Some items you can also sell on the exchange for a decent price. At low (LT) level, you can possibly get away with selling common gear for more than what the vendors will give you if you sell for less than what the vendors sell it for. Uncommon + items you can boost for a little more. The catch is that you will not get instant EC. I sometimes browse what is being sold if the exchange isn't saturated with the item, I'll put it up.