Path of Exile’s Trade System is Failing—This Simple Fix Would Solve It

Mar 3

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For years, GGG has pretended trade isn’t a problem. The community has been screaming for a fix, and their response? "Nothing to see here."

Path of Exile’s trade system has long been a point of contention among players. While Grinding Gear Games (GGG) insists on maintaining friction to preserve the game’s identity, the reality is that this friction actively harms player engagement, retention, and even the game’s long-term revenue. However, there’s a simple, low-development solution that aligns with GGG’s philosophy while vastly improving the trade experience: a mailbox system.

This system would remove the most frustrating aspects of trade while maintaining the social interaction element GGG desires. It benefits all players—from casual traders to high-level players running maps—and ensures increased revenue for GGG by keeping players engaged longer.

The Problem: Trade Wastes Too Much Time

Currently, trade in Path of Exile is cumbersome and inefficient. When you want to buy an item, you must:

Search for the item on a third-party website.
Message multiple sellers in the hopes one is online.
Travel to their hideout and manually complete the trade.
Waste valuable game time waiting for responses or dealing with offline players.

For high-level players grinding maps, this is a complete momentum killer. Every minute spent trying to trade is a minute not spent progressing, looting, or engaging with the game’s core mechanics. The artificial friction forces players to either waste time or overpay from bulk sellers—neither of which feels good.

The Mailbox Solution: A Simple, Non-Intrusive Fix

A mailbox system does not require a fundamental trade overhaul—it simply finishes the last step of the existing process. Instead of forcing both players to be online simultaneously, the system would allow:

Buyers to send currency to the seller’s mailbox (much like the current trade request but without the need for immediate response).
Sellers to accept the currency and send the item in return when they log in.
Both players to receive a notification when the trade is completed.

Why This Works:

✅ Uses existing trade mechanics—just removes the need for both players to be online.

✅ Maintains the concept of player-to-player trade without an auction house.

✅ Drastically reduces frustration and wasted time.

✅ Increases efficiency without automating trade entirely.

Why High-Level Players Should Support This

High-level PoE players don’t hate trading… they hate how it interrupts actual gameplay. Imagine how much smoother the experience would be if trades didn’t require both players to be online at the same time.

More time mapping, less time waiting on trades.
Faster access to builds and gear upgrades, leading to more efficient character progression.
Reduces frustration with the current system, keeping players engaged longer.

This directly benefits those who play the most and push the game’s limits. If high-level players want better endgame content, GGG needs increased revenue—and this system delivers that.

Why GGG Wins: Increased Revenue & Retention

Trade friction isn’t just a minor inconvenience—it’s a player retention issue. Players quitting due to frustration means lost potential revenue. A mailbox system would:

✅ Increase player retention by reducing unnecessary downtime.

✅ Boost microtransaction revenue by keeping players engaged longer.

✅ Ensure better item flow, leading to a more dynamic economy.

✅ Drive long-term growth, allowing GGG to reinvest in better content for all players.

GGG doesn’t have to choose between maintaining their trade philosophy and making the system better. A mailbox system preserves the essence of Path of Exile’s economy while removing the unnecessary frustration that drives players away.

The Trade Fix That Benefits Everyone

GGG claims trade friction is intentional, but all it does is frustrate players and drive them away. This simple fix keeps trade player-driven while removing wasted time. Why hasn’t it been implemented? The answer isn’t ‘difficulty’—it’s stubbornness.

Path of Exile doesn’t need a full auction house to improve trade. A simple mailbox system would retain GGG’s philosophy while saving players time, increasing engagement, and boosting revenue for continued game development.

This isn’t just a fix for casual players—it’s a win for everyone. High-level players get more time grinding maps, GGG gets more revenue, and the game’s economy stays strong without an auction house breaking it. Everyone benefits, and there’s no logical reason to resist it.

GGG, the fix is right in front of you. It’s time to implement a mailbox system.

Players—if you’re tired of wasting time in trade, share this article. The more voices demanding change, the harder it is for GGG to ignore us.