Trending Trade Data?

[BionicDance]

What does buying trending trade data from the Galaxy Screen actually...do?

I woulda thought that buying it would allow you to compare prices between your current market and a system where you'd never been, but...apparently not.
So, like, seriously...what's it do? Cuz I can't see any reason to purchase it at all; unless the benefit of doing so is buried deep in some nested menu option, well...I just don't get it.

[BionicDance]

And while we're on the topic, why in the name of all things logical would we not be able to see prices in a system that we, personally, have not been to?

I mean, in this age of the internet, if I really wanted, I could probably find the price of a pack of Doritos™ at a small gas station in Finland because they happen to have a website...and you're telling me that they're not publishing the prices of goods in neighboring systems for all to see on these space stations? Trade data is not just behind a paywall, but behind a you-have-to-go-there-yourself-first wall???

**boggle**

[Aedryk]

it looks like the data just shows you what items are being moved to what systems (in the galaxy map) it doesnt show prices, but you can determine what systems are exporting (low price) and what systems are importing (demand)

The data shows as a colored line connecting the systems. Each color represents a group of products, but you can see what the item is by clearing all and then selecting the items one by one until the line appears. Its clumsy but it works.

The data is more easily used to simply source something specific.

[Arc]

Originally posted by BionicDance:

And while we're on the topic, why in the name of all things logical would we not be able to see prices in a system that we, personally, have not been to?

That is logical question, logic is not present in Elite for the most part :3

I can't comment on that part with certainty, but i believe the silly idea is that you will buy the data once you actually have some cargo on board and it will be valid for next 24 hours or so.

I've only used community-driven third party database systems like eddb.io instead of bothering with that in-game nonsense tho.

[BionicDance]

Originally posted by Arc:

I can't comment on that part with certainty, but i believe the silly idea is that you will buy the data once you actually have some cargo on board and it will be valid for next 24 hours or so.

And yet, I wouldn't have cargo on board unless I have reason to believe I can jolly-well sell the bleeping, censored stuff...which means I'd want the data in order to determine whether I should buy it!

GRAAAAAGH!!!

Silly thing in otherwise very fun game.

[Arc]

It feels like a lazy attempt to obnoxiously slow your progress down tbh :3

It also makes more sense to have community driven economy data in-game rather than via 3rd party websites, it's like.. a basic system that's missing for some reason (i wonder if there is anybody that will use "lore" as an excuse lol).

[ExtremelyMift69]

On the commodities market screen, below the buy & sell tabs is the compare tab. You are able to input a nearby system and a particular station in that system to see the buy prices and the profit margin if any. I use this all the time & have no need to even consider the trending data that's put up elsewhere in the game. I hope this helps to solve your query. Fly safe Cmdr. o7

[Planewalker]

The new compare tool + trending market data, is how you trade locally without the use of 3rd party sites/apps.

[BionicDance]

Originally posted by Cmdr Polycrates:

On the commodities market screen, below the buy & sell tabs is the compare tab. You are able to input a nearby system and a particular station in that system to see the buy prices and the profit margin if any.

But only for systems you've been to, apparently. Like, physically traveled there in your ship.

I use this all the time & have no need to even consider the trending data that's put up elsewhere in the game. I hope this helps to solve your query. Fly safe Cmdr. o7

Not really, but thanks.