Just stumble once, Akraasiel and we should see a very interesting death message. 
I don't see the problem, to be honest. It just requires a different perspective.
Right now, Jewelers are seeing the market flood with lots of cut gems, many of which either aren't needed in other trades or aren't used in any particularly popular jewelry design. These are destined to become vials, once Bob croaks. I foresee cut gems as becoming more prominent in the jeweler's income potential.
Vials will be expensive, yes. Vials are not potions.
If we break the mindset that vials are meant to be cheap and plentiful, then it's something of an epiphany. One will pay very careful attention to his or her vials. They'll become valued. This is fine, they last twelve and a half years, which gives one plenty of time to get value from possessing them.
Don't think of vials as a 'throw in bonus' with fills. Alchemists sell the fluid, not necessarily the container, though alchemists will likely want to acquire gems and be ready to do some glasscraft when a buyer requests it. Yet another way to make money.
What this means is that you won't be seeing (as many) people running around with 100+ vials of healing and mana potions. This results in larger numbers of smaller purchases, keeping alchemists busier. Powerstones will be used faster, partially because of the small upsells that inevitably occurs, as well as the simple matter of brewing smaller batches of health and mana with greater frequency.
I see a remarkable synergy coming in the future, with regards to jewelers and alchemists.
Now, if they'd just make it so sigils and other enchantment items use powerstones, like they did with statues, then maybe jewelers won't be complaining about their piles of unwanted powerstones.
This all makes sense to me anyhow. It's not necessarily going to be like in other IRE games, where having three of every cure and a few dozen health and mana is considered typical.
If anything, we need to work towards whatever economic situation the administration feels is necessary before they can retire Bob. When he's gone, you won't have to worry about trying to make vials cheaper than his.
Right now, Jewelers are seeing the market flood with lots of cut gems, many of which either aren't needed in other trades or aren't used in any particularly popular jewelry design. These are destined to become vials, once Bob croaks. I foresee cut gems as becoming more prominent in the jeweler's income potential.
Vials will be expensive, yes. Vials are not potions.
If we break the mindset that vials are meant to be cheap and plentiful, then it's something of an epiphany. One will pay very careful attention to his or her vials. They'll become valued. This is fine, they last twelve and a half years, which gives one plenty of time to get value from possessing them.
Don't think of vials as a 'throw in bonus' with fills. Alchemists sell the fluid, not necessarily the container, though alchemists will likely want to acquire gems and be ready to do some glasscraft when a buyer requests it. Yet another way to make money.
What this means is that you won't be seeing (as many) people running around with 100+ vials of healing and mana potions. This results in larger numbers of smaller purchases, keeping alchemists busier. Powerstones will be used faster, partially because of the small upsells that inevitably occurs, as well as the simple matter of brewing smaller batches of health and mana with greater frequency.
I see a remarkable synergy coming in the future, with regards to jewelers and alchemists.
Now, if they'd just make it so sigils and other enchantment items use powerstones, like they did with statues, then maybe jewelers won't be complaining about their piles of unwanted powerstones.
This all makes sense to me anyhow. It's not necessarily going to be like in other IRE games, where having three of every cure and a few dozen health and mana is considered typical.
If anything, we need to work towards whatever economic situation the administration feels is necessary before they can retire Bob. When he's gone, you won't have to worry about trying to make vials cheaper than his.
Uh, I had an idea before I saw this thread, actually.
Gemstone vials last for something like 150-160 months. Why not up that to around 300 months, then introduce wooden vials that some tradeskill or other has the ability to carve, that only last 15-20 months? If they only take one or two wood comms...
There'd be some people who would want gemstone vials, and the fact that they last so long (300 months would be 25 Lusternian years) - not to mention certain elixirs like vitae, allheale, and some poisons, that are used infrequently - would offset their cost. But for everyone else, especially alchemists who supply their own vials and shopkeepers who don't need to worry about decay rates 'cause of the magical statis effect of stockrooms, wooden vials would be a cheap alternative - and one that wouldn't destroy the market for gemstone vials because of their high turnover. Both would have markets.
Feel free to tear the idea to pieces
Gemstone vials last for something like 150-160 months. Why not up that to around 300 months, then introduce wooden vials that some tradeskill or other has the ability to carve, that only last 15-20 months? If they only take one or two wood comms...
There'd be some people who would want gemstone vials, and the fact that they last so long (300 months would be 25 Lusternian years) - not to mention certain elixirs like vitae, allheale, and some poisons, that are used infrequently - would offset their cost. But for everyone else, especially alchemists who supply their own vials and shopkeepers who don't need to worry about decay rates 'cause of the magical statis effect of stockrooms, wooden vials would be a cheap alternative - and one that wouldn't destroy the market for gemstone vials because of their high turnover. Both would have markets.
Feel free to tear the idea to pieces
And Imperian's pour elixir from one vial to another... 
