Merchant Archive

I think this is an absolutely wonderful idea. As I was browsing the bazaar the other day, I kept thinking how nice it would be if we could have real auctions (meaning not limited to the 6k cap of the bazaar) in-game. I honestly hate messing with the trade forums because it's unweildy in many, many ways. Give me eBay! LOL

As far as some of the potential issues with something like this that have been mentioned, I have a few ideas for resolutions. They're a bit scattered, but perhaps someone can find a way to incorporate them into the whole idea.

I'm all for Auction Houses requiring a certain level of merchant in order to place items up for auction. Merchants could certainly use the addition to their class skills. But the need for consignment options is most certainly there. My idea for resolving item transfer issues between player and merchant and getting the item listed are a combination of the secure trade window, the vendor format,Image Designerwindowsandthe current bazaar format.

A Merchant with sufficient skill groups with the player desiring to sell an item on the Auction House terminal. A new radial option appears to the Merchant (only when in the Auction House near the terminal) for that player called "Arrange Consignment Sale". The player has to accept the Merchant's offer of consignment and the trading window opens. The player drags the item they wish to sell into the interface window, the same way you would for a secure trade. The Merchant enters the starting price for the item and chooses either a flat fee or a percentage fee option (for Merchants that do not wish to charge one of these, simply enter 0). The length of the auction is set (3-, 5-, or 7-day auctions maybe) in this window and an item description can be added (as in the current vendor and bazaar format). Both players must choose accept for the sale to go onto the auction terminal. Both the Merchant and the player should be able to view listed items by selecting a "My Consignments" window (much as the bazaar has a "My Sales" window) and both have the option of ending the auction if no bids have been made. Once a bid has been made, the auction cannot be removed or defaults to the current high bidder. At the end of the auction, both the Merchant and the player receive an e-mail stating what the items final sale price was, who bought the item, the merchant's cut, and the player's payment. If the auction ends without a winning bidder--or the auction was cancelled--the item goes into the "Available Items" area of the terminal and can be picked up by the item's owner.

How's that sound?

¯¯¯¯K'vera Leann Ni-Sti¯¯¯¯
Founder of Eclipse's longest running band - TALUS MOON - Soul of Eclipse
Co-Founder of TIRIUS - City of Roleplayers
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