After you've unlocked it open the System Map, choose a space body, there under its stations will be the Trade Shuttle button. Press it, load the shuttle, press send/ok.
Keep in mind that the shuttle trades with all stations on that space body so load your shuttle carefully. Also you still have to load things that stations require.

Originally posted by phoagne:

After you've unlocked it open the System Map, choose a space body, there under its stations will be the Trade Shuttle button. Press it, load the shuttle, press send/ok.
Keep in mind that the shuttle trades with all stations on that space body so load your shuttle carefully. Also you still have to load things that stations require.

So say I load it with Sheila's. Anyone buying Sheila's there might acquire them even if they have bad standings? Plus I'm figuring I can't buy thing or see whom I sold them to? I wish it was a bit clearer...

Originally posted by Rodrigo:

So say I load it with Sheila's. Anyone buying Sheila's there might acquire them even if they have bad standings?

Yes. But also if your rep is too low they won't give you items, only dignitas.

Originally posted by Rodrigo:

Plus I'm figuring I can't buy thing or see whom I sold them to? I wish it was a bit clearer...

Yes, can't choose, only random items from stations' inventories. But you won't have to fly there yourself.

I end up not using this system much, which is a shame because I was so excited when I discovered it. If I load up the trade shuttle with gold, I've say a 1/3 chance (in some systems) that it actually trades with the station I want, and then after that another roll to I get the items that I want. Way too random for precious resources, and as OP has said, prices can vary wildly depending on factions.

Also I've sent it out a few times now and it's returned with my items, presumably the stations gained missions in the meantime so the trade wasn't available? Feels too high risk, unless I want to shuttle endless weapon parts for random low value items.

I'd much, much prefer if we could send it to a particular station. It'd bring it in line with existing trade mechanics and would make it useful. Increase the CD or whatever, as it is it's just frustration.

The interface for the shuttle could also use a rework. Checking each station individually and keeping all the info in mind while you sift through the stash and load up the shuttle is painful.

Originally posted by phoagne:

Originally posted by Rodrigo:

So say I load it with Sheila's. Anyone buying Sheila's there might acquire them even if they have bad standings?

Yes. But also if your rep is too low they won't give you items, only dignitas.

Originally posted by Rodrigo:

Plus I'm figuring I can't buy thing or see whom I sold them to? I wish it was a bit clearer...

Yes, can't choose, only random items from stations' inventories. But you won't have to fly there yourself.

Is there any chance we can have this changed? I feel like it be most natural to prioritize trading with good standing factions and ignore others

Originally posted by phoagne:

Keep in mind that the shuttle trades with all stations on that space body so load your shuttle carefully. Also you still have to load things that stations require.

Does it follow a specific order or prioritize assets of a faction you have higher rep with and/or offering higher value for the carried items? I have often noticed I sent it, could swear I was careful to only load it with things that the asset I wanted to trade with wanted, and it came back without having traded anything, even when it should have been thousands of credits worth of stuff. Other times I sent it with things other assets also wanted but at lower price, and it came back with items from the wrong asset. And finally I'm also fairly sure I tried sending it assuming it trades from row to row, left to right, top to bottom and it still came back with wrong stuff. So it seems like it is either bugged or works in some really mysterious way that I can't predict.