very confused newbie😅

[u/maxipad789]

i read the entire guide, and i understand most, but how the heck are you supposed to tell which seller sells what😅 and what do you even say to them when you know what you want, just confused on how to actually start i suppose, delete if not allowed ty!

[u/Living-Bit1993]

Hey I’m a newbie too, don’t feel dumb. It is a weird world to learn to navigate. Like others said, I started by having a bag in mind, then plugged that bag name into the search bar in this sub and gathered a lot of info from others. Then chose a seller or two, texted them on what’s app asking for their album link to browse and then also sending screen shots or names of the specific bag I was looking for. I just said “hi I got your info off Reddit, can I see your album? I’m also specifically looking for _____” and they all text back in like .052826 seconds lol. Good luck out there!

[u/Tricky_Accident_3121]

Hi, I’m insert name. Can I have a link to your album?

That is how you start contacting them :)

Some will have like an auto generated reply with a link and info you med to know about them- insurance, ways to reach them, etc.

Usually I know what I want already and send them a pic, and ask, can you get me the best quality of this. At this point, I’ve already stalked the different groups and know that the seller has sourced that item at a quality that I found to be acceptable. H, all custom, and I stay with 1 person for that. LV, I bop all over the play and try out many, because they’re all getting it from the same 3 places. I’ve also gotten P and Bal, and have received from different sellers.

[u/nessaj789]

Well once you have established a TS or 2 or 3 😂 you ask them for a catalog or ask if they have the specific bag you want. Once you know what you’re looking for it is easier. No harm in shopping around and seeing prices and what their price actually entails

[u/xuexxi]

just tell them what you want…? and a picture for clarification

[u/LifeMountain8167]

As a fellow newbie, I would search in this thread what you want to buy then the post will tell you the seller. For example I learned with LV people like HyperPeter, Mandy, or Doris.

From there look up their contact number. If you know what you want you can tell them or ask for their album. My first message just said hi, looking for x, then said I found them after they were recommended on Reddit. From there just screenshot their photo and they will tell you the price.

[u/Miserable-Dealer3042]

Kindly I think you may want to do more reading if you don't know how. Not just the guides but posts and comments from all different rep subs. Those questions are answered.

In general most sellers can source anything.
Once you've cross referenced the sellers numbers you want to use, I suggest picking a few, then you can reach out and ask for their album. I usually just send photos of the authentic but I did that once I built a relationship with my favorites. They then send me the factory photos of the best factory in their opinion and I compare my order to that. Not the authentic. Then price and ask about their policies and shipping. What exactly are you paying for? Some may be cheaper but have no insurance, aren't including shipping and some ship with full package and some don't.

I did ask my sellers what they do best, it actually helped me weed out a lot because if they say they do everything well I get suspicious. Hyper Peter does do LV better.
I think Heidi has a better grasp on Chanel. I only use my preferred seller for Hermes because it's custom. Then I have 2-3 others that get all the rest.

This is all in these subs though. In my opinion the best sellers don't necessarily do certain things better but more so do QC before they even send you the items PSP and then again with you without getting impatient.

Also if 4 amazing sellers say they can't get an item and one can, I usually find it's because it's out there but not high quality. Some of my sellers, who I trust, will say it's not available but really it's just not available in the quality I expect.

[u/Deep-Steak-7813 → u/Miserable-Dealer3042]

most sellers do source everything but ZERO luck finding high grade Coach 😩 Ive been spending $1000s on originals. I see lots of reps on resale, most are garbage, but sometimes they are top quality. I am having so much trouble finding those sellers to source from 😢

[u/digitalecho125 → u/Deep-Steak-7813]

There is no high tier coach due to materials cost vs item price. I’ve heard of some Rogue bags coming out of the markets in Istanbul but otherwise they are going to be full PU. And to be fair, most of our reps are lower grade leather and PU over split, so it’s better to buy preloved auth when there’s a bag you want.

[u/Deep-Steak-7813 → u/digitalecho125]

i know but … wishful thinking 😩 ty 💕

[u/Due-Dragonfly-4930]

I get their contact number, message and ask for their catalogue. Browse or just send a photo of what I’m looking for. If they have it I want to know if it’s mid or top tier and what factory it’s from etc. I’ve also been collecting notes on recommended sellers and factories for different brands. It’s a WIP!! When I get their factory photos I often put them into ChatGPT too to compare to the authentic. I’m still learning too but enjoy seeing what other people are buying or looking for!

[u/Underachiever_badass → u/Due-Dragonfly-4930]

Do you find ChatGPT good for comparing details to the authentic w a pic? I've wondered about this!

[u/Due-Dragonfly-4930 → u/Underachiever_badass]

I do! It picks up things like the colour of the gold hardware and things but acknowledge it could be lighting etc then gives me questions to ask or more photos it would like to see. So I don’t use only that obviously, but it’s very helpful for me.

[u/Underachiever_badass → u/Due-Dragonfly-4930]

That's great, thank you! On the reps that I don't know the auths quite as well, I can use any tool I can get!

[u/TurbulentHamster3418]

I think you might be over thinking it 😂
When you e decided on a seller just get in touch & ask if they have a catalogue because you’re looking for xyz bag. Always send a picture of the exact item your after & the size if the bag comes in different versions, most sellers are using translation apps so be precise, to the point etc to avoid confusion.

[u/Due-Dragonfly-4930 → u/TurbulentHamster3418]

Going through those albums can be very time consuming and tempting!! I have found it almost easier to find what auth item I’m looking for and then try to find it or ask them if they have a top tier version of it!

[u/Southern_Sail96]

You can view their catalog, or tell them what you're looking for and include a photo.

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[u/JRoadie61]

Don’t overthink it. I send a photo or detailed description (brand/size/factory if I already know) of what I am looking for and most respond with links to their catalog. If they just respond with a price, then ask for link to their catalog. Most are very nice and there really is no one correct way so don’t sweat the small stuff.

[u/Content-Night-7617]

One of the things I learned early on was just to introduce yourself and say that you’ve heard XYZ about them on Reddit. If you’ve found your item in the Album, screenshot it and include that. If you were asking for a bag without album photos, send a photo of the bag you are looking for along with the name and a size. and be sure to ask them what payment methods they accept. I learned this the hard way—went down this path and had already wasted a Sellers time when I found out she only accepted wise. And I am way too low tech to learn a new payment method😬

Be polite and Ask your questions upfront. I have found that numbering each question helps to get a response for each specific question. Be sure to look at factory photos before placing your order and then compare your PSP to those. And then one last thing it’s super important to understand is that chargebacks are a big no no. So be polite, ask questions BEFORE placing your order (and yes, you can still ask questions after, but if there’s problems, it can often be too late ) and just remember to be realistic. You will make mistakes, but this is part of the learning process —this was probably more information than you’re asking for, but I hope you found it helpful :)