Rare trades still viable?

[Roqinn]

I've recently come back from BP and wanted to get back to trading, so I get out my old rare trade route sheet, put in all the bookmarks on the galaxy map and get started. Get to the first stop, no rares. Get to the second stop, no rares. Third stop I pick up 2 rares. This kept on going through the entire route. I think by the end I had picked up a total of 45 tonnes of cargo and spent over an hour doing it. To say the least, it was not worth it!

So, are rares still a viable trading option? Or should I just find an A - B route and slog it back and forth until that isn't profitable?

 

[RexKraemer]

Have a look into this thread:
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=237033

The following rares have normal sell rates:

Spoiler

Normal rares:

05. June 2016
Ethgreze Tea Buds
Ethgreze
Bloch Station

05. June 2016
Esuseku Caviar
Esuseku
Savinykh Orbital

05. June 2016
Rusani Old Smokey
Rusani
Fernandes Market

05. June 2016
Wulpa Hyperbore Systems
Wulpa
Williams Gateway

05. June 2016
Albino Quechua Mammoth Meat
Quechua
Crown Ring

05. June 2016
Jaroua Rice
jaroua
Mccool City

05. June 2016
Giant Irukama Snails
Irukama
Blaauw City

04. June 2016
Karsuki Locusts
Karsuki Ti
West Market

04. June 2016
Kamitra Cigars
Kamitra
Hammel Terminal

04. June 2016
Kachirigin Filter Leeches
Kachirigin
Nowak Orbital

04. June 2016
Eleu Thermals
Eleu
Finney Dock

03. June 2016
Tiolce Waste 2 Paste
Tiolce
Gordon Terminal

03. June 2016
Giant Verrix
Phiagre
Greeboski's Outpost

03. June 2016
Coquim Spongiform Victuals
Coquim
Hirayama Installation

03. June 2016
Utgaroar Millennial Eggs
Utgaroar
Fort Klarix

03. June 2016
Tarach Spice
Tarach Tor
Tranquillity

03. June 2016
Tanmark Tranquil Tea
Lucan Onionhead
Tanmark
Cassie-L-Peia

03. June 2016
Tauri Chimes
39 Tauri
Porta

02. June 2016
Momus Bog Spaniel
Momus Reach
Tartarus Point

02. June 2016
Terra Mater
Gr8minds
Terra Mater Blood Bores

02. June 2016
Bast
Hart Station
Bast Snake Gin

01. June 2016
Eranin
Azeban City
Eranin Pearl Whiskey

31. May 2016
Altair
Solo Orbiter
Altairian Skin

31. May 2016
George Pantazis
Zamka Platform
Pantaa Prayer Sticks

31. May 2016
Zeessze
Nicollier Hanger
Zeessze Ant Grub Glue

31. May 2016
AZ Cancri
Fisher Station
Az Cancri Formula 42

31. May 2016
Neritus
Toll Ring
Neritus Berries

31. May 2016
Arouca
Shipton Orbital
Arouca Conventual Sweets

31. May 2016
Orrere
Sharon Lee Free Market
Orrerian Vicious Brew

30. May 2016
Diso
Shifnalport
Diso Ma Corn

Those not in the list are either missing/low or they are not part of my route (59 rares) or I have not yet been there.

 

[Mikalus]

I've recently come back from BP and wanted to get back to trading, so I get out my old rare trade route sheet, put in all the bookmarks on the galaxy map and get started. Get to the first stop, no rares. Get to the second stop, no rares. Third stop I pick up 2 rares. This kept on going through the entire route. I think by the end I had picked up a total of 45 tonnes of cargo and spent over an hour doing it. To say the least, it was not worth it!

So, are rares still a viable trading option? Or should I just find an A - B route and slog it back and forth until that isn't profitable?

I've been trying to figure this out for a few days and I believe the answer is - it depends. Rare's change depending on who is the ruling faction and therefore what is legal or not legal in that system. They also stop being produced during times of war and civil war. There's a thread in the forum which tracks whether they are currently in production or not in those systems. If they are - I believe some routes are worth doing. I just enjoy smuggling some of the illegal ones from time to time. I'll try and locate the thread and paste it in here so you have it.

EDIT: Here is the link to the thread which tracks whether they have stopped being produced and actively seeks to change system ownership to bring them back. https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=237033&highlight=kamorin

 

[RexKraemer]

Oops, I told you that already, didn't see that you opened a new thread with same question.

 

[Roqinn]

Yeah I just wanted a brief answer. I wasn't looking to read a 26 page thread.

BTW, is Elite Trade Net - http://etn.io/ still an accurate tool?


I think I just answered my own question on the Elite Trade Net. It isn't up to date. I just went on a route that said I would have a big profit. Instead it would be a loss if I sold at the destination. Which is to bad as I liked using the Trade Net before. I liked the visualizations it gave.

 

[RexKraemer]

The answer is in the opening article of that thread. Thats the "why" is it as it is. There is still no real solution but the list I am currently working on.

 

[askavir]

So, are rares still a viable trading option? Or should I just find an A - B route and slog it back and forth until that isn't profitable?

Depends on which means you have at your disposal.

On smaller ships, like Hauler, Adder, Cobra, even to a point T6 or Asp, rare trading the lave <-> witchhaul areas are great to make credits and travel around the bubble. I loved do it way back then, that's how I first explored the bubble, and found great new locations.

If you already have a Clipper, T7, Python or bigger, regular trading will get you money much faster.

Unfortunately, rare trading does not scale. Very low available quantities, and capped increasing profit at ~140ly create a barrier after which they are no longer profitable. I would love if the profit would continue to rise with distance, allowing people who like to travel to take rare goods to places 400ly away for bigger profits.

I'm not a fan of A<->B, I like travelling and going to different places, and I prefer activities which take longer to complete (unfortunately there aren't many). I only A<->B in CG's, and only because I enjoy the sneaking/evading/bolting away game that goes on in CG's in open mode. But would gladly spend an hour or 2 docking at stations with rares and then another one taking all of it to 400ly away to score one big hit.

 

[Roqinn]

I just found out that Thrudds isn't accurate. Was told buy superconductors at A and sell at B, buy slaves at B and sell at A. Neither places wanted either item lol.