Quality and replicas
Batch: a specific production run of a product. In the replica world, each factory produces different batches of the same model, and quality varies between them. For example, the "GX" batch of a pair of Jordan 4s can be superior to the "KX" batch in materials and shape, even though both replicate the same model. Knowing which batch you're buying is more important than the price.
1:1: means the replica is identical to the original product in every visible aspect: materials, stitching, logos, packaging and shape. In practice, a true 1:1 barely exists. Most products labelled "1:1" have small differences from the original, but they're good enough that only an expert can spot them.
God Batch: the best available run of a specific product — the one with the fewest flaws and the highest accuracy compared to the original. The term was popularised by the sneaker community and is used to refer to the batch that "the gods approve". A God Batch usually costs between 20% and 50% more than a standard batch, but the quality difference is usually worth it.
Fantasy Piece: a product that doesn't exist as an original. It's a design invented by a Chinese factory using the brand or style of a well-known brand. For example, a pair of Nike sneakers in a colourway Nike has never made. It's not necessarily bad, but you should know you're buying something that doesn't replicate any real product.
Flaw: a defect or imperfection in a replica. It can be a misaligned logo, crooked stitching, a colour slightly different from the original or lower-quality material. Flaws are classified as "minor" (only an expert with a magnifying glass notices them) or "major" (visible to the naked eye and grounds for an RL).
Callout: a flaw so obvious that someone could point at you on the street and say "that's fake". A typical callout is a Supreme logo with the wrong typography or a pair of Yeezys with a completely different shape from the original model. If a product has callouts, avoid it.
Buying process
QC (Quality Check): the quality control process your agent carries out when the product arrives at their warehouse. The agent photographs the actual item and sends you the images so you can review it too. It's the key moment of the whole purchase: if you spot any problem, you can reject the product (RL) before paying for international shipping.
GL (Green Light): you give the product the green light after reviewing the QC photos. It means you're happy with what you see and you authorise the agent to ship it to Spain. It's a final decision: once you GL and the package leaves the warehouse, you can't return it unless you pay for a return shipment to China that isn't worth it.
RL (Red Light): you reject the product after seeing the QC photos because it has a defect, doesn't match what you ordered, or the quality just doesn't convince you. The agent returns the product to the Chinese seller and you get your money back (minus the local shipping costs within China, usually €1-3).
GP (Guinea Pig): literally "guinea pig". It refers to the person who buys a new product with no references or previous QC photos from other buyers, taking on the risk that the quality is bad. If the GP turns out well, the product becomes popular in the community; if it turns out badly, the GP has lost their money so others don't have to.
Where to buy
Weidian: a Chinese platform similar to an online flea market where small sellers offer products at very low prices. It's the main source of replicas and cheap products. It has no English interface and no international shipping, so you need an agent to buy there. Prices on Weidian are usually between 10% and 30% lower than Taobao for the same product.
Taobao: the biggest marketplace in China, owned by Alibaba. It has everything, from original products to replicas, as well as unbranded items. Its interface is in Chinese and you need an agent to buy from Spain. It's easier to navigate than Weidian and has a more reliable seller rating system.
1688: Alibaba's wholesale version aimed at the Chinese domestic market. Prices are even lower than on Taobao, but sellers usually require minimum orders of 2 or 3 units. If you find a product you like, it's worth looking for the same item on 1688 to compare prices.
Agent: an intermediary who buys products on Chinese marketplaces for you and ships them to Spain. The agent receives the goods at their warehouse in China, photographs them for quality control, and once you give the go-ahead, handles the international shipping. Agents make money from a commission on the product price and a margin on the shipping cost.
Shipping and community terms
W2C (Where to Cop): means "where to buy". It's used in forums and communities to ask for the link to a product someone has posted. If you see a photo of sneakers you like in a Telegram group, you comment "W2C?" and whoever posted it sends you the Weidian or Taobao link.
Haul: a shipment containing multiple products bought from different Chinese stores and consolidated into a single package by your agent. The haul is the cheapest way to buy: instead of paying for shipping on each product, you accumulate several items in the agent's warehouse and ship them all together. A typical haul weighs between 3 and 8 kilos and includes between 4 and 12 products.
Insole: the inner sole of a sneaker. It's the most reliable measurement to know if a pair of Chinese sneakers will fit you, because EU/CN sizes aren't consistent across factories. Your agent can measure the insole in the QC photo so you can compare it with your own foot measurement.
Sizes
CN / EU / US / UK: sizing systems. Chinese sizes (CN) don't correspond directly to European ones (EU). A CN 43 isn't an EU 43: CN 43 usually equals an EU 42 or even 41 depending on the manufacturer. The same goes for US and UK. Never buy based on the size on the label; always ask for the insole measurement in centimetres.
TTS (True to Size): means the product fits exactly as you'd expect based on your usual size. If a pair of sneakers is TTS, you can order your usual size without fear. If they're not TTS, the community usually says whether they run big (size up) or small (size down). For example: "these sneakers aren't TTS, order half a size up".
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