For all you new H!P shopping fans on ebay. Sometimes we decide to want something a little late and we have to rely on ebay don't we? Now for those unsure of the overseas company in Tawain who has legals rights to publish H!P media is FOWARD. That means there should either be a FOWARD tag going around the CD/DVD or a FOWARD logo on the back. Overseas version are cheaper than Japanese versions but if you see a Japanese version cheap (and it's not used) then its probably a rental/promo. They have yellow stickers on the obi or back of the DVD. Pony Canyon releases such as Buono! are white. They cover the barcode because it's really not for SALE!!!! These CDs/DVDs will have SAMPLE written on the CD/DVD. Korea has just started release Morning Musume releases so any future H!P releases for Korean versions are own by Mnet Media. Autographs are tricky, if the prices if too good to be true then don't buy it. Most autographs auctions start off around 50-100 USD (depending on what's autograph) and do got up fast the last 10 minutes. There has been (and still is) a few fakes floating around. Now for offical photographs, it you see KODAK on the back of your photograph then its okay. UFA sometimes has KODAK printings on the back. If the person really doesn't show pictures  offical product then don't but it. It's probably a fake print off and you will easily recongize it when you compare it to those computer scans on the internet. The best place to check to see if your photo is real is Hello-Online picboard. Now here are some sellers who are legit and I have personally bought from them.

Dora - When you need a limited edition/first press, this is your guy. He sells other music besides H!P but mainly H!P comes up a lot.

Ohta (Hello! Project goods) - Ohta is a guy who gets most of his stuff from Japan auction so you know they are legit. He will hunt anything for so you or purchase it any store that requires a Japanese address.

HelloProLand - A store that has plenty of overseas releases but has offical H!P photos, concert goods, and some offical Japanese versions.

Now I notice most but not all of this store's products are promos - JAPANCD. Shipping costs a bit but thats because they always sent you something free along with your order.

Now Japanese DVDs are expensive so if your favorite idol stars in a drama/anime then each DVD should be about 50 dollars and you should be weary of those that have English subtitles along with Chinese and Malay. If you can't find it on Amazon or YesAsia with English subtitles then its fake. A DVD collection set would cost around 100USD and more so please watch out for bootleg.