OK! thanks for the clarification!
I/we see this all the time... There are *always* trades avail in the market by computer controlled “merchants” as alluded to above by Ozy in every age you progress through. There are Friend’s Tavern boosts available to purchase for .5 and .3 rates, but it is highly discouraged by most players to use these “merchants.”
General guideline most/all players with some sense abide by is to produce the goods *ONLY* that you have unlocked bonuses for on the Continent map, and trade with other players for those you are lacking. There surely is enough players within your neighborhood, friends list, and/or guild that have unlocked the bonus for the others is the general premise. Laws of average apply as do “Fair trade”, supply/demand, and/or guild rules on authorized trade ratios (2:1, or calculators) but regardless, all will net a better deal than the best available for purchase friends tavern bonus for AI merchant rates.