Common words and phrases used on Taobao shopping
When shopping on Taobao 淘宝, or chatting with store owners, we might come across nuances in their local dialect. We find that these words do not mean the same as what we have learnt here in Singapore, so here's a compilation. We hope to update this list over time and if you have questions feel free to post a comment below!
拍/拍下
To buy, or be available for purchase
e.g. 你如果喜欢就拍下吧！（If you like it, buy it!)
免单
This means the store is offering certain products for "free" for certain eligible customers, usually during a promotion period and only applicable to products with this word tagged on it. There are 2 common ways to obtain the product
- No cost checkout(直免类): For example, the product might cost 50CNY, eligible customers can checkout the product for free without any upfront cost
- 100% Cashback/Refund(返还类): For example, you pay and receive for a product that cost 50CNY, and the store will return you in full the money.
次品
Defective product. Often seen in comments/reviews.
原单 (also: 余单、尾单、尾货)
Taobao stores sometime label products as 原单正品. It's abit confusing, but there are subtle differences between 原单, and 正品.
原单 often refer to products that are deemed not up to standard, defective, or over produced, when overseas big brand companies outsource manufacturing/processing to China local companies. Similar to the products Factory Outlet Stores.
正品 is the product that big brand companies accepted from factories and sold in their stores.
数字化商品
Digital or intangible goods, such as redemption codes, computer games.