Buying Guide

Buying goods at an official Hello!Project store can be confusing for the first time. As the stores mostly sell photos, which could probably be stolen very easy if sold like a regular shop, the stores use a special way of filling out a list and handing it over at the counter.

=Entering= As soon as you enter the store you will find a table or wall setup offering lists and pencils to entering customers.

Take one of each and you are open to buy anything. You can see an example of the back page of such a lists with a simple guide printed on here:

=Chosing= As you look/walk through the store, you will find a lot of pictures on the walls. All offered items have a sticker with a number written on it next to the item or on the item. If this item number is covered by a sticker, it means the item is sold out at this store.

Most photos shown are normal L-sized pictures. Sometimes bigger photos are shown in smaller formats on the wall. Try to read the description of the set or it's price if you need to find more about it. The photos itself cost 150¥ per piece. See Store_Photos for more details on the sizes and prices/types.

There are a lot of photo sets available which can be bought as one single item. The number of the sets can be found next to the photo set on the wall. The photo set always has a price listed (which is normally 150¥ * number of photos in set). Sometimes only the set is sold out and all photos from it are available as single items. In that case you have to write all numbers of the single photo items on your list if you want the set. It makes no difference if bought as a set or as single items in either the price or the product you get. The only difference is on the counter, you will be presented with each single photograph and not just the set.

Some stores have a display case or hanged up items (shown as actual items and not just pictures of them). Mostly CDs and photobooks, but also different goods of all kinds are available from time to time. CDs and photobooks are sometimes offered in a list form. You need to be able to read Japanese (or at least names of songs / members) to find out which is which in that case (or ask a staff member).

=Buying/Paying= As soon as you finished writing down all numbers and amounts of the items you want (try to always write the numbers in the correct columns, check both pages before writing down), count the total amount of the items. You need to write the summed amounts and not the total count of different items into the box at the bottom. Then you should write your own name into the box below it. The name is needed for the staff members to call you out as soon as all your staff is ready, in case if it's crowded in the store. So just writing a short nick name or anything will do.

Then you hand the list over at the counter. The staff member will first check if the total amount compares to all items and then input all numbers into the cash register. After you paid the amount shown on the register you will get the receipt of your purchase and the staff member will take your list to collect all items. Keep the receipt and wait (either in the waiting area where everyone else is waiting if it's crowded or just in front of the desk). You may get asked for a shop membership at this step (the staff member will say someting about a members card) - just decline by saying say no/arimasen/wave your hand at that question.

As soon as the staff member returns and looks out for you or calls out your name, you hand over the receipt of your purchase to him/her. You will be presented with all items you bought and everything will be packed safely. Sometimes items just sold out as you wanted to buy it or there were other mistakes, you will get your money back here in that case.

=Photos= The main product sold by the stores are photos in different sizes. There is more information on the available choices in the Store Photos page.

=Winning= Sometimes some shops (most often the Tokyo (Harajuku) Hello!Project store) have a game where you can win special photos depending on the amount of money you have spent. Most of these games consist of pulling a number of sticks (amount depending on money spent, e.g. 1 stick per 1000¥) with different color of rings on them. Good luck!

The game will be presented to you after you received all your items.