Auction Houses

[Ald'Amun Dungeonrunner]

that could cause problems though...say if your inventory was full you might just drop it on the ground and be none the wiser...it should just be that if you win the auction you would get mail that says something like \'you had the highest bid on the xxxx on 2/10/2004. Come buy the auction house in xxxx to pick it up.\'

[jcterminal]

that\'s an easy fix. the cash and item are kept in escrow for a specific length of time after the auction. and if the winner doesn\'t or cannot respond within that set time, the next in line gets to pick it up.

repeat as necessary.

Originally posted by ages
As for the problem you have discovered:

The items could get transfered automatically without you having to visit the auction house, but I would have thought it more realistic if you had to.

The money could not be transfered to the seller until the item has been picked up, but this could be very frustrating for the seller.

It could be that as soon as the auction finishes, the money is transfered to the seller, and if the buyer doesn\'t pick the item up then it simply dissapears, and the seller keeps the money. This would seem to be the best idea, but if you have any other suggestions please say because it would be nice to get problems like these ironed out before I officially submit it.

[Cyrandir]

Props to this idea.  It\'s a wonderful idea that allows for a lot of RP opportunities and offers a great option to the continual shouting and/or flat sellback rates in towns.  

I do think this should be implemented in a future release of PS and I feel that any potential problems with claiming items would work themselves out nicely following ages final ideas.  Claiming auction winnings should be done in person in order to preserve RP value and in order to deal with inventory questions.  Money shold be transfered immediately upon completion of the sale, and pick-up is solely the responsibility of the buyer.  If he/she is unable to pick up the item for whatever reason in the 30 days, tough luck.  As in the rest of the world, the motto should be \"buyer beware.\"

[ages]

I\'ve edited the first post to say that if you dont pick up the item within 30 days the seller keeps the money, and the item disapears forever. Anyone else have any problems with it before I submit it?

[Cyrandir]

not here.  Loooks like a GREAT system.  I hope you can convince the devs to include it.

[jonmack]

Originally posted by ages
...
I go to the auction house, and when I enter, a screen pops up.
...

I can\'t believe noone has brought this up really - but that has got to be the worst idea for a role-playing game ever. I don\'t want just a box getting shoved in my face, I want to talk to the vendor and ask what\'s on offer.  I want to walk round the showroom and see the auction exhibits in little glass boxes. Don\'t get me wrong, I love the idea of a proper auction house! Just don\'t forget that this is not \"ebay\", or SWG with computer console\'s with a long boring list of items.  This is an opportunity for further role playing. Having said that, I suppose the process should be faily swift and not too long winded either. Still, a middle ground it not impossible by any means.

I also don\'t like the idea of funds being immediately removed upon making a bid.  That doesn\'t happen in real life - only at the end, when the bidding is over, does money and goods swap hands. Possibly there could be a deposit put down on something that will be in your favour should another person match your bid, but then there are the problems of how to get that money back... ( Sorry this isn\'t really structured! Just pouring ideas and arguments out as they come ).

I\'m assuming there will be some sort of banking system implemented eventually? If so, then immediate transfer of funds could be done when the final hammer stikes. And I like the idea the buyer should have to go personally to the auction house to collect their new goods.  But I would like a longer holding period just for those who might have difficulties ( as alreay discussed ) in getting to the auction house.  How about, the first 5 days or so has free holding by the auctioneers. Then each further 5 days a small holding fee is charged to the same bank account.  This would continue up to say a month ( or a given holding cost - possibly customisable when bidding? ), where by the item is then thrown out and lost,... or if your money runs out and the item is thrown out early. What do people think about that?

Really good idea though, this would be a great feature.

[Cyrandir]

Good ideas jonmack.  I like what you\'ve added.

[ages]

\"I want to walk round the showroom and see the auction exhibits in little glass boxes.\"

Wouldn\'t this be a bit impratical if there are lots of items?

I agree that your suggestions do make it more of a roleplay, but you have to balance it with feasibility. I do like the idea of talking to an NPC, rather than clicking in a window though.

[Kixie]

why not make this work like a REAL