These BNS terms can help you score your next K-Pop ‘budol’

There’s nothing else that connects individuals across the globe quite like social media. It’s here where we get to see tribes of like-minded people come to life, utilizing the platform not only for even more entertainment for members of a fandom but as an avenue for entrepreneurship, too.

Reports show that at this rate, social commerce is set to become a $7.07 trillion industry by 2030. Zeroing in on the local market, the Philippines’ social commerce space is predicted to expand by 30.4% in 2022 alone, with a gross merchandise value of a whopping $682 million.

Taking a closer look at the social channels involved, we see that Facebook and Instagram have emerged as the more common platforms for social engagement and commerce. For K-Pop fans, however, Twitter is where it’s at. It’s here where they often go to express their love for their favorite groups and artists and buy and sell K-Pop collectibles.

If you’ve ever come across the terms WTB, PAYO, and NETA on your K-Pop feed and have gotten curious about what they mean, here’s the lowdown. Ahead, we walk you through the terms you need to know about the buy-and-sell (BNS) side of Twitter so you can better prepare yourself for your next K-Pop budol!

A New K-Pop Fan’s Guide to BNS Twitter Terms

K-Pop Twitter is its own little universe where so many things happen at once. Add K-Pop terms to the mix and we can easily confirm that this universe comes with its own language, too.

Users who follow or have “moots” (mutuals) that retweet posts from any K-Pop shop will often see BNS terms on their feeds. These all relate to shops that sell K-Pop merch which, depending on their operations, can offer everything from albums and photo cards to plushies and calendars of any and all of your favorites. It’s great to know you don’t need to travel to South Korea to get your merch fix; you just have to understand the BNS Twitter terms ahead and join in on the conversation!

WTS and LFB

If there’s one thing you need to know about BNS Twitter, it’s that tags are essential. K-Pop shops add WTS (where/willing to sell) and LFB (looking for buyer) to tweets in order to signify that they have items on sale.

WTB and LFS

On the contrary, WTB (where/willing to buy) and LFS (looking for seller) are used by customers looking for specific items they want to purchase. These tags make it easier for sellers to search for people they can do business with.

WTT and LFT

WTT (where/willing to trade) and LFT (looking for trader) are terms utilized by social media users keen on trading what they have for something else. Often, people go on BNS Twitter and use these tags to find photo cards of their bias and gift others with their own. “Have” and “Want” should also be clearly stated in the tweet.

★彡wtt lft ph

have: wonyoung beatroad
want: minju music korea tulog

wony is stbo from sg, ratio tbd

t. wonyoung ive love dive mukor airpods iz*one kim minju minjo pic.twitter.com/KRtm5imu2B

— cici ★彡 busy (@ayumxiii) August 31, 2022

PAYO or BAYO, DP, and RB 

When it comes to payment terms, PAYO (pay as you order) or BAYO (bayad as you order), DP (down payment), and RB (remaining balance) are some of the terms you need to understand. If you scroll through your BNS feed long enough, you should find interested buyers conversing with sellers this way:

    Buyer: Hi, interested po sa Hongjoong PC. Ano po payment terms?

    Seller: 50% DP PAYO, 50% RB once on-hand na.

DOO and DOP 

Like any other online business, sellers must be clear about the payment deadlines to better manage everyone’s expectations. You’ll often find DOO (deadline of order) and DOP (deadline of payment) in group orders or pre-orders.

LSF and ISF

You may also see terms like LSF (local shipping fee) and ISF (international shipping fee) included in a seller’s tweet, which are additional fees outside of the item’s selling price. Something that’s also good to note? PF (or packing fee), which is a small charge added by sellers as they undertake special packaging efforts to ensure the K-Pop merch gets to the buyers in mint condition.

MOP and MOD

Sellers and buyers have their trusted MOP (mode of payment) and MOD (mode of delivery). Typical MOPs on BNS Twitter include bank transfers, e-wallet transfers, and cash on delivery. Some buyers can also opt for a same-day or regular delivery as MOD (mode of delivery) when having their items shipped.

GO and QS

Sellers use the term GO (group order) when they’re interested in opening a batch order for items from Korea. GOs are typically held for new album releases, and with them come POBs (pre-order benefits), which can be a special gift or a poster of the K-Pop group.

PH GO | WTS LFB

BORN PINK DIGIPACK w/ Ktown4u POB + folded poster
LALISA VER - 660
10 slots avail
not yet secured
FETA
DOO: until OOS
DOP: when all slots are taken
MOP: GCASH, PAYMAYA, BDO

dm to order 💌

ph go blackpink bp lalisa jennie rosé jisoo pink venom born pink digipack pic.twitter.com/OoZFcLeOYD

— tricia (@w13ccart) August 23, 2022

You might also catch sellers tweeting QS (quitting sale) items when they ultimately stop collecting K-Pop merch. The reason behind this is often disclosed with the tag RFS (reason for selling).

ETA

ETA (estimated arrival time) is necessary as this shows when fans are set to receive their items. Other terms under ETA include FETA (fast ETA) and NETA (normal ETA). To get your dates right, it’s best to ask for updates from the seller.

Pooling

Pooling in BNS Twitter is when the seller is understood to open the albums before giving them out to the buyers, where they get to arrange the inclusions so that each person receives exactly the items they want. A lot of buyers tend to participate in pooling when purchasing an album when they want to make sure they get their bias’ postcards, as these are random pulls.

STBO

Sellers use STBO (soon to be on hand) to let their followers know that they will be carrying certain K-Pop merch in the near future, ensuring buyers won’t wait long to receive their items.

OOS and OOP

OOS (out-of-stock) and OOP (out-of-print) merch mean that certain items are no longer available. The former indicates that the seller doesn’t have any on hand or the distributor ran out of the initial run, while the latter denotes that the label is no longer publishing that item.

IC

If a seller finds K-Pop merchandise that’s good to sell, they can proceed with an IC (interest check) to see if there is a demand for it and therefore will make a good sale. IC is often used for big international GOs, where shipping can be costly, especially if the number of items ordered doesn’t hit a certain quota.

OB, PB, PC, and CD

OB (outer box), PB (photo book), PC (photo card), and CD (compact disc) are terms that denote the standard inclusions of a K-Pop album. Sellers can offer these items as a set or open a ‘tingi’ option for fans on a budget who want to score specific pieces to add to their collection.

Happy Budol at BNS Twitter!

The Twitter space has come far, but remember to be careful, still, when transacting with strangers. Check whether these users are legitimate sellers with updates and client feedback included in their profiles for a successful BNS budol.

Want to be updated on all things K-culture? Join Globe’s Kmmunity PH to become part of the online community of Hallyu fans. Make this experience even better by subscribing to Globe’s GoBOOSTERS. Level up your existing Go or Go+ promo so you can stay connected anytime, anywhere.