Poor Customer Service

[Lithera]

The issue with MOST Bots is they aren't actually violating the ToS. Or moreso there's NO way to verify beyond a doubt that they are. They aren't necessarily using 3rd party software as you can set up in-game macros for crafting and tape down the key on your keyboard. You'll only have to check in to sell your wares and pick up more mats. SBing and Gathering bots are a bit different but GMs/Task Force members aren't mining peoples' computers to check all the programs running alongside XIV. They need an action such as teleporting or some other normally impossible task to confidently say that character is a bot/using 3rd party tools. It doesn't help if the GM contacts the "bot" and the person manning the 10 bot PCs actually responds to the /tell.

[ToffeeCoffee]

The issue with MOST Bots is they aren't actually violating the ToS. Or moreso there's NO way to verify beyond a doubt that they are. They aren't necessarily using 3rd party software as you can set up in-game macros for crafting and tape down the key on your keyboard. You'll only have to check in to sell your wares and pick up more mats. SBing and Gathering bots are a bit different but GMs/Task Force members aren't mining peoples' computers to check all the programs running alongside XIV. They need an action such as teleporting or some other normally impossible task to confidently say that character is a bot/using 3rd party tools. It doesn't help if the GM contacts the "bot" and the person manning the 10 bot PCs actually responds to the /tell.

How is the person running the bot even to know a GM is trying to communicate with them? If the bot program is so advanced that it can identify a GM, then how hard is it for a GM to just use a regular character or otherwise to investigate? Sometimes the offender does have to get in front of the keyboard to break down the gear into materia, collect new spiritbond gear and use the marketboard/retainer. Then they always return to the set positions and bot.
SE can very easily see the transactions being made by reported bots but I doubt they even check.
Like I've said in other threads, all you have to do is interrupt a suspect bot by opening a trade window to confirm it is completely lifeless and running on total automation. There's no need to complicate the process, it's very easy for SE to work out who is playing by the rules and who isn't.

[Lithera]

SNIP

Making Market Board transactions is not against the ToS even if they do follow somewhat suspicious trends. What the task force will do even though they don't have the evidence to ban the character is flag the account and monitor transactions and trades which can lead to the gil carrying RMT chars AND gil buyers by extension. The post above you describes how a /tell may be replied to and again there's likely someone monitioring the 10+ screens the bots are running on even if they do have a /tell reply script running. What does interrupting them with a trade window accomplish btw? Is the fact they don't cancel the trade window grounds to call them a bot?

[ToffeeCoffee]

Making Market Board transactions is not against the ToS even if they do follow somewhat suspicious trends. What the task force will do even though they don't have the evidence to ban the character is flag the account and monitor transactions and trades which can lead to the gil carrying RMT chars AND gil buyers by extension. The post above you describes how a /tell may be replied to and again there's likely someone monitioring the 10+ screens the bots are running on even if they do have a /tell reply script running. What does interrupting them with a trade window accomplish btw? Is the fact they don't cancel the trade window grounds to call them a bot?

The devil's advocate thing is getting old...sorry I'm not going to argue my case anymore, have done already in other threads. I know they are bots. People do make mistakes and assume characters are botting when they may not be, I'm well aware of this.
If you open trade, their character auto switches targets endlessly. I highly doubt a real person would sit there holding down the tab key while someone has a trade window open on them...if that even works.

[Volcano]

The devil's advocate thing is getting old...sorry I'm not going to argue my case anymore, have done already in other threads. I know they are bots. People do make mistakes and assume characters are botting when they may not be, I'm well aware of this.
If you open trade, their character auto switches targets endlessly. I highly doubt a real person would sit there holding down the tab key while someone has a trade window open on them...if that even works.

They know that, is why i stopped reporting, because they either ignore it entirely or some hidden factor is keeping them from caring. As the Op said it seems using bots is perfectly fine, as you can clearly see the evidence that nothing will happen to you. most people who see bots know what a bot is. this isn't a case of "mistaken identity" they know full well people can and will bot.

A glitch in the game that gives legit players unfair advantage, they will patch that within a day, but a bot destroying the economy? go right ahead.