01The twenty terms
Short definitions first; the ones that need more space are expanded below.
| Term | Means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| W2C | “Where to cop” — a request for the link to an item | The most-searched phrase in the community. If someone posts a photo and asks W2C, they want the Taobao, Weidian or 1688 listing. |
| QC | Quality control — the photos taken at the warehouse | Your last chance to reject an item before paying international freight. Free at most agents, 3–6 photos per item. |
| GL / RL | Green light / red light | Community shorthand for approving or rejecting an item after QC. An RL means the item goes back to the seller. |
| Haul | A batch of items consolidated into one parcel | What you ship. A haul is economical because the first kilogram costs far more than each additional one. |
| Agent | A platform that buys from Chinese marketplaces on your behalf | It receives your link, purchases the item, stores it in a warehouse, photographs it, and ships it internationally. |
| Consolidation | Packing several items into one parcel | The main lever on freight cost. Six small items shipped separately pay six first-kilogram charges. |
| Rehearsal packing | A dry run that measures the final parcel before shipping | Shows the real weight and volume, so you can re-pack or remove boxes before paying freight. |
| Volumetric weight | A weight calculated from box dimensions | Length × width × height ÷ 6000 on most air lines. Freight is billed on the greater of actual and volumetric weight. |
| DDP / DDU | Delivered duty paid / duty unpaid | DDP includes tax in the freight quote; DDU leaves the bill for the recipient at the door. |
| IOSS | The EU import one-stop shop for VAT on low-value consignments | Why some EU lines quote a VAT-inclusive price and nothing is owed on arrival. |
| Subheading | One distinct tariff category within a consignment | On EU parcels under €150 since July 2026, each subheading carries a flat €3 interim duty. |
| Declared value | The customs value written on the invoice | Normally what you actually paid. Under-declaring raises the chance of a hold without removing the tax. |
| Batch | A production run of a particular item | “Best batch” means the run with the best materials and stitching. Batches change without notice, which is why dated notes matter. |
| Find | A single item discovered and shared by the community | Usually posted as a link plus a price and a short verdict. |
| Spreadsheet | A curated list of finds, kept in Airtable, Notion or Google Sheets | Each row is one listing with notes on batch, weight and seller. |
| Middleman (MM) | A person who brokers between buyer and seller | Older model than an agent platform: less automation, more personal service, more risk. |
| Seized | Confiscated by customs | Usually for IPR infringement. The goods are destroyed and the freight is not refunded. |
| Top-up | Adding balance to an agent account | Watch the exchange-rate spread — it is often the largest hidden fee in a haul. |
| Submit / submit for shipping | The instruction that turns stored items into an outbound parcel | After submission you choose the line, confirm the declaration, and pay freight. |
| Warehouse intake | The step where the seller's parcel is received and logged | Until intake is complete, an item cannot be photographed or shipped. |
02The three that decide your money
Ask about these before you pay.
Volumetric weight is where budgets go. A padded shoe box measures 1.0 kg on a scale and 1.6 kg by volume; six of them turn a cheap haul into an expensive one. Consolidation is the counter-move: one parcel, one first-kilogram charge. The exchange-rate spread is the quiet third — a 2–3% spread on a top-up is invisible on the invoice and larger than most service fees.
03The three that decide your risk
QC, declaration and seizure.
QC is the only real protection in the process: the warehouse photos are the last point at which you can reject an item cheaply. Declared value determines the tax and the scrutiny — declaring low does not remove the tax, it moves the risk to the parcel. Seizure is the outcome nobody prices in: goods destroyed, freight gone, no compensation.
04Words that are older than they look
MM, batch and find come from a pre-platform era.
“Batch” dates from the factory-run model: an item is produced in runs, and each run differs. “Find” and “spreadsheet” come from the community habit of curating links. “MM” is the middleman model that agents largely replaced — still used for custom work, and still carrying counterparty risk that a platform removes.
Q&AQuestions people ask about this route
What does W2C mean?
Where to cop — a request for the link to an item someone has posted. It is the most common phrase in buying communities, and the reason a link is more useful than a photo.
What is the difference between GL and RL?
Green light means you approve the item after seeing QC photos and it proceeds to shipping. Red light means you reject it and the agent returns it to the seller, usually for a refund or exchange inside the seller's window.
What is volumetric weight in one sentence?
A weight calculated from the parcel's dimensions rather than its actual mass, and freight is charged on whichever is higher — which is why stripping shoeboxes reduces the bill.
What does DDP mean on a shipping quote?
Delivered duty paid. The freight price includes customs duty and import VAT, so nothing is charged when the parcel arrives. DDU is the opposite: you settle the tax and the carrier's handling fee on delivery.
Keep reading
Guides on the same subject, in the order most people need them.
Rep Spreadsheet Guide: How to Read and Use One (2026)
What every column in a finds list actually means.
Read the guide →China Shipping Agent Cost: Weight, Lines & Customs Duty
Volumetric weight and consolidation in practice.
Read the guide →Customs Duty on China Parcels 2026: Who Pays and How Much
DDP, DDU, IOSS and subheadings, with numbers.
Read the guide →Chinese New Year 2027: Shipping Cut-Offs and Factory Dates
The seasonal deadline that resets every haul plan.
Read the guide →