Eve Online is a complex and ever-changing game, and one of the most important aspects of playing it successfully is trading. Whether you're a seasoned Eve trader or just starting out, it's important to have all the information you need to make the best decisions when trading in Eve. In this article, we'll answer some common questions about Eve Online trading and provide some useful tips to help you get started.
The Market
The first thing to understand about trading in Eve is the market. The Eve market is a player-driven economy, meaning that prices for goods and services are set by players through supply and demand. Unlike many other games, there are no set prices for items in Eve Online; instead, prices fluctuate based on what people are willing to pay for them. This can make it difficult to know how much something is worth, but there are a few things you can do to get an idea of what something should cost.
Evepraisal is a website that allows you to input the details of an item you want to trade and receive an estimate of its value based on recent market activity. You can also use evemarketer.com to view market trends and prices for various items over time.
When you're first starting, it's a good idea to spend some time observing the market and getting an idea of how prices fluctuate before you start trading. This will help you avoid making mistakes that could cost you money.
Player donations
Player donations are a vital part of the Eve Online economy and are used to fund many in-game activities, including player-run corporations, events, and projects. When you donate to a player or organization, you're helping to support the Eve community and keeping the game running.
Donations can be made in ISK (the in-game currency) or PLEX (a 30-day subscription token that can be traded for ISK). To donate ISK, simply send it to the character or organization you wish to support. To donate PLEX, go to the "PLEX" tab of your character's inventory screen and select "donate." You'll then be able to specify how much PLEX you'd like to donate and who you'd like to donate it to.
Donating is a great way to support the Eve community and can also be a good way to get rid of excess ISK or PLEX that you don't need. Just be sure that you're sending your donations to a reputable player or organization; there are always scams in Eve, and you don't want to accidentally give your hard-earned ISK away. To purchase game currency, you can use one of the reputable ISKMarket service.
Trade Window
The trade window is where you conduct all your Eve Online trading. To open the trade window, right-click on the character you want to trade with and select "offer a trade." This will open up the trade window, which consists of two sides: yours and your partner's.
On your side of the trade window, you'll see a list of items that you have in your inventory. You can add items to this list by dragging them from your inventory into the "Your Items" section of the trade window. To remove an item from the list, simply click on it and hit the "remove" button.
You'll also see a box labeled "Your ISK," which shows how much ISK you currently have available. You can add ISK to the trade by clicking on the "Your ISK" box and typing in the amount you want to add.
On your partner's side of the trade window, you'll see their list of available items and how much ISK they have available. You can browse their items and add them to your side of the trade by clicking on them and hitting the "add" button. When you're finished adding items, hit the "confirm" button to finalize the trade.
It's important to note that Eve Online has a "no refund" policy, so once you confirm a trade, it cannot be undone. Be sure that you only finalize trades when you're sure that you want
Contracting
Contracting is the Eve Online equivalent of a transaction. It's how players trade goods and services with each other, and it's the primary way that most Eve Online trading is done.
To create a contract, open up the "contracts" tab of your character's inventory screen. From there, you'll be able to select the type of contract you want to create, as well as the details of the contract.
There are four types of contracts in Eve Online: item exchange, auction, courier, and loan. Item exchange contracts are used to trade items between two players; auction contracts are used to put items up for sale; courier contracts are used to pay players to deliver items; and loan contracts are used to borrow ISK from other players.
Once you've selected the type of contract you want to create, you'll need to fill in the details. For item exchange and auction contracts, you'll need to specify what items are being traded and set a price for them. For courier contracts, you'll need to specify the route that the item will be delivered on and set a delivery time. And for loan contracts, you'll need to specify the amount of ISK being borrowed and the interest rate.
Once you've filled in all the required information, hit the "create" button to finalize your contract. From there, other players will be able to view your contract and accept it if they're interested.
Contracting is a great way to trade with other players without having to meet up in person. It's also a good way to sell items that you don't need anymore, or to buy items that you can't find on the market.
Just be sure to read the terms of each contract carefully before accepting it; some contracts may have hidden clauses that could end up costing you ISK down the line.
Jetcan trading
Jetcan trading is a popular Eve Online trading method, particularly for new players. It's a simple way to trade goods between two players, and it doesn't require either player to have much ISK on hand.
To start a jetcan trade, one player creates a "jetcan" by right-clicking on an item in their inventory and selecting "create jetcan." This will create a can that can hold up to 27,500 m³ of items, which is about equivalent to 50 stacks of 100 units each.
Once the jetcan has been created, the first player fills it with the items they want to trade and then gives the can to their trading partner. The second player can then take the items out of the can and put their own items in, and then give the can back to the first player.
Once both players have agreed on the trade, they can close the jetcan and the trade will be complete. Jetcan trading is a quick and easy way to trade small quantities of items, but it's not well suited for large trades.
Corp Hangar trading
Corp hangar trading is a bit more complicated than jetcan trading, but it's a good way to trade large quantities of items between two players.
To start a corp hangar trade, one player creates a "corp hangar" by right-clicking on an item in their inventory and selecting "create corp hangar." This will create a space that can hold up to 250,000 m³ of items, which is about equivalent to 500 stacks of 100 units each.
Once the corp hangar has been created, the first player fills it with the items they want to trade and then gives the space to their trading partner. The second player can then take the items out of the space and put their own items in, and then give the space back to the first player.
Once both players have agreed on the trade, they can close the corp hangar and the trade will be complete. Corp hangar trading is a good way to trade large quantities of items between two players without having to use the market.
Happy trading! Eve Online is a great game with a vibrant economy, and there's a lot of money to be made by trading goods between players. By following these tips, you'll be well on your way to becoming a successful trader in Eve Online.