Shops totally bugged?

[Shakkara 0]

This is a really urgent question and I've been looking for an answer for two days now.

I have over 500k people, and they all say that there aren't enough "shops" and have a red notification whining about it.

However every time I build commercial zones, doesn't matter where and how far they are spread, they go bankrupt because "Retail goods are hard to sell"

Right now I can only build 4 commercial lots (not zones, lots) before they go bankrupt. Even the houses next to them are still whining they need shops.

Are they bugged?!

[CWLGAMER01 39]

No -- Retail (Shops) -- enable you to meet your citizens needs. Look at your industry and make certain you are producing enough for demand -- also I have found it very important a lot of times to watch your unemployment rate closely. This -- I think may tie everything together. Also lower your taxes if you can keep your budget in the black -- it may help.

Location of your retail is also key. I try and build mine at major intersections only and only a few at a time. Think about real retail zoning in a city. you may have "pockets" of retail but always in an area where the infustructer is present (4 lane Ave. as opposed to 2 lane Rd. .... etc)

One more thing -- I found in the Mayor's Handbook -- (very important to understand).

Tokens do not stack daily.  Everyday (based on the little clock near the top of the interface) your tokens "reset" -- in other words they do not stack ---

i.e.  Let's say today you have 4 tokens of fuel.  You build some heavy industry and use some fuel.  Tommorow will recalculate that fuel and you may now have 2 tokens.  Some players may think your tokens "stack:"  that if you have extra on one day they will add to the next day -- that is not the case.

Hope this helps??

[Shakkara 0]

Shops has everything green so all demands are met, except for profit.

even with only one shop in town, the profit is still orange, saying there is an overproduction of retail goods. All the while the citizens are whining about more shops.

Building more shops turns their profit red and makes them go bankrupt.

Tokens have nothing to do with it.

[Mr.Mao 0]

shops are indeed very poorly implemented, as I have the same problem. 500,000 people with shops at strategic locations (about 12 single shops in total!) and they have problems staying in business.

Seems like a bug, since all industries you can construct in blocks, except for retail.