Beginner Guide — First Day Tips

For new managers in Cranelock. Tips marked community-reported may shift with patches.

Open for business

Customers spawn and buy only during legal business hours (community guides cite roughly 09:00–21:00).
You typically need to open the store door manually each morning — if nobody walks in, check the door first.
Wholesaler trucks may run around the clock; boxes can sit on the dock until you (or a robot) unload them.

Warehouse & labeling

Delivered goods usually must go through the labeling machine before you stock shelves or send them out.
Packages and checkout UI show alphanumeric codes (e.g. A15). Grab the matching shelf item or the sale fails.
Storage is flexible — organize by code, by how often items sell, or whatever system you’ll remember under pressure.
Right-click / hot-swap empty vs full boxes when organizing shelves can save a lot of clicks over a long shift (community tip from demo-era guides).

Pricing tip (community / demo-era) Some early guides suggest pricing regular goods around market price × 1.20 (rounded up) for a solid margin without scaring customers away. Confirm in your build — economy numbers can change.

Robots — buy help early

Robots can unload trucks, stock shelves, and eventually serve customers.
Prioritize automation that removes the worst manual chore first (many players push unloading early).
Watch robot status / energy and keep repair supplies handy — neglected bots stop mid-task.
NPCs like Shelly (intro / robot unlocks) appear in community write-ups as early quest givers — follow their quests.

More on broken robots in the city: Wild robots locations.

Road safety — trolley rule

Do not cross the road with a trolley or while carrying goods AI vehicles can hit you. Collision typically resets your position and can damage cargo. Use crosswalks / wait for clear traffic, or leave the trolley and make safer trips. This is one of the most repeated early-game tips from players.

Deliveries & vehicles

Van / truck: bulk and VIP routes — learn Cranelock shortcuts.
Drones: small, urgent packages once unlocked (see automation tips).
Stash repair kits in the vehicle (players mention door storage) before exploring for broken robots.

First-session checklist

Open the door; serve a few customers to learn codes & labeling.
Keep aisles clear; don’t block the labeling machine.
Avoid road crossings with the trolley.
Bank cash toward your first robot and basic shelf upgrades.
When you leave the warehouse, bring repair kits.

Note Some workflow details come from demo-era community guides and may differ in the Oct 2026 release. When in doubt, trust what your build shows on-screen.