and agent links, originally shared as Google Sheets. Sites like RepNet keep the same idea as a searchable catalogue.
- Weidian
- A Chinese marketplace app where many rep sellers have shops. Listings are identified by an itemID in the link.
- Taobao
- The largest Chinese shopping marketplace. Agents can buy any Taobao listing from its link.
- 1688
- A Chinese wholesale marketplace run by Alibaba, sometimes cheaper for bulk or basic items.
- Yupoo
- A photo-album site sellers use to show their catalogue. It has no checkout: you find the matching Weidian or Taobao listing to order.
- LC (legit check)
- Checking whether an item is authentic. In rep communities it is also used for comparing a rep against retail photos.
- 1:1
- A seller claim that a rep matches the original exactly. Treat it as marketing; QC photos show what you actually get.
- TTS (true to size)
- Fits like the brand's normal sizing. Many Chinese listings run small, so buyers check the size chart in centimetres.
- Shipping line
- The carrier route an agent offers for your parcel (for example an EMS or a tax-included line). Lines differ in price, speed and what they accept.
- Rehearsal (pre-shipment packing)
- A paid or free trial packing of your parcel so you can see its real weight and size before choosing a line.
- Volumetric weight
- A weight worked out from the box size. Carriers charge the higher of the real and volumetric weight, which is why removing shoe boxes can cut shipping costs.
- Declared value
- The value written on the customs form for your parcel. Rules and duties depend on your country.
- Warehouse storage
- Agents keep arrived items free for a set number of days while you wait for the rest of a haul, then may charge storage.
- Return window
- The time after an item reaches the warehouse in which the agent can still return it to the seller. QC is how you decide within it.
- Referral or invite code
- A code used when registering with an agent. New accounts usually get welcome coupons; the site or creator that shared the code is credited.
- Agent coupons
- Discounts an agent gives new or returning users, usually on shipping, often with a minimum spend.
- Blind box (mystery box)
- A listing where you pay a fixed price and the seller picks a random item from a category. Usually final sale.
- Retail
- The official price or item from the brand itself, used as the comparison point for a rep.
Ready to try it? The how-to-buy guide walks through a first order, the rep spreadsheet lists every find, and how RepNet works explains what the site does and never does.
