A massive issue with current markets and how to really fix it.

[ApolloGenX]

Oh, who cares?

I go on Amazon.com and see incremental differences all the time. Tax rates are different by area, distribution costs... etc.

It takes longer to reach equilibrium? Of course it does... it shifts as more supply enters the market... you can't force down price because of anticipated change in supply... you have to wait for the mechanism of oversupply to naturally trend price downward.

It's fine.

[Rrylia]

The key thing about almost any item in FFXiV is that they aren't very difficult to make or acquire yourself. Compared to "real" markets - where I'm going to find it pretty difficult to enter the car market, for instance. This means that if I want the item enough, and I don't like the market price, it's not going to take me long to obtain it myself. I think this acts as a great way of restricting prices to reasonable levels.

[Misted]

Doesn't this also assume that the philosophy mats are the price stated. On tonberry mats generally sell for 16k which is under half of the listed price. Which would mean a gain of 1500gil per minute in a 10 minute run scenario.

[HurtigeKarl]

Doesn't this also assume that the philosophy mats are the price stated. On tonberry mats generally sell for 16k which is under half of the listed price. Which would mean a gain of 1500gil per minute in a 10 minute run scenario.

The larger the difference between equilibrium price and the 1-gil-undercutting price in a price interval which is very inelastic for the demand-curve, the more severe the issue of 1-gil-undercutting is.

Like I pointed out in a previous post, it is important to focus on what the abstract situation is rather than the precise numbers. I could have done the whole post abstractly without any precise numbers XD, but I know from experience that people have a hard time with such.

The key thing about almost any item in FFXiV is that they aren't very difficult to make or acquire yourself. Compared to "real" markets - where I'm going to find it pretty difficult to enter the car market, for instance. This means that if I want the item enough, and I don't like the market price, it's not going to take me long to obtain it myself. I think this acts as a great way of restricting prices to reasonable levels.

If you don't have a crafting class, it takes significant time to level that class to appropriate level. Furthermore, the act of crafting in itself is time-consuming and that time could be spent grinding dungeons.

[Skyhound]

The real issue with the market is that people who are strictly "fighters", have no intention to start a crafting class. There is no way for these players to gain money reliably aside from bombing Coerthas with AoEs for fleece. Thus, there is no purpose to go for crafted gear. Even if it is marginally better than DL, you can still make do with DL gear to grind for Allagan/Myth gear.

Crafters either need to lower the prices to reflect the performance of the gear and how much work it takes to obtain that money, OR SE needs to come up with ways for Fighters to gain a lot more gil. Honestly, I personally believe the lowering of prices is still necessary.