Store appeal and the Display Case in Probably Stolen
Two things decide who walks into your store: Store Attractiveness, a score that starts at 250 and controls how many customers come, how rich they are and which tier they are, and the Display Case, where the items you stock call specific customers each morning. Keep the street clean, stock the case before opening, and avoid contraband in it.
What is Store Attractiveness?
It is the “Store Attractiveness” figure on your calendar. The formula is simple: base value (250 at the start) minus the trash penalty, plus the Mirage Projector bonus. The in-game tooltip says it depends on when the Janitor last cleaned the storefront, and on certain machines and upgrades.
| Score | Effect |
|---|---|
| 100 or more | Display Case customers can visit |
| 200, 250, 500 | +1 normal customer per day at each step (not while the store is vandalized) |
| 300 / 450 / 600 / 750 / 900 | Customers with a spending budget bring +10% / +25% / +50% / +75% / +100% more |
| 400 | Better pool of random customers; Display Case customers get at least the mid tier |
| 650 | Best pool of random customers |
The base score rises with Store Renovation I, II and III from Joe Wild (500, 750 and 1,000 credits, +150 each, in order).
What is the trash penalty?
If the Janitorial Service is unlocked and you do not use it overnight, trash builds up by 2 levels a night, up to 10. The Janitor clears it all. Once the level passes 2, your base score drops by 5% per level:
| Nights without cleaning | Trash level | Base score lost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0% |
| 2 | 4 | 20% |
| 3 | 6 | 30% |
| 4 | 8 | 40% |
| 5 or more | 10 | 50% |
The night log tells you when garbage is deterring customers. Sawyer introduces the service on day 10 and the Janitorial Service also runs the Underground Exchange; see Sawyer.
What does the Mirage Projector do?
The Mirage Projector is a 400-credit machine that draws 16 power a night. On a night it is powered, it adds attractiveness for the next day: 100 points at base, changed by Quality and Performance bonuses from modules. The calendar shows the base, projector and trash parts separately.
How does the Display Case work?
The case sits on the left of the Shutter Door. The Mentor’s Note says each day it attracts one customer who buys the type of item you stock the most, by value, and that the total value sets the customer’s social class. Items placed after the day starts do nothing until the next day, so stock it before opening.
- Number of customers. One, plus one for Showcase Expansion I (200 credits) and one for II (500 credits), plus one while the Buyer Referral Service is active (200 credits, nightly fee). While the store is vandalized the expansions give nothing and one more is subtracted, down to a minimum of one.
- Customer tier by value of that type. Under 145: basic customer. 145 to 349: mid-tier. 350 or more: top tier, from day 14 (300 for household goods). At attractiveness 400 or more, the mid tier is guaranteed even for cheap stock.
- Luxury items attract the Discerning Taste customer if you have that Upper Levels perk.
Which neon signs and items attract special customers?
Place these in the case. The chance applies each morning:
| Item | Attracts |
|---|---|
| Water, Food, Material, Medical or Household Item Neon Sign | A seller of that type, 75% |
| Firearm Neon Sign | A firearm seller, 40% |
| Heavy Firearm Neon Sign | A heavy firearm seller, 25% |
| Scavenger’s Token | A Scavenger, 20% per token |
| Black Lamp | Thieves invited to fence stolen goods |
| Appraisal Board certificate | An appraisal customer, by rank |
| Class I, II, III Weapon Permit | A gun buyer; base 50%, 40%, 35%, rising each day you missed |
What must not go in the case?
Contraband. If any item with a contraband status is in the case, a Security inspector comes and searches it, and stolen goods can trigger one by their Heat. See Security. Weapon permits make firearms legal to display.
FAQ
What is the starting appeal? 250.
Why did nobody come to my case? The score may be under 100, or the items were added after the day began.
How many customers can the case attract? One at the start, up to four with both expansions and the referral service.