[ARCHIVED] [CD] [GTW] Retail worker/vets don't spawn for business as customer

@EtherealLith You have to do more than just remove that cache file to test without Mods/CC. I would also recommend that you do a game repair in the process in your case. Please try the following steps, all in this order, and without skipping any steps, even if you've done them before:

1. Close your game.
2. Move your Mods folder from your "The Sims 4" folder [Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4] to your desktop (save it for reference) and delete the localthumbcache.package file in your “The Sims 4” folder.
3. If there is an update to your The Sims 4 game, please run that update.
4. Next, run a game repair. Allow it to finish running for all of your packs before opening your game.
5. Then check in a new game save to see if this issue is still occurring. You can test without saving.

However, this may solve some of your issues, but it's possible that if you're seeing the bug that this thread was merged into that you still will not see the employees in the store. However, if you're having endless loading screens and some issues not in this bug report, you could test this way to see if any of the issues you mentioned are removed in this test.

It's also possible if you're seeing endless loads that you could be seeing this bug: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/OPEN-Endless-Loading-Crashing-when-trying-to-load-a-certain-lot/td-p/13326793/highlight/true. I added a comment to it with my testing details on a couple of lots that I made (comment #403) where I found that the issue triggering it, as mentioned also by Crinrict's testing, was that I had a certain set of numerous debug logs stacked in it and I added this to both of these lots... and when I could finally enter one of them in build mode and removed these numerous stacked logs, the issue stopped for the lot. So, is the endless loading for you from a lot you added something like that on, one you got from the gallery that may have the issue, or one of the premade lots that others are having the issue on in this other bug report?

@SIMpleDigs Unfortunately, I couldn't reproduce your issues in my game. I have a save where I have sims who own a store, so I moved another (test) sim into the world, with a pet. I had him go to the default vet clinic that is in Brindleton Bay (that came with the pack). My test sim was able to find many items in the vending machine and purchase from it. He checked his dog in for a checkup, was seen promptly, and the dog got a vaccination.

He went to Paddywack's Emporium in Magnolia Promenade (the world and lot that came with Get to Work), and it was open and he was able to buy an item in the store from an employee.

However... it does get tricky with both types of business if they are owned by our sims instead of auto-run by the game...

They then traveled to the store my (other) sim family owns, and no one was there to wait in them so they could buy nothing. However, I left to Manage Worlds, took my (other) sims to their business and had them open it. Their employees came to the lot, then I saved and left. Now I went again to that lot with my test sim. He was able to purchase several items in the store my other sims owned, and even purchased from their Lice Cold Freezer, and all behavior there was as expected.

Note that I have played in the past with different sims that owned a vet clinic and found out the hard way (my dog almost died while I tried to have my vet treat her unsuccessfully), at least at that time a vet sim could not treat their own pet in the vet clinic they owned, if memory serves me on this. The vet had to take his own pet to a different vet clinic he didn't own and they treated it fine.

With those notes in mind, I'm not sure what is different in your game that's causing you issues. My only guesses would be:

• Perhaps you are experiencing some glitch or your game needs a game repair run?
• Perhaps your vet is trying to treat their own pet at their own clinic?
• Perhaps you are using a vet clinic/retail store that is different than the one that came with the pack and it has some missing or malfunctioning item/s?
• Perhaps you are visiting a store that one of your sims owns instead of the game owning/running it, and the store is not open when you visit it... or they have no employees to wait on the visitors?
• Or the biggie that catches people off-guard here and there... do you perhaps have (or had) any Mod/CC that may be bugging something out in the game? I will include in the spoiler below directions for testing without Mods/CC and their cache file... 

@freiundentwirrt

Now that you mention it, yes, it started after i bought for rent! The employees don't appear on lots anymore when it's non owner. The buying a retail venue freezes on infinite loading screens, overall it's just a giant issues cesspool.

I love the landlord idea, and that's great, i tend to bring to game also things i'm interested in real life. I tried also landlord and i couldn't understand what i was doing, after a tiring day of work i gave up and never tried again.

Oh i love the pizza oven! Totally agree, and the hot cocoa tray, my favorites. I said this also to my friend recently, nightlife ts3 had many things in one DLC, that on sims is about 6 separated DLC's. Give us a break and add more gamepacks and expansions that feels more complete! City Living is still the best, and get to work for me is super interesting, i love neighbourhood vibes and gather at cafe, bars, restaurants, cinema, city itself, the clubs, (so overall my favorite are all the first expansions). I have so much more to say, so i will stop on those! Just EA needs to let me give feedback and actually hear it. Or just scoop the forums for issue fixing.

