Money, Online Orders & Marketplace — How to Maximize Profit

Overview

In ReStory, money buys licenses, and licenses are the real progression system. So the question "how do I make more yen?" is really "how do I progress faster?" This guide covers the confirmed profit strategies from launch-week testing — plus the online-order system and the marketplace, which are the heart of the shop's economy.

The #1 Rule: Clean Before You Replace

The single biggest beginner mistake is assuming every broken device needs new parts. Dirt, corrosion, sticky buttons and dust cause symptoms that look far worse than they are.

Cleaning uses reusable tools — clean-only restorations are nearly pure profit.
Buy a replacement only after the notepad confirms a part is genuinely broken.
This alone can double your early-game profit margins.

The Profit Strategy Stack

Strategy	Effort	Return
Clean before replacing	Low	★★★ Very high
Build a parts library (salvage)	Medium	★★★ Very high
Batch parts orders	Low	★★ High
Tip jar upgrade	Low	★★ Passive
Flip marketplace devices	Medium	★★ High (risky)
Spare-part boxes for stock	Medium	★★ Good
Shredder for junk recovery	Low	★ Good
Express shipping	—	★ Never use
Painting / reprogramming for resale	Medium	★ Cosmetic only

Online Orders

Your shop's Y2K-era computer handles online orders, the marketplace for used devices and spare parts, tool purchases, licenses, and research. Mastering it is worth more yen than any individual repair.

Fact	Detail
Volume	Up to 11 online orders per day appear on the shop computer
Deadline	Each order has a 3-day deadline
Flow	Accept order → courier delivers the broken device → repair → package on counter → courier picks up → payment + review
Missed deadlines	Orders sit until completed; crowding the bench costs time, not money directly

Tips:

Accept only what you can finish — every open device occupies workbench space.
Mix quick cleaning jobs with repairs that use parts you already have.
Complete 25 orders for WWW, 100 for Internet Business (achievements).

The Marketplace

The marketplace sells used devices and mystery spare-part boxes. Both are gambles — descriptions and seller ratings don't guarantee condition.

Used Devices (for Salvage & Flipping)

A "dusty" device can arrive with broken parts; a cheap listing can be an excellent restoration project.
Flipping: buy broken → restore → sell for profit. Sell 5 restored devices for Making Money!.
Salvage: even a bad flip is a parts donor — LCD assemblies, button membranes, speakers, battery connectors, flex cables and screws are worth more than the junk price.
Achievements: buy 5 devices (Flipper), buy 25 devices (Garage Sale).

Buying rule: only buy when the price is far enough below the finished sale value to survive a few bad parts. Most flips sell for only a modest amount above their purchase price, so one significant repair cost can erase the entire margin — buy cheap or don't buy. A definitive per-device value ranking is still being mapped (unverified); see the Device Database for what is confirmed about each device's value profile.

Mystery Spare-Part Boxes

Cost-effective way to build random inventory — one guide reports boxes became the main source of spare parts.
Don't rely on boxes when an urgent order needs one specific part — use a licensed supplier for guaranteed components.
Achievements: buy 1 box (Lootbox), buy 50 boxes (Gambler).

Buying Parts (vs. Salvaging)

Source	Pros	Cons
Licensed manufacturer order	Exact part, guaranteed	Costs money; needs the license
Marketplace used devices	Cheap bulk parts	Condition gamble
Spare-part boxes	Cheap random stock	Random — may not contain what you need
Salvage from your own junk pile	Free	Requires stock and time

Golden rule: batch orders to save shipping, avoid express shipping (eats profit), and stock commonly needed parts in advance — batteries, screens, buttons and charging ports are the most common failures.

The Flip Economy in One Table

Action	Typical Result
Buy junk device cheap	Cheap parts donor
Clean-only restore	Nearly pure profit (reusable tools)
Replace-everything restore	Fastest way to lose money
Sell restored device	Resale income + "Making Money!" progress
Shred unusable parts	Yen recovery (needs shredder)

1. Build a Parts Library (Treat Parts as Working Capital)

Keep broken devices — a cheap junk device can contain multiple usable parts worth far more than its purchase price.
Salvage LCD assemblies, button membranes, speakers, battery connectors, flex cables and screws.
Stock the common failures before you need them: batteries, screens, buttons, charging ports (speakers sometimes; decorative shells rarely).
Once the shredder is available, shred truly unusable parts for yen recovery.

2. Batch & Plan Orders

Never use express shipping — it destroys profits.
Plan repairs days ahead and batch orders to save shipping fees.
Buy guaranteed parts from licensed suppliers only when an urgent order demands it.

3. Use the Tip Jar

The tip jar generates income from work you're already doing — walk-in and online customers leave tips automatically.
One of the best early purchases (see the Tools & Equipment Catalog).

4. Flip Marketplace Devices (Carefully)

Buy devices priced far enough below their finished sale value to survive a few bad parts.
Restore and resell — 5 sales earn Making Money!, and flips build your parts library simultaneously.
Warning: seller descriptions don't guarantee condition.

5. Know What's NOT Profitable Early

Painting is cosmetic — no resale value.
Reprogramming (rhythm mini-game) doesn't noticeably raise an item's worth.
Buying new parts for everything is the fastest way to lose money.

The Frugal Challenge (10 Days Without Buying Parts)

The Frugal achievement (10 days in a row with no paid part purchases) is easier than it sounds:

Build a healthy parts library first.
Salvage aggressively from marketplace junk.
Clean everything — most jobs won't need a single new part.
Use the notepad to confirm a part is truly gone before ordering.
Mystery spare-part boxes do not break the streak, which makes them a safe purchase during the challenge.

Money Milestones & Achievements

Milestone	Achievement
Earn 100,000 Yen in a single day	Business Shark
Earn 1,000,000 Yen total	Millionaire
10 days with no paid part purchases	Frugal
Sell 5 restored devices	Making Money!

Sample Week One Spending Plan

Day	Spend On	Reason
1-2	Brush upgrades, tip jar	Cheap, high-frequency value
3-4	First license	Unlock more device types + income
5	Screwdriver upgrade	Speed on every repair
6-7	Salvage devices + spare boxes	Build the parts library

Licenses beat luxury upgrades. See the License System Guide for the full priority list.

The Million-Yen Plan

Stabilize daily income with licenses (device categories = income ceiling).
Automate cleaning with the Sonic Bath; speed disassembly with screwdrivers.
Flip marketplace devices weekly; salvage everything.
Keep the bench focused: few open orders, mostly jobs that use stock parts.
Let reviews and tips compound — reputation brings better customers.

License System Guide — what to spend yen on
Tools & Equipment Catalog — shredder for junk recovery and other purchases
Achievement Guide — money milestones and marketplace achievements
Beginner Guide — the core loop this strategy sits on
Device Database — which devices are worth buying and salvaging