PS: Don't you just feel like smacking those men who demand you bring items to the dressing room?

PPS: And that surfer dude sure isn't good at "chilling" out. He seems to be the most impatient of all.

Chambana, yea I'd like to smack 'em for sure!! The surfer dude appears to be really like a cool dude at first, but then he turns out to be one of the least patient customers. Having to exchange clothes at the dressing rooms constantly is a total nuisance. And if we could predict what the customers at the service counter want and get 2 items out of the stock room instead of just one that would help, but everytime I get 2 items the 2nd customer doesn't want what I'm holding so then I have to just hold it or run to the discard rack and lost time. Can't win for losin'!! :-(

Thanks guys. I thought it was me. I've played all those other ADDICTING games (you know the ones!). I never had this much trouble. They were challenging but not impossible. This is impossible! I thought maybe I was getting old or something! Well I am, but that's besides the point! I purchased mine from Big Fish Games and I've contacted customer support to see if I can download the game again for free IF the new version comes out. Is it out yet? Do you think they'll let us download the newer version if we've already paid for this one? hmmmm They better! Ok back to my game. I'm stubborn!

I sent a note to BFG too. Hopefully we'll get a quick response and it won't cost us for the fix.

Yes, Jeocan, they will let us re-download for free when the 'fixed' version is available. I still haven't gotten a response from them yet. No, it's definately not you, it's the game (I thought it was just me at first too). There's been many postings from others that are having the same issue. I'm sure when the fix is available we'll have to uninstall our game and reinstall the new version. Can't wait. Don't like being on hold.

PS. I had made it to Oct of the 3rd store but now that I restarted this store to choose what I thought might be better upgrades I can't get past August. GGGRRRRRRRR!!!!

I just finished the game and there are defintely several things you can do. First of all, it is way too frustrating to have to start the game store completely over when you lose all of your lives so the first thing you should do is when you are playing a level and you are almost to the end look at your score and if it is obvious that you can't make enough money to win just QUIT THE GAME right then and go back to the main screen and hit play and then "resume game" and you can start over without losing any lives. (be sure to hit resume game or you will have to start over from the beginning!!!) This will help you a lot plus you can experiment with buying different upgrades because it lets you buy them again and you can experiment with different choices.
Once you get that stress off of you, then you can try a few strategies. Definitely buy the goodies upgrade as soon as you can as it will double your tips.
Next, buy all the fitting rooms by at least May if you can, the speed upgrade by August and always look to see what upgrade for clothes gives you the higher amount of profit and buy that. For example, if you can buy only one item of clothing and one takes you from a $16 shirt to a $21 and the other only goes from $16 to $19, obviously you should buy the one that gives you more profit. Always use this logic when you buy clothes as it seems to help.
By the time you play this game over and over which I am sure you have you will start to get the hang of what each character does and buys and use that to your advantage. Try to anticipate and work fast. If you can remember what item of clothing the grandpa is going to ask for and you see him walking toward the service desk then you may be able to mover faster and get his item earlier. Sometimes you can see a person heading for a certain item and it is all gone so they head for the service desk to ask for it. If you see this go ahead and get the item don't wait for them to ask. Try to concentrate and stay steps ahead. Watch out for mistakes at this level because they can be fatal. The main thing to remember is KEEP YOUR INVENTORY STOCKED AS MUCH AS YOU CAN because this is key to keeping your lines short.
One major thing I noticed is that you can't have more than 6 people in line or the ones in the back will go nuclear on you and explode away. So work from line to line between check out and service desk and KEEP THE LINES SHORT. While you go from side to side multitask by bringing an item to someone in the dressing room or restocking an item of inventory. Always have something in Francie's hands and the best advice I can give is keep the lines from getting long no matter what, I am talking about the lines for checkout service desk AND fitting rooms.
cont.

cont. post
Also, the best time to use your Coffee, Water, Smoothies or whatever is toward the end of the turn. Wait as long as you can to use these items and if you have to choose between two customers that are angry and about to leave try and give it to whoever is holding the most money. Usually this is always the boy that always buys two items. Don't ever let those school boys leave angry. Make them priority because they spend the most money. When you hear the people say a negative comment and the thunder starts you have a few seconds to get them out the door and at that point you have to see how far it is until their happiness is totally gone. I noticed that the raincloud appears over their head and then reappears and when it disappears a second time you have about 3-5 seconds before they dissolve so try to get them through the line even if they are really angry because you will still get the money and a tip as long as they just check out. Granted not as much money as if they are really happy but you won't lose any. It is important to get as many people through as you can before the closed sign is up. If a person is angry and about to leave and still has something to do then that is the person you should give the coffee or water to. If the person is ready to check out and is in line and about to dissolve get over there and check them out and DO NOT use coffee on them as you will be wasting it. I hope that makes sense.
Kel
Wow that was long! I had to post it in 2 posts and I had already cut a ton of it out! LOL

Thanks kel. But I've darn near done all that stuff and I've played it so much I almost have it memorized. I think that's the only way you can beat it. One mistake and you're finished. I run back and forth to each desk and restock and even do switcheroos with the dressing room clothes. I take the sweater for instance and give it to the guy in the dressing room, take his pants and hand it to the guy at the customer desk rather than putting it back ( a feat and a half for me!). I just cannot do it! I also quickly quit before the last customer explodes if I know I haven't made enough, and just resume the game. I have been in October in the 3rd store with 4 lives for 2 days now. waaaaaa! I have even started over and bought different upgrades at different times. double waaaaaaa! Ok I'm being a baby now but I'm about to throw a tantrum!