Please Consider Granting One Free Merchant Stash Tab for Basic Trading Functionality

Hello GGG,

I’d like to raise a concern regarding the current state of trading functionality in Path of Exile 2.

At the moment, essential trading actions are effectively locked behind a paywall due to the requirement of owning a Merchant Stash Tab. Without at least one of these tabs, players are unable to meaningfully participate in item trading, which is a core system of the game and a fundamental part of progression for many builds.

I want to be clear: this is not an argument against monetization or supporter packs. Premium stash tabs, cosmetics, and convenience features are completely fair. However, basic functionality—such as being able to list items for trade—should not require an upfront purchase.

Why this is a problem:

1. Trading is a core gameplay system, not an optional luxury feature

2. New players may not realize trading is paywalled until they hit a wall

3. It creates unnecessary friction and frustration early on

4. It gives the impression that PoE 2 is less accessible than it should be

Suggested solution:
Grant one free Merchant Stash Tab per account, similar to how other core systems are made available by default. Players who want more tabs, advanced organization, or efficiency can still purchase additional ones — preserving monetization without restricting core gameplay.

This would:

1. Improve the new player experience

2. Reduce confusion and frustration

3. Maintain fair monetization practices

4. Align better with PoE’s long-standing design philosophy

I truly believe this small change would have a large positive impact on player perception and long-term retention.

Thank you for your time and for continuing to build PoE 2.

— A concerned exile

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

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Dxt44#4050 wrote:

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

No — the key was received as a gift from a friend, so there are no 300 points included.

More importantly, once the game becomes free-to-play, millions of new players will be in the same situation: unable to participate in basic trading because they lack a Merchant Stash Tab. This will not be an edge case — it will be the norm.

Trading via stash tabs while offline is clearly superior to spamming trade chat, both for the seller and the buyer. The stash-based system is the intended and modern trading method, not a premium luxury feature.

Therefore, the argument still stands:
Basic trading functionality should not be locked behind a paywall.

Granting one free Merchant Stash Tab would preserve monetization while ensuring accessibility and a functional economy for all players.

"

Dxt44#4050 wrote:

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

A lot of us used our points before anyone knew merchant tabs were coming. $4 to trade is excessive. I bought quad tabs because thats how you traded, now they want to sell a new tab.

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urs#2736 wrote:

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Dxt44#4050 wrote:

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

No — the key was received as a gift from a friend, so there are no 300 points included.

More importantly, once the game becomes free-to-play, millions of new players will be in the same situation: unable to participate in basic trading because they lack a Merchant Stash Tab. This will not be an edge case — it will be the norm.

Trading via stash tabs while offline is clearly superior to spamming trade chat, both for the seller and the buyer. The stash-based system is the intended and modern trading method, not a premium luxury feature.

Therefore, the argument still stands:
Basic trading functionality should not be locked behind a paywall.

Granting one free Merchant Stash Tab would preserve monetization while ensuring accessibility and a functional economy for all players.

It's very politely written but... nah.
There are no handouts. This is eventually going to be a free game. In PoE1, they equally don't give out free Premium stash tabs.

It's a matter of convenience. You want to get stronger via trading? You want to have more loot in your stash? Support the game developers. Don't buy the currency. Nobody does that.
Guy the supporter packs. Get some goodies. Get equal amount of currency you buy for that price. Buy stashes and merchant tabs. Simple as that.

Developers still have to make money. I get the frustration but like... you get what you pay for really. If you don't pay for what you get, you can't complain that much.

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Karishin#7986 wrote:

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Dxt44#4050 wrote:

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

A lot of us used our points before anyone knew merchant tabs were coming. $4 to trade is excessive. I bought quad tabs because thats how you traded, now they want to sell a new tab.

Sorry, but in what universe is $4 for trading excessive? $60+ for a useless back attachment MTX is excessive.

I didn't see I can upgrade my premium stash tab into merchant and now it's too late.

I wish I can upgrade my quad tab.

Please GGG

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urs#2736 wrote:

More importantly, once the game becomes free-to-play, millions of new players will be in the same situation: unable to participate in basic trading because they lack a Merchant Stash Tab. This will not be an edge case — it will be the norm.

Perfect, no one wants thousands of free to play bots on the market.

The game will be fully free to play and has no direct “buy power” mechanics.

$4 to trade might be the most reasonable price ive ever seen in a fully F2P game.

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C4Guy#0918 wrote:

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Karishin#7986 wrote:

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Dxt44#4050 wrote:

You pay for key, you have 300 points, you buy stashes. Thread closed.

A lot of us used our points before anyone knew merchant tabs were coming. $4 to trade is excessive. I bought quad tabs because thats how you traded, now they want to sell a new tab.

Sorry, but in what universe is $4 for trading excessive? $60+ for a useless back attachment MTX is excessive.

Its excessive because it was something added to the game that they said they'd never add. Then they lock it behind a paywall - an essential part of the game is now paywalled. There's zero reason not to give a single tab for "free".

GGG will continue to add more shit to the game to sell you more tabs to manage said shit.