Missing Merchants and other foreigners.

[PJSim]

I think others have had this problem:
Sometimes a store in a foreign location is just closed and stays closed.

And I've had this variation:
My Sim got an adventure in France involving delivering something to a local Sim but was unable to complete it before she got booted home. When she went back I was informed that the adventure couldn't be completed because the Sim in question was no longer there (I don't remember the exact words) and the adventure was just canceled. Also:

I was thinking it might have to do with Story Progression, like the store keeper leaving town and not being replaced? So I've turned it off and started a new game and haven't had any disappearing foreigners yet. Not exactly scientific proof or anything but I'm planning to play with story progression off for now.

Has anyone else had experience with this? Does the missing shop keepers ever return?

[bshag]

Hi PJ...yeah, I had that problem when I sent my couple to China.  Sophia had been there before and explored a tomb so had lots of dried food, showers in a can and tent, thank heavens as the shopkeeper to General Store was gone.  I think that the trip was glitched as their stay was 6 days instead of the supposed to be 3.  The special merchant was steamed also...kept going into store, stomping her feet and waving her arms, lol.  Other sims I have sent have had no problem with storekeepers.  I know that sometimes you have to go looking for them as they can be strolling outside, but in this case the store remained closed the whole 6 days.

I haven't sent them back yet to see if store is still closed, but am planning to do some traveling later today.

[PJSim]

I think that the trip was glitched as their stay was 6 days instead of the supposed to be 3.

Didn't one of your Sims have the Prepared Traveler reward? That gives them an extra 3 days.

I know that sometimes you have to go looking for them as they can be strolling outside, but in this case the store remained closed the whole 6 days.

You can click on the cash register and choose the buy option from that if there is a shop keeper anywhere. My shop was also closed for 6 days. I tried making a second trip and still no one was there.

My sim didn't have a tent but I sent her tomb raiding anyway. I found out that once you have looked inside a sarcophagus the Sim can sleep in it.

[Pam]

I've also had the stores be closed for an entire trip, but they were open the next time I went.  I think it might just be a random thing to throw us off.

[box3d]

Try going into the edit china mode, and if you can edit the shops (not sure if you can, there's a cheat to edit important buildings but I'm not sure what it is.)

Type up testingcheatsenabled true in the cheat box, and hold down ctrl+shift then click on the cash register and see if you can respawn an npc.

I haven't tested this yet but there's so many debug interactions I wouldn't doubt it if you could.

[PJSim]

Hmm, that might work, thanks.

Right now I'm playing a game where I haven't had the problem yet. I don't know if my "no story progression theory" is working or if it's just random like Pam says.

[bshag]

Hey PJ, yup you're right, I think Sophia had that reward.  She went to Egypt, for 6 days, and I noticed there was a clerk in the General Store so I had her run and get her stuff, quick.  Sure enough, next 6 days no one came in general store.  She is the one sim I have sent on vacation that has this problem.  Everyone else can stroll in and out and buy stuff at their leisure. 

[PJSim]

That's so annoying. I wonder if this is a bug or if it's supposed to be this way.

[Iseran]

Hi -- I'm new here, just wanted to offer this bit of info in case it helps someone -- sorry if this is already well-known.

The General Merchant in China may appear to be "missing" to some people because his/her store is on a slightly higher level than the other stores.  Use the "page up" key or go up one floor to see the store "open" with the merchant inside. 

[PJSim]

Ha, that's right. The first time I went there I just couldn't find that store.

Oh and welcome Iseran.

[Carl]

Thanks for pointing out the issue with the merchant in China. My sim really struggled until I figured that out.

As to the missing guys, which strikes people at random, use testingcheatsenabled true then buydebug. You can then go into buy mode in the market and delete the cash register and replace it with another of the same type. This respawned the npc for me just fine.

[Pam]

I had a case where the merchants were missing in France for the entire trip.  But when my Sim returned the next time, they were back.  I don't think it's a genuine bug.  It's just that sometimes the stores are closed.  Maybe some kind of local holiday or something. 

[Bogie74]

Same exact thing happened to me in France - store was closed the entire time. Luckily, I was very well stocked. Still annoying though   

[skybaker]

So, can someone tell me the location of General Store in China? I only found the Special Merchant, Book Store and Cafe.
Are they all located nearby? Is this meant the shopkeeper of General Store left here?

[RockinRobin]

It's there on the far right in the string of shops. It's next to the relic store if I'm not mistaken. It is built on a foundation though, so you do have to go up a floor to see it.