Review: H.Naoto San Francisco Store USA Shopping Service

Hello, again. So I am doing a review on my experience with H.Naoto USA's Shopping Service. If some are not aware, H.Naoto speicalize is gothic/punk clothing. In San Francisco they have a shop opened up here last October so the USA buyers have easy access. In my opinion the shop is still a bit limited in carrying items as I am comparing to looking at the online Japan store of H.Naoto. There are lots of items I wanted from the Japan H.Naoto store (that is no in the USA store), but it's quite expensive. Despite they have a World H.Naoto Web Shop they only ship by EMS which is already $20+ at the start. So this November the H.Naoto USA Store and the World Web Shop worked together so that I could obtain some items from the H.Naoto Japan that were not in the USA store.

I was quite confused because I live in San Francisco where the H.Naoto shop is. Looking an reviewing on their policies about the Shopping Service I was quite confused still because I really wanted to get the items with free shipping and just pay the CA taxes. So I called the H.Naoto Store in San Francisco and the employer help clarify that if I did order and choose in the order to  "pick-up item in H.Naoto SF" then there was no shipping fee charge. So at the World Web Shop, on Nov. 23rd I ordered a Mint Neko Ribbon Alligator Hair Clip (Pink/Black/Silver). Maybe about 12 hours later they invoiced me that the total price I had to pay and there was no shipping fee (hurray!). So I proceeded with the order.

The very next day I saw this they just released a Mint Neko Scarf (Black/White) and in the Japan H.Naoto Site it said it was the "last one" so I couldn't help but purchase it immediately on the World Web Shop (I was very luckily they updated immediately because it tends to take days to update new items on their World Web). So I was waited a day or two to get my invoice and they did invoice me, but they charged me with shipping fee of $5.60. I was like telling myself wait did I not press "pick up H.Naoto SF". I double checked and I did. So I was quite confused since the lady at the San Francisco H.Naoto store told me that there was no shipping fee. Well unfortunately I really wanted it so I paid anyways. They got back to me a week (I think) and they told me they were going to ship both the scarf & hair clip combine (which was nice of them to do) on Dec 8-Dec. 15th. But around Dec. 8th I got an email from them asking if I was picking it up at the store. I replied to them yes I am. Then a day later they sent me back partial payment of my money (the shipping fee) and I was relieved to hear that. They told me in response they refunded (partially) my money and that the item was ready for pick-up when I got that response on Dec. 11th.


Mint Neko Scarf (Black/White)

So the very next day of course it was Dec. 12th I picked up my items. I was very excited to take it out and didn't get to take pictures of the bag and package it was in. I was worried to see how it would turn out since there is a 50/50 of it looked better at the stock photo than the actual one. I was very pleased with my Mint Neko Scarf (Black/White)  It was longer than I thought. It is enough to wrap two people. I love how I can make it super long and then shorter. I prefer the long length more. Other than the little print of the mint neko I thought was clearly screenprinted on instead of stitched on. But I was deceived by the stock photo. Since it's really woolly and woven the print will fall off of the scarf easily once I put it in the washer. Even stretching the scarf will damage the darn print. It really should have been stitch on even a patch would've been nice. I think I have handwash it (despite the tags says it is okay at the washer) because of the darn pompoms. >_< But I may put it in the washer anyways because I'm too lazy to handwash.

Look how long and short it can go and I am a 5'1".


Print of the Mint Neko screenprinted on.

Mint Neko Ribbon Alligator Hair Clip (Pink/Black/Silver)

So next I took out the Mint Neko Ribbon Alligator Hair Clip (Pink/Black/Silver). Sorry I have no pictures of the wrapping, but it was well nicely wrapped. But I knew what I saw on the image. The color was obviously orange and not pink as stated in the description of their Website. Orange isn't my favorite color that's why.... I obviously knew it was orange, but I truly wanted to believe it when they said it was pink. So I took my gamble anyways knowing that it looked orange despite description said pink. Everything about this items turned out as I wanted it to be including it being orange. I wish it really was pink because it would be perfect. I'll still keep it anyways since it is the color that bothers me. You can see the difference of pink and orange by the other ones they sold of this in a slightly different color version. As for the material it is nice and soft. It feel a bit chiffon like material, but as I said I enjoyed everything about it except it's orange.

The difference of the orange and pink on different colors version of this item. (these second colors is pink).

this is the orange one (including mine)


Close-up (obviously orange right?)


Neko-chan Kiss loves his hairclip


How it looks like being worn.



I still love both my items and will definitely keep them for a very long time. I got to watch out sometimes items online look different from the actual item. I know now (I think) that when they do purchase they will charge you with shipping fee at first, but later refund it to confirm if you are going to pick the item up at the H.Naoto San Francisco Store. Will definitely be using their shopping services again. ^-^ Hope that helped. Can't wait for luckypacks from H.Naoto SF Store next (this) year, but unfortunately I will not be able to attend as I will be on vacation. Someone is suppose to stand in line for me instead. So toodles and Happy Holidays~!