5 tips for a successful Nintendo Store San Francisco visit

The Nintendo Store San Francisco will be a madhouse on its grand opening weekend. Those who don’t have a reservation — and those ran out shortly after they went online — will be turned away. The general public will have to wait until the May 19 to explore the outpost.

To maximize your time there, here are five tips to make your trip to Nintendo’s second store outside Japan a fun and smooth experience.

1. TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The Nintendo Store San Francisco is located at 331 Powell St. in Union Square. Being in the middle of the city, parking is a nightmare, so it’s best to take public transportation. Visitors can easily reach the shop from the Powell Street BART Station.

2. PRIORITIZE ITEMS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THE STORE: PJ Sadler, senior manager of retail for Nintendo of America, said the outpost has eight main products with the Nintendo Store San Francisco logo. Obviously, the hats, hoodies, water bottles and T-shirts won’t be sold anywhere else. At the very least, they make good souvenirs.

3. AN EASY WAY TO IDENTIFY STORE-EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS: One of the reasons that the Nintendo Store is so special is that it’s a way for fans to pick up items they can’t find anywhere else. That’s important in an age when you can buy almost anything online. Customers can figure out which products are store exclusive by checking for a red Nintendo square on the box or tag.

Sadler said that half the store has exclusive products with the rest coming from partners such as Lego or Hot Wheels. You can buy those items anywhere, but that Hyrule Crest Glass Tumbler is harder to find. The same goes for that Sanrio collaboration with Animal Crossing tray.

4. BRING YOUR MY NINTENDO QR CODE ON YOUR PHONE: The Nintendo Store has a small kiosk next to its enormous 14-foot screen where players can check out games. This is where customers can scan their QR Code and receive prizes or enter drawings. For the opening, Nintendo is handing out stickers that customers can collect. In past events in the Nintendo New York Store, customers received collectible pins. Checking in also nets users Platinum Coins.

You can access your My Nintendo QR Code by logging into the My Nintendo Account or you can use the Nintendo Today! App. It’s in the Profile menu there.

5. A BONUS COLLECTIBLE: For the opening, Nintendo is giving away special coin to commemorate the occasion. To get one, customers have to spend at least $50. The coin they receive coincides to the design on the back of their receipt. If you have inklings on it, you’ll geta Splatoon coin. If you have the Animal Crossing logo, it will feature the characters from the game.

Obviously, some coins will be more sought-after than others. The coins are specific to each register so make sure to figure out which one has the coin you want. The freebie isn’t guaranteed and is only available while supplies last.