Short answer: auction houses maximise discovery, chest shops create place-based social trade, and admin shops give operators direct control. Many healthy servers use each for a different job.
Compare the models
| Model | Strongest use | Main trade-off | | ------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Auction house | Network-wide player exchange | Less physical discovery | | Chest shop | Towns and local identity | Harder price comparison | | Admin shop | Baseline supply and sinks | Prices are operator-controlled |
Use a hybrid intentionally
Assign categories to channels instead of duplicating every item everywhere. Keep the rules visible so players understand where value comes from.
Avoid accidental arbitrage
When an admin price and player market overlap, test whether infinite or low-risk loops emerge. Review every pricing change as a system change.
Explore the related MCMinelab solution