Abstract: An apparatus for ordering merchandise is provided with a receiving unit receiving an order signal including remainder quantity information that shows the remainder quantity of merchandise; prediction period calculation unit calculating a period until the remainder quantity of merchandise is exhausted; order information preparation unit selecting the shop where the merchandise can be purchased most cheaply based on the calculated period and the selling price of the merchandise, and preparing order information based on the selection; and order unit ordering the merchandise from the shop that is selected based on the order information. Thus, the present invention realizes a process of automatically placing an order, in such a way that merchandise can be purchased most cheaply before the merchandise is exhausted, with regard to the merchandise of which the selling price differs between every shop.