Trading 101 : How to make money with trading

[_Flin_]

Trading is easy. Here is how I manage to find good routes an work them without 3rd party tools or websites.

Easy mode for trading:

- Go to the galaxy map. Set a filter showing economies. Look for a cluster of different systems close together (Industrial, High Tech, Agrar, Refinery, Extraction). You might want to set the population filter as well, since higher population (20-30 million+) systems offer more goods and allow you to do more runs before running dry.
- Go there
- Check the commodities market and screenshot them (F10). Organize the screenshots into named folders for each system.
- Compare the screenshots and figure out the most profitable routes. Rule of thumb: 1000 Cr. Profit Per ton
- trade

Usually you find some metals that are extracted in the system and needed in the next.

Fine tuning includes looking for stations that are close to the stars to minimize time in supercruise.
When in a basic Sidewinder, you can drop the shield generator for additional cargo racks. But then you are probably better off flying missions in a sidey.

Enjoy.

 

[Nauht]

You're still alt-tabbing out of the game. If I have to do that I may as well use a proper tool.

 

[_Flin_]

You're still alt-tabbing out of the game. If I have to do that I may as well use a proper tool.

Actually I haven't found a proper tool that let's me easily keep track of the systems I am in. All tools either do not have the data for the systems I am in, or I have to enter the data manually. Which takes a lot of time. Taking 4-5 screenshots doesn't.

For me it was important to have the possibility to track the prices fast. Screenshotting allows that. But if you prefer to use pen and paper, feel free.

 

[PKingZombieSpy]

Easy mode for trading:
- Go to the galaxy map. Set a filter showing economies.

I also find it helpful to use the population filter in the galaxy map. High pop systems seem to be the only ones I've found that can "sustain" a trade route for enough time to make it worth the trouble. (Indeed, you're lucky in a low pop system if you can even fill your cargo hold!)

You're still alt-tabbing out of the game. If I have to do that I may as well use a proper tool.

Yeah, but using something like Slopey's isn't for everyone. I used it once. I can hardly deny its utility, but, speaking personally I got rather more satisfaction in exploring and finding something, myself. For those that feel differently, great!

 

[_Flin_]

I also find it helpful to use the population filter in the galaxy map. High pop systems seem to be the only ones I've found that can "sustain" a trade route for enough time to make it worth the trouble. (Indeed, you're lucky in a low pop system if you can even fill your cargo hold!)

Thanks for the input, updated the post.

 

[Jaeger]

You're still alt-tabbing out of the game. If I have to do that I may as well use a proper tool.

There is nothing more "proper" than screenshots, but Ill grant you that pasting them into OneNote will be much easier than folders!

 

[_Flin_]

There is nothing more "proper" than screenshots, but Ill grant you that pasting them into OneNote will be much easier than folders!

That is a good idea, and OneNote is probably the better tool for those that have it. Being able to create a Notebook and a page per station is much better than folders.

Being a cheap scrooge, however, I do not own Office, so I have to do without OneNote.

 

[Fyrd Judge]

Trading is easy. Here is how I manage to find good routes an work them without 3rd party tools or websites.

Easy mode for trading:

- Go to the galaxy map. Set a filter showing economies. Look for a cluster of different systems close together (Industrial, High Tech, Agrar, Refinery, Extraction). You might want to set the population filter as well, since higher population (20-30 million+) systems offer more goods and allow you to do more runs before running dry.
- Go there
- Check the commodities market and screenshot them (F10). Organize the screenshots into named folders for each system.
- Compare the screenshots and figure out the most profitable routes. Rule of thumb: 1000 Cr. Profit Per ton
- trade

Will trade routes be visible after the wipe ? I am led to believe (may be wrong) that all trade routes have to be discovered and they will not be the same as in beta and that the players themselves would have to spend time trading before trade routes are actually defined in the game, Which would make sense.

Though i agree with your principle of trade and hauling to make cash is sound as i and many use it.

 

[_Flin_]

Will trade routes be visible after the wipe ? I am led to believe (may be wrong) that all trade routes have to be discovered and they will not be the same as in beta and that the players themselves would have to spend time trading before trade routes are actually defined in the game, Which would make sense.

Actually I don't use trade routes at all. With the basic method I described you don't trade certain items, you just look for ANYTHING to haul around for a profit.

The only time when I use trade routes is when there are missions that want certain ressources. Otherwise I am just happy to haul anything that is legal and profitable.