Overall issues about this:
 1. Possibly caused by For Rent pack
 2. Non owner retail and vet don't have employees doing their job, so automatically can't buy or do anything related with the lot venue type
 3. Retail doesn't allow to buy items, they are draggeable, but not able to be bought
 4. Vets have no medicine too 

Just a quick summary. If anyone stumbles upon this bug post and rummage for answers. 

Possible workarounds, needs testing: 
 1. Try install all but For Rent, and see if works again. I will come back with news, after i try this, but i'm sort of busy at the moment. 
 2. Disable For Rent pack: Disable packs by James Turner 

@EtherealLith 

I mentioned the For Rent pack in relation to this problem because my stores worked properly before installing that expansion. I've heard other people say this about For Rent as well. It seems that pack broke something with store/selling gameplay. I'd be interested to know if you're experiencing this problem without that pack?

What's extra funny is I got the For Rent expansion excited to be a landlord, as I am a landlord in real life, and that part of the gameplay is broken as well. At least I got a working crock pot/ rice cooker out of it? A cool pizza oven? It's sad that small appliances are my only joy after spending all that money. 

@freiundentwirrt

I share the frustration. You mentioned you regret to buy for rent, is this a related bug that i don't know of? I made retail stores with love, and i can't use them, it's really disappointing, to say the very least. I love playing business, but it's unplayable as of now. I find it amusing that this patch fixed able to give poop to a child as food (??), but doesn't fix it's own DLC's. It's a hilarious joke. I feel like saying "EA, am i a joke to you?" apparently we are, all money grab but no fixes. We need the fixes. DLC's are not usable or even worth to buy if things are not fixed, that's lost money for them as well. Should be in their interests. I wonder EA's meetings brainstorming for Sims4: "Any new things or fixes we need to focus on?" "Someone complained about giving poop to a child" "great, let's go with that". Do they even bother to check the forum issues overall and take notes on a spreadsheet, for overview when launching a new patch? I have a busy life, every project i do on Sims, i'm taking of my time, just for in the end that time being wasted into nothingness. I really feel like a karen complaining, i can't say it any other way, to be fair.

@SIMpleDigs


I've been complaining about this like a karen since november 2024. I was making a hogwarts save, with loads of hogsmeade retail stores, and was unplayable, and that's the best part supposedly for me to make this save, has it's fun on winter activities and social on christmas. Was in mood to play it, but result was that i couldn't even get it to work.

It's still not working, and now i have endless loading screens when trying to buy a store, i can have it all night on loading, and it simply won't load and enter in the lot too, which makes 2 issues.

It's beyond me how such a old and first DLC is still not fixed yet.

Also try get the "auto employees" by LSM.
Maybe it will help. I'm gonna try it soon.

I'm having an issue with the following lot types:

- Vet clinics (vets not showing up, vet supply fridge is empty, pet never gets visited by vet even though I can check in)

- Retail lots (if I visit a retail lot as a non-owner sim, I'm unable to buy anything. Items don't show up for sale)

I've read that changing your "Get Famous" settings might help things, but nothing seems to work. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Product: The Sims 4
Platform:Mac
Which language are you playing the game in? English
How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
What is your current game version number? 14/01/25 Update
What expansions, game packs, and stuff packs do you have installed? Island Living, City Living, Snowy Escape, Get to Work, Cats and Dogs, Get Famous, Discover University, Cottage Living, Dine out, Movie Hangout, Romantic Garden, Backyard, Laundry Day, My first Pet,
Steps: How can we find the bug ourselves? Going into retail lot owned by a different household.
What happens when the bug occurs? All my retail lots work fine when owners household are in. However, if I'm playing with a different household going into the retail lot, all the items are there, but there are not employees/ customers. The lot it completely deserted meaning nothing can be bought. I've tried removing all mods and it still persists. I've restarted, updated, cleared cache and tried reinstalling from scratch, I also tried on a different computer, but still happens. This also happens in all vet clinics owned by my households. Standard unowned vet clinics work fine.
What do you expect to see? All townies and employees, and being able to purchase retail lot items.
Have you installed any customization with the game, e.g. Custom Content or Mods? Not now. I've removed them.
Did this issue appear after a specific patch or change you made to your system? Neutral/Not Sure 

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