How much does my first haul cost?

A typical 2-3 item first haul costs $73-140 total including items, agent fees, domestic shipping, and international delivery. Budget $100 for a comfortable first experience.

Do I need an agent as a beginner?

Yes, absolutely. Agents handle buying from Chinese sellers, QC inspection, and international shipping. They are your buyer protection. Direct buying is risky for beginners.

How long until I receive my first order?

From order to delivery typically takes 3-5 weeks: 1 week for items to reach the agent warehouse, 2-3 days for QC, and 1-3 weeks for international shipping depending on your chosen line.

What if I do not like my items after they arrive?

Returns to China are uneconomical. Most beginners resell items that do not fit on BST communities (like r/FashionRepsBST) or gift them. This is why getting sizing right and checking QC photos before shipping is critical.

Can I buy just one item?

Yes, but shipping one item internationally costs $20-30 minimum. Most buyers wait until they have 2-4 items to ship together, reducing the per-item shipping cost significantly.

What is the best first item to buy?

A heavyweight blank tee ($12-15) is the perfect first item. Low risk, easy to QC, forgiving on sizing, and teaches you the entire workflow without a major investment.

Where can I get help as a beginner?

The LitBuy community Discord, Reddit communities like r/FashionReps, and our How to Use LitBuy guide are excellent resources. Do not hesitate to ask questions—every experienced buyer was once a beginner.

LitBuy Beginner Guide – Complete First Haul Walkthrough

LitBuy Beginner Guide: Start Here

Welcome to LitBuy. If you have never bought a replica or streetwear item through a Chinese agent before, this guide will take you from complete beginner to confident buyer in under 30 minutes. LitBuy is not a store—it is a community-powered link directory and QC database that helps you find verified products, avoid scams, and buy with confidence.

This beginner guide covers every step: understanding how LitBuy works, finding your first verified link, choosing an agent, placing an order, reading QC photos, approving your items, shipping internationally, and receiving your package. By the end, you will be ready to place your first haul.

What Is LitBuy? (In Simple Terms)

Think of LitBuy like a curated shopping list created by thousands of experienced buyers. Instead of browsing random Chinese seller pages and hoping for the best, LitBuy collects links to products that real people have already bought, photographed, and reviewed.

The platform has two main parts: the Spreadsheet (a filterable database of 50,000+ verified product links) and the QC Gallery (200,000+ real buyer photos showing exactly what items look like when they arrive). Together, they eliminate guesswork from replica shopping.

Step-by-Step: Your First LitBuy Purchase

Here is the exact workflow from zero to first purchase:

Step 1: Pick an Item

Browse the spreadsheet by category or search for a specific item. Check the Rating column and click QC Photos to see real buyer images.

Step 2: Choose an Agent

Create a free account with PandaBuy, SuperBuy, or Wegobuy. These services buy from Chinese sellers and ship to your country.

Step 3: Submit Your Order

Copy the product link from the spreadsheet, paste it into your agent order form, select size and color, and submit.

Step 4: Wait for QC Photos

When the item arrives at the agent warehouse, they take photos. You have 5-7 days to approve or request an exchange.

Step 5: Ship Your Haul

Once all items arrive and pass QC, choose a shipping line (EMS for budget, DHL for speed) and pay for international delivery.

Step 6: Receive and Enjoy

Track your package. In 1-3 weeks, your items arrive. Take your own photos and submit them back to the community QC gallery.

Glossary: Terms Every Beginner Needs

The LitBuy community uses specific terminology. Here is what everything means:

Term	Meaning
Agent	A company that buys from Chinese sellers and ships to you internationally
QC	Quality Control photos taken by the agent before shipping to you
Haul	A collection of items bought together and shipped in one package
Batch	A factory code indicating which manufacturer made the item (LJR, PK, M)
TTS	True To Size—order your normal size
BST	Buy Sell Trade community where buyers resell items that do not fit
Dead Link	A product link that no longer works or the item is sold out
Rehearsal Shipping	Getting the exact package weight before paying for shipping
GL	Green Light—approving an item after QC photos look good
RL	Red Light—rejecting an item after QC and requesting exchange
1:1	Slang meaning identical to retail (unrealistic, but used for very accurate reps)
W2C	Where To Cop—asking for a link to a specific item

Budgeting Your First Haul

New buyers often underestimate costs. Here is a realistic budget for a first haul with 2-3 items:

Cost	Amount	Notes
Items (2-3 pieces)	$40-80	Tee + hoodie, or 1 pair of budget sneakers
Agent Service Fee	$3-6	Usually 5% of item cost
Domestic Shipping	$3-5	Seller to agent warehouse in China
International Shipping	$25-45	Depends on weight and shipping line chosen
Insurance (optional)	$2-4	Recommended for first haul over $100
Total First Haul	$73-140	Budget $100 for a comfortable first experience

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Learning from others mistakes saves money and frustration. Here are the most common beginner errors:

Not checking QC photos: Always inspect QC before approving. This is your only chance to exchange for free.
Ordering without reading sizing notes: Asian sizes run small. A Large in China is often a Medium in the US.
Buying from unverified links: Only order items with at least 5 QC photo submissions and 4.0+ ratings.
Ignoring shipping costs: International shipping costs $8-30 per kg. A heavy hoodie and sneakers can cost $40+ to ship.
Approving QC too quickly: Take 10 minutes to zoom into photos and compare against retail images.
Not removing shoe boxes: Keeping boxes adds $5-10 in shipping per pair. Remove unless you collect boxes.
Declaring too low: Customs will inspect suspiciously low declarations. Use $12-15 per kg as a realistic guideline.
Ordering during peak season: December shipping is 2x slower and more expensive. Plan around holidays.

Your First Week Timeline

Here is what to expect during your first LitBuy experience, day by day:

Day	What Happens	Your Action
Day 1	You order through your agent	Submit links, select sizes, pay for items
Day 2-4	Agent purchases from sellers	Wait, check agent dashboard for status updates
Day 5-10	Items arrive at warehouse	Watch for QC photo notifications
Day 11-12	QC photos uploaded	Inspect carefully, approve or request exchange
Day 13	You approve and pay shipping	Choose shipping line, declare value, pay
Day 14-16	Agent packs and ships	Receive tracking number, start monitoring
Day 17-30	Package in transit	Track via agent dashboard and carrier website
Day 21-35	Package arrives	Unbox, inspect, take photos, submit QC to community

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, when you follow the verification steps. Use only links with 5+ QC photos and 4.0+ ratings. Choose reputable agents like PandaBuy or SuperBuy. Start with a small $50-100 haul to learn the process.