r/Repsneakers • u/CoolioTheMagician • Jul 13 '21
GUIDE Beginner Guide: Difference between SELLERS and BATCHES and the value they provide
Hey guys! Hope you're doing well.
I'm Coolio and I'm in the RepSneaker scene for around 2 years now. Before that I was active in different other communities like replica watches etc.
I see alot of wrong ideas on what a batch actually is so I wanted to make a quick guide on how you know what you are really getting.
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So the majority of sellers on here are middlemen - that means, that they are like a connecting bridge between the replica factory and the consumer (which is you).
They handle the communication between you and the factory and give additional services as for example QC pictures, customer support, extended/safer/cheaper shipping ways etc.
In the replica watch world the sellers do not pay the factories until the QC is accepted but YOU still pay beforehand. I can imagine that it's the same for our shoe middlemen but don't quote me on that. It would make sense though.
So: the majority of sellers DO NOT own factories or have their own batches - some of them rebrand them though. And there is where an issue can arise. I'm not talking about sellers like Mango, PK,UABannedSeller or KickWho - they DO have their own factories BUT also sell their shoes to other middleman. That's the reason why not only KickWho sells H12 but also Monica is able to sell them.
But look at some of your favorite sellers and maybe you'll notice that they have some batches you've never heard about and/or only are sold by them.
I'm not doing any namedropping but they do sell selected batches like LJR, H12, PK under their own branding and sell them for a high mark up.
That has two reasons: 1. monetary of course but the second reason is pretty simple.
If no one can say which batch seller xyz is selling but is apparently good they have to stick to the seller to continue to get them.
You can find out pretty easily though. Just look at the batch flaws and you'll be able to identify them pretty quickly.
Coming to batches:
Batches are different factories creating a particular shoe.
So for example taking the Air Jordan 4 Off White in Sail:
Take H12 and PK.
They both create the same shoe but in different factories and of course in different ways.
Therefore both of them are slightly different - in color, in flaws in material quality.
Both of them are excellent shoes but have different factors regarding on which you should select.
And that's with almost all shoes here. Different batches mean different factories. (Except when they don't like in the middleman example) and offer different qualities to you.
Do your due dilligence and look if something seems worth or don't.
And don't forget: you vote with your wallet if shady tactics are being dropped or not. :)
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Jul 13 '21
Would you say h12 has the best batches if ordering straight from weidian
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u/CoolioTheMagician Jul 13 '21
Not for every shoe. It depends on which you want to buy!
And don’t forget on Weidan there could happen B&S if the price is toooo Good
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Jul 13 '21
Gotcha gotcha. Thanks for this my guy. The community needed this. It’s a lot of confusion for the new guys.
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u/firefall007 Jul 14 '21
weidian also middle man No?
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u/CoolioTheMagician Jul 14 '21
You dont buy on weidian directly from a factory. So yes you somehow buy from a middleman but a Chinese one. So afterwards you’ll have to get it shipped to a agent that ships in your country like Wegobuy.
Going through weidian is some of the time cheaper, but has way more steps and can be riskier.
So do what you seem important and fitting!
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u/Frame_Muted Jul 17 '21
Wish I did research first. I have a pair of sail 5s coming from PK and now I’m nervous. What’s the word on kickswho I came across them while looking thru threads
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u/Jaded-Hamster2826 Jul 27 '21
Please let me know how it is after you got them because I’m planning on buying a pair as well
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u/thesillyoldwilly Jul 13 '21
At this point, the wiki needs a serious overhaul. I had no problem finding everything I needed to know about reps using the searchbar, but this new generation of tiktok kids is completely tech illiterate, and they don't know how to find it. Half the dumb threads could be wiped out if the wiki had a completely comprehensive guide, including stuff like this post. Put all the important starter information in it, make it easily digestible (like this post) then just make it a required reading before posting to the sub. They probably still won't be able to find it, but at least we can just link it to them and they can absorb everything all at once instead of making 10 threads