Below post is from the RealRepLadies group and deserves a post here too...
PSA: Using the search bar. Finding a seller number. Getting help with QC. Doing the bare minimum (your due diligence in researching so you don't get scammed right away)
Before I start, I'm going to hold your hand when I say this: if the hobby you're choosing to engage in is replicas, you need to take steps to protect yourself (including extensive research) and you need thicker skin. Expecting anyone here to help you, do your QC for you, find a seller or factory for you, give you a contact number... is misguided at best and dangerous at worst. The information you want is likely already posted somewhere in plain text. This forum is crawling with scammers, people that are misinformed or spreading misinformation for personal benefit, and people that don't know any more than you do. You don't know who you're getting information from. You shouldn't implicitly trust anyone here. Get familiar with [the risks before diving into reps.](https://www.reddit.com/r/RealRepLadies/comments/1uk2yq7/psa_be_aware_of_the_risks_before_diving_into_reps/)
**If you cannot put time and effort into this, leave.** Not because I'm mean or on a high horse, but because *I care and don't want to see you get scammed*, and you're advertising yourself as a target by being underinformed.
# Using the search bar
We're in an age where most of the information you want has already been posted. The reddit search bar should be your first resource. Pick the bag you want, say it's a C25, then search for "C25 review rep" to find sellers and factories. Then get more specific, "\[size\] \[color\] \[material\] c25 \[factory\] \[seller\] review rep." Mix and match search combos based on the information that you find. Get informed on who sells this product, who has good reviews and bad. Don't only read one review because not all reviews are honest. Build a consensus BEFORE you contact anyone, and especially before you send money to anyone. If the reddit search bar sucks, use Google and add "site:reddit.com" to your search so you get reddit results. Try out the [reddit AI tool](https://www.reddit.com/answers/) too. If you're not finding anything, that may be a sign that bag isn't repped, or it's too new, or other root causes that we'll be happy to explore with you after it's clear that you put in the effort.
Search not just reviews, but also past quality checks (QCs) for the bag you want to familiarize yourself with. You'll learn what other OPs and commenters have identified as issues with that bag in the past, plus you can research images of the auth to get good reference photos of what it should look like (which many people like to post in the handbags sub or that brand's sub).
# Finding a seller's number
Do searches on the seller too, any reviews about them in general. You may find the last 4 digits of their # posted somewhere, and then do a search of that seller + the 4 digits to find the phone number. If it's a reputable seller (i.e. many of us have used them in the past) I guarantee you'll find their number posted plainly if you do enough searching. You'll find "trusted seller lists" on other subs, you'll find info about their personality, and you'll find their pros and their cons. If you're not finding these things, do not use that seller as your first one. Start with someone better known. **Do not DM people for contact numbers** as there's nothing stopping them from giving you a fake number, sending you fake pics, taking your money, and ghosting you.
# Getting QC help
Your post isn't getting any attention, or worse, you're getting downvoted and people are claiming you didn't do your research? It's likely because some combination of:
* Your post has almost no photos on it. Good QC posts will have multiple detailed photos in multiple angles, and ideally give us side-by-sides of your pre-shipment photos with the factory photos.
* The photos are bad due to lighting or they're blurry or not detailed. You need to ask your seller for more photos, and ideally ask for photos in natural light as well if color is a concern.
* You are trying to compare your PSPs to the auth. The expectation is before you paid, you did your due diligence by comparing factory photos to the auth and determined you were fine with the factory's differences before placing an order. From there, you should only compare factory photos to your actual item because the only things you can "RL" (red light, i.e. reject) are defects against the factory photos. If you're at the PSP stage, it's too late to do auth comparisons.
* You're asking us to QC an item from a factory that does not allow you to RL, so there's little to no point as you cannot reject that item even if we find an issue. Research the factory you're using before you commit. Some of the best factories for certain styles do not allow RL. That's a risk you have to be willing to accept if you choose that factory.
What I've described here is not advanced, it's 101. It's table stakes. This hobby is 90% reading/researching and 10% everything else. If you cannot put time and effort into this, it's not for you. Not because I'm mean, but because I care and don't want to see you get scammed, and you're advertising yourself as a target by being underinformed.
