Another tactic, if you're a newer, lower ranked player, join a social ls that has a couple crafters. Ask the crafters what mats, etc they need. If you are able, go farm for them. If you supply ls crafters with mats they need, they usually supply you with the gears you need. And depending on the crafter/linshell and your gathering/farming abilities, this could net you 'free gear'
^ This is totally true. I pay lowbies to get earth shards and nuggets (Ores now) for me.