FAQ

LAST UPDATE: July 12, 2010

Q:
Where do the products in HelloStoreUSA come from?
A:
All products are sent to us directly from Up Front International in Japan.


Q:
Do you ship internationally?
A:
HelloStoreUSA ships to USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Central & South America, and Australia.

Q:
What are your shipping costs for small and large items?
A:
Please see our Shipping Info page here.

Q:
Why isn't every past and present Hello! Project item listed in your store?
A:
Since our store only carries items directly from Up Front, we can only order items they currently have in stock. HelloStoreUSA is still growing, and we'll be adding new products regularly.

Q:
Why are there only Tour Goods in stock?
A:
Official H!P tour goods are the first stage of products for our USA-based store. We are working to add other items as soon as possible. UPDATE: We now offer selected goods from HelloShop.jp as special order items.


Q: 
Are products in HelloStoreUSA "leftovers" from Japan?
A:
HelloStoreUSA has the same access to tour goods as all of Up Front International's overseas partners. Some items are limited to sale only in Japan (ex: live-show only goods, or fan club goods), so we cannot make those available in our store.

Q:
If an item in the store is marked "OUT OF STOCK," will it be available in the future?
A:
If Up Front has more inventory available, then we will place an order to re-stock the item as soon as possible. If you have a question about a specific item listed in our store, please contact us.

Q:
How will I know about new & re-stocked items in HelloStoreUSA?
A:
Our newsletter will announce new items, re-stocked items, special offers, and pre-order opportunities. Sign up for the newsletter on the right side of this page.

Q:
Can I request a specific item that is not currently listed in the store?
A:
We do not order items on request. However, we DO want to hear your suggestions for future items!
Please let us know what products you'd like to see in HelloStoreUSA by using the contact form. 

Q:
What happens if I buy pre-order items and in-stock items? Will they ship separately?
A:
If your pre-orders items and in-stock items are part of the same order, then all of your items will ship together when the pre-order items arrive in our warehouse.

Q:
What is a "Processed" order?
A:
"Processed" means that the system has removed your products from inventory and has verified your payment method. You will receive a "Completed" e-mail from our system when your order has been packed and shipped.

Q:
Can I add items to a "Processed" order?
A:
Unfortunately, we are unable to add items to a "Processed" order because of inventory & shipping calculations.

Q:
Are Pre-Order quantities unlimited?
A:
When items go up for pre-order, HelloStoreUSA has already made the order with Up Front International for a specific quantity of each item. This quantity is based on our staff analysis of past sales for (a) the type of item (ex: Phone Strap) and (b) the member or individual group (ex: Berryz Kobo).

Q:
Why do some Pre-Order items sell out so fast?
A:
- Some items sell out fast because of strong support for a particular member (Ex: **** ****** fans or *** ***** might spread the word in fan forums and blogs);
- Some items sell out fast because an overseas group of fans will order multiple items in a single order to save on shipping costs.

Q:
How many of each Pre-Order item is available to start?
A:
Since beginning in October 2009, HelloStoreUSA has over 900 registered customers, and new customers are discovering our online store daily. Our normal quantity per item ranges from 10-to-20 pieces for an initial order.

Q:
What do I do if an item I want is sold out?
A:
HelloStoreUSA researches sold-out items by checking user Wish Lists. If a significant number of customers add an item to their wish list, the item will normally be re-stocked. For more information on Wish Lists, see this page:
http://www.hellostoreusa.com/how-to-wish-lists.html