 

[Fyrd Judge]

I didn't use trade routes, i used the same methods you use, pick a route with 4-5 systems leading off a junction and trade with them, until i discovered this issue.

I discovered a batch of systems, seven, all in 1 jump radius of each other (a long way down the sausage), each system had 2-3 stations and a mix of commodities in each system and yet i couldn't find one system that wanted to trade. There was No contracts on the bulletin boards in any of the dozen stations.
So i had to leave my discovered batch of systems, find a trade route, a station that had a contract asking for a commodity. Then return to my batch of systems i discovered, purchase a product and fulfill the contract in order to have it start trading. Question then came up, do i have to do it with each station.

This suggest to me that trade routes have to be created by players after Beta and that may be one trade route will be given to start with on game release. If this is so then it may take time to implement our method and i am led to belive no trade routes will be visible after beta until they are discovered and they have to be created and we will not have it easy as we have it now, on the 22nd.

 

[nosscar]

This thread just screams at the Devs, "give me an in game tool", lol
Lets just hope we have one with Gamma or release.

 

[Mikey2305]

My feeling too... Which will be brilliant. Trading is a skill just like any others that have to be learned in ED and setting up my own profitable route seems a very good way to do it... And very satisfying. Cant really be faffed with spreadsheets, screenshots etc ... But hey, its your galaxy as well as mine!

 

[OVMorat]

For those lacking OneNote, there's always Evernote - which has the advantage of syncing with your tablet so you can at least read your existing notes without alt-tab.

 

[_Flin_]

I discovered a batch of systems, seven, all in 1 jump radius of each other (a long way down the sausage), each system had 2-3 stations and a mix of commodities in each system and yet i couldn't find one system that wanted to trade. There was No contracts on the bulletin boards in any of the dozen stations.
So i had to leave my discovered batch of systems, find a trade route, a station that had a contract asking for a commodity. Then return to my batch of systems i discovered, purchase a product and fulfill the contract in order to have it start trading. Question then came up, do i have to do it with each station.

Why would you need contracts? Just fill up your cargo and sell for 1.000 - 1.400 credits / ton.



I'd love to have an ingame tool that just records the commodity prices for each station when I visit.
We don't have that yet. Until then one has to see how to get along. Galaxy Map? Na, not really. Doesn't give you info whether that route is a 200 Cr./ton or a 1000 Cr./ton route. A bit too unprecise.

I don't want to make "some profit", I want to make "a lot of profit".
When the calendar turns to "23rd of November" I want to sit in a Cobra.

 

[Fyrd Judge]

Why would you need contracts? Just fill up your cargo and sell for 1.000 - 1.400 credits / ton.

Well simply put, i have a cobra full of weapons, defences and scanners hurtling through the sausage with little cargo space, the explorers life. I was making 100k on the big contracts, in some systems. I got so used to it i became picky at trading in peanut payouts.

 

[_Flin_]

Well simply put, i have a cobra full of weapons, defences and scanners hurtling through the sausage with little cargo space, the explorers life. I was making 100k on the big contracts, in some systems. I got so used to it i became picky at trading in peanut payouts.

O.k., that is sensible Do you actually get big contracts when having bigger ships, like a Type 6 or a Type 9?

I personally sometimes prefer the reliable outcome to the questionable.

If I search two hours for the big contract that nets me what I could have grinded in an hour... well... sometimes I'll prefer the experience, sometimes the reliability. It depends on the mood, I guess.

 

[Mat rix]

Elite needs more trading data, the market data between systems is very poor.

In a galaxy where star travel is possible and it has no stock data between system or buy orders that are not local, come on

3rd party tools filled the gap nicely, and a api would be great for the data, but really the market system in game is lacking, and I hate to say it, eve online has a better market system.

 

[_Flin_]

Elite needs more trading data, the market data between systems is very poor.

In a galaxy where star travel is possible and it has no stock data between system or buy orders that are not local, come on

3rd party tools filled the gap nicely, and a api would be great for the data, but really the market system in game is lacking, and I hate to say it, eve online has a better market system.

Even having a system that stores the market data in our ship computer would be a major improvement.

 

[Bald Avenger]

Even having a system that stores the market data in our ship computer would be a major improvement.

Indeed.

Although perhaps its really really difficult to achieve, and hence the 'Last Buy Price' feature in the products tab on Sage Accounts 2010 is the reason why the company is so valuable?

 

[Jorlin]

I had no problems finding good routes.

3rd party tools are nothing for me. The routes advertised there will dry out quickly, so i keep mine for myself.
The only reason for me to use them would be me being a pirate