First Day Opening Checklist

Actionable Day-1 / first-session steps for Cranelock. Checkboxes are local to your browser only (nothing is saved to a server). Tips marked community-reported may change with patches.

How to use this page Tick items as you play your first shift. For longer explanations, see the Beginner Guide. Wrong codes void sales — when unsure, pause and re-read the shelf label.

1. Before customers arrive

Learn the warehouse layout: dock, labeling machine, shelves, and front door.
Clear paths to the labeling machine and checkout so you are not blocked mid-rush.
Note legal business hours (community guides cite roughly 09:00–21:00) — customers mainly buy in that window.

2. Open the store

Open the store door each morning. If nobody walks in, check the door first.
Serve a few early customers just to practice the flow (label → stock → sell).
Remember wholesaler trucks may still drop boxes outside customer hours — unload when you can.

3. Labeling & stocking

Run incoming packages through the labeling machine before stocking or delivering.
Keep the labeling area clear — a blocked machine slows the whole shift.
Organize shelves by code, by how often items sell, or another system you will remember under pressure.
Community tip: right-click / hot-swap empty vs full boxes when organizing can save clicks over a long shift (demo-era guides — confirm in your build).

4. Checkout & goods codes

Match alphanumeric goods codes at checkout (e.g. A15). Wrong item voids the sale.
Read the customer request and the shelf label carefully before bagging.
After a few sales, glance at which codes sell most so restocking stays ahead of the queue.

More on codes and simple tools: Codes & calculators.

5. Road & trolley safety

Critical early tip Never cross the road with a trolley or while carrying cargo. AI traffic can hit you, reset your position, and damage packages. Use crosswalks / wait for clear traffic, or leave the trolley and make safer trips.

Treat “no trolley across the road” as a hard rule on Day 1.
Plan short warehouse loops so you are not forced into risky street crossings.

6. Cash, robots & early upgrades

Bank cash toward your first robot ASAP — manual unloading is the early grind.
Prefer automation that removes the worst chore first (many players push unloading early).
Watch robot status / energy once hired; neglected bots stop mid-task.
Follow early NPC / quest prompts (community write-ups mention Shelly for robot unlocks) when they appear.

Finding broken bots later: Wild robots locations.

7. Leaving the warehouse

Stash repair kits in the van (players mention door storage) before exploring for broken robots.
Learn a few Cranelock shortcuts with the van / truck on low-stakes trips.
Do not chase every side trip until the store can run without you for a few minutes.

8. End of first session

Door open habit locked in; labeling + code matching feel natural.
Zero (or near-zero) road collisions while hauling goods.
Progress toward first robot and basic shelf / workflow upgrades.
Repair kits loaded before any city exploration.

Community / uncertain Hours (~09:00–21:00), pricing multipliers, and some UI shortcuts come from demo-era or early community guides. Confirm against what your Oct 2026 build shows on-screen. We do not invent Steam review scores, redeem codes, or cheat keys.

Next reads Beginner Guide · Wild robots · Automation tips · FAQ