Maintenance script at 15:14, 23 February 2026

2026-02-23T15:14:06Z

New page

[[Category:Strategy]]
__TOC__

{{Panel|title=Common Mistakes|content=Don't feel bad — everyone makes these at first. Here's what to watch out for.}}

== Mistake 1: Premium Ingredients with Untrained Staff ==
This is the number one beginner mistake. Your staff's [[Training_and_Development|training level]] caps food quality at their point level. A Burger Boss (Level 0) maxes out at 40-point quality no matter what ingredients you use. You're literally throwing money away on wagyu beef if your cook is a Burger Boss.

'''Fix:''' Train staff to at least Level 3 (70 pts) before investing in premium ingredients.

== Mistake 2: Over-Ordering Inventory ==
Ingredients expire. New players often order way too much "just in case" and watch half of it end up in the bin. Every expired ingredient is pure waste that comes straight off your bottom line. See [[Inventory_Management]] for details on managing stock.

'''Fix:''' Track daily usage. Order based on actual demand plus a small buffer. Use FIFO (first in, first out).

== Mistake 3: Wrong Prices for the District ==
Charging premium prices at the University where [[Customer_Segmentation|Students]] are very price-sensitive. Or charging budget prices in the Business [[Locality|District]] where Managers expect premium quality. Either way, you lose.

'''Fix:''' Match pricing to your customer segments. Check the [[Quick_Reference]] for price sensitivity by segment.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ '''Price Sensitivity by Segment'''
|-
! Segment !! Price Sensitivity !! Where to Find Them
|-
| Students || Very high || University
|-
| Parents || Moderate || Shopping Centre, Residential
|-
| Staffs || Moderate || Business
|-
| Influencers || Low || Shopping Centre (need Maxi+ truck)
|-
| Environmentalists || Moderate || Residential (need Maxi+ truck)
|-
| Foodies || Low || Tourist Zone (need Mini+ truck)
|-
| Tourists || Low || Shopping Centre, Tourist Zone
|-
| Fit Ones || Moderate || University
|-
| Managers || Very low || Business
|}

== Mistake 4: Ignoring Training ==
[[Training_and_Development|Training]] is the single highest-ROI investment in the game. Each level adds 10 points to ''both'' quality AND speed — a double benefit. Many new players skip training and wonder why their food quality never improves.

'''Fix:''' Prioritise training above almost everything else. The jump from Level 0 to Level 1 is a 25% improvement in both quality and speed.

== Mistake 5: Expanding Too Early ==
Opening a second truck before the first one is consistently profitable. Now you have two money-losing trucks instead of one, plus higher overhead.

'''Fix:''' Your first truck should have: consistent daily profit, staff at Level 3+, and a good reputation. Only then should you expand. See [[Strategic_Planning]].

== Mistake 6: Borrowing to Cover Losses ==
[[Loans]] should fund growth, not cover operating losses. If you're losing money every day, a loan just adds interest payments on top of your existing problems.

'''Fix:''' Fix the root cause of losses first. See [[Troubleshooting]] for a step-by-step diagnostic.

== Mistake 7: Not Checking Candidate Potential ==
When [[Recruiting_Talent|hiring]], some players pick the cheapest candidate without checking their maximum training potential. A cheap hire who caps at Level 3 will never match a slightly more expensive hire who can reach Level 6 (Michelin Maestro, 100 pts).

'''Fix:''' Always check max training potential when hiring. Invest in candidates who can grow to Level 5 or 6.

== Mistake 8: Neglecting Stand Appearance ==
The customer decision journey starts with awareness — they notice your truck first. A shabby-looking stand drives customers away before they even look at your menu or prices.

'''Fix:''' Invest in stand upgrades alongside food quality. First impressions matter.

== Mistake 9: Fighting Price Wars ==
When a competitor lowers prices, the instinct is to match them. But price wars destroy margins for everyone and nobody wins except the customers.

'''Fix:''' Differentiate instead. Target different [[Customer_Segmentation|segments]], improve quality, or relocate to a less competitive [[Locality|district]]. See [[Marketing_Strategy]].

== Mistake 10: Ignoring the Economic Cycle ==
The [[Economics|economy]] cycles through boom and recession. Interest rates, customer spending, and demand all fluctuate. Players who ignore this get caught off guard when recession hits.

'''Fix:''' Borrow during low-interest periods. Build cash reserves during booms to survive recessions. See [[Banking]] for how interest rates work.

== See Also ==
* [[Troubleshooting]]
* [[FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]]
* [[Getting_Started|Getting Started]]
* [[Quick_Reference]]

Common Mistakes - Revision history

Maintenance script at 15:14, 23 February 2026