Market Discussions

This latest update brought something good to the table. Now, when you reprocess, you are given an estimated market value for the minerals. This is great. As now anyone can make a very quick comparison between reprocessing or selling it off to the highest buy order within range.

At first I thought that only items where buy orders are 75% or more below average would be more profitable to reprocess. Well, it turns out this is not the case at all. In fact, I am often seeing that even items where buy orders are above average will still reprocess into minerals worth over twice the amount of the highest buy order.

It gets even better than that. I noticed something and when I looked into it, some items were selling for an amount that is less than the worth of reprocessing. Making it possible to buy the items, reprocess them, and then sell off the minerals to turn a profit.

Thank you CCP.


Edit:

I want to flesh this out a bit more.

So to begin I take mission loot to a market hub. After that I will move the items to the hanger ensuring just one of each module. This just makes it easier than working out the estimated market value of the minerals when you go to reprocess. Duplicates just remain on the ship for now.

Note - I don't bother doing that last step with things like ammo or drones, although it can be done with those too, and you wouldn't do it with items that can't be reprocessed for obvious reasons.

So the next step is to just go down the list of items in hanger inventory.

Right Click -> Reprocess (Brings up the reprocess window)
Right Click -> Sell (Brings up the selling window)
Right Click -> View Market Details (Bring up the market window)

This can be done rather quickly.

Including the inventory window, that's four. Position accordingly to view them all.

What's the purpose? To make comparisons and make an informed decision on the best course of action with regards to turning that loot into isk.

The first comparison is between what you would get by selling and what you would get by reprocessing. Now keep in mind that while the big green (or red) numbers provided by the sell window is what you will get (or pay) after taxes and fees, the estimated value on the minerals you will not get. Simply subtract 10% of the estimated value of the minerals from itself and you the resulting amount will ensure the best route to take.

So if the selling amount is better, sell it.

If reprocessing will get you more, the next step is to compare that mineral amount (after the 10% deduction) to the current selling orders at the station. Sometimes people sell the item for less than what you would get from reprocessing it. So you buy those up and then reprocess the stack for additional profit.

It seems like a long process but its actually not. The right clicking takes just 3 or 4 seconds and the minus 10% to the minerals only has to be an estimation. So you're talking just a few more seconds to make the comparison.