This guide is your all-in-one roadmap for Shipping Store Simulator 2037, from your first morning door click to crushing QuickBox in the Battle for Cranelock—covering every mechanic, automation trick, and business war tactic you need.
Overview & Important Note
This guide is based on the DEMO version of Shipping Store Simulator 2037. The final release may adjust pricing, robot costs, or event triggers. We will update this guide promptly after the official launch, but for now, every number and mechanic here is verified against the current build.
Time & Business Hours Data
Legal business hours run from 09:00 to 21:00 daily. Customers only spawn and transact within that window. You must manually open the store door each morning by clicking the left mouse button on the door handle—forget this, and no one walks in. The warehouse door is locked and cannot be opened before 09:00, so no early stocking runs. Wholesaler delivery services operate 24/7, meaning trucks can arrive at 03:00 and you’ll just have to leave the boxes on the dock until morning.
Core Mechanics & Formulas
The optimal markup formula for regular goods is simple: Final Price = Market Price × 1.20, rounded up manually. This 20% margin maximizes profit without triggering customer rejection due to budget limits. Accurate change calculation at the register directly influences customer satisfaction, which increases the chance of hearing “Keep the tip.” Right-clicking allows a quick hot swap of empty and full boxes when organizing shelves—saves seconds per transaction, which adds up over a 12-hour shift.
Goods have alphanumeric codes (e.g., A15, A17, A22) printed on the packaging and displayed on the right side of the checkout UI. You must match these codes to grab the correct item from the shelf—grabbing the wrong item voids the sale. Delivered goods must be manually placed on the Labeling Machine before they can be stocked or delivered. There is a physical collision penalty: crossing the road while using a Trolley or carrying goods can get you hit by AI vehicles, which resets your position and damages the cargo. The Storage System has no restrictions on shelf placement or item categorization, so you can build a completely custom storage network—group by code, by frequency of sale, or by whatever system your brain prefers.
Automation & Robot Data
Robots are designed to fully replace grunt work, including unloading boxes, stocking shelves, and serving customers directly. Three robot types exist:
| Robot | Function | Unlock Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Mooch | Basic sorting and stocking | Available early, low cost |
| Loader Bot | Heavy lifting and transport | Requires store expansion (Level 5) due to size |
| Unloading Bot | Directly empties delivery trucks | Highest priority for automation |
Robots have a Status/Energy indicator and require maintenance—ignore them and they’ll stop mid-task. The upfront cost to unlock key robots is approximately $550 total for the first two. Prioritize the Unloading Bot first; manually unloading trucks is the most tedious grind in the early game.
Facilities, Logistics & Vehicles
Two delivery modes are available for outgoing orders:
- Trucks: For large, bulk deliveries. Requires manual driving and includes map exploration elements for high-value VIP orders. You’ll need to navigate Cranelock’s streets, so learn the shortcuts early.
- Drones: For small, urgent packages. Provides ASAP delivery for emergency orders. A Drone Zone can be purchased or leased as the story progresses, but you will face inventory competition from rivals who also use the same zone.
Branded Bags can be purchased and provide a hidden bonus advertising revenue—every bag you sell is a moving billboard. Consumables and tools include fire extinguishers, repair kits (screwdrivers, hammers, tape measures, scrapers), some with level codes for advanced repairs. Shelf upgrades include Reinforced Market Shelves (holds more weight) and Double-Layer Warehouse Shelves (doubles storage density).
Quests & Business War (Battle for Cranelock)
The final goal is to eliminate the local monopoly competitor, QuickBox (sometimes labeled QuickBooks in early builds). Three core methods exist:
Ads Filling: Increase brand presence by purchasing billboard slots and local radio spots. Each ad campaign costs roughly $200 and lasts 3 in-game days.
Key Clients Luring: Steal important customers from QuickBox by undercutting their prices or offering faster delivery. Target their top 5 accounts first.
Exclusive VIP Orders: Use high-tier licenses to take orders competitors cannot fulfill. Large VIP orders can yield $350+ per order and require a Repair License or Shipping License to unlock. These licenses cost $500-$700 but pay themselves off in three orders.
NPCs to know: Shelly (guide, unlocks robot purchases after completing her intro quest) and Tim (recycles empty boxes for intel on new drone releases or competitor secrets). Special city events like Crane Lock Day cause official logistics to fail, redirecting a massive number of orders to you—prepare by overstocking common goods. Store expansions are locked at Level 5 and Level 9, costing between $450 and $850, and unlock hidden Warehouse areas on the map that contain rare goods.
Demo Version Key Bindings (Mirror Scheme)
The current demo uses a mirror key binding scheme that catches everyone off guard:
| Action | Standard | Demo Mirror |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | W A S D | Arrow Keys |
| Sprint | Left Shift | Right Shift |
| Jump | Spacebar | Right Ctrl |
| Interact/Pick Up | E | Enter |
This scheme is intentional for the demo and may revert to standard in the full release. If you’re struggling, remap in the settings menu—the option exists but is buried under Controls > Advanced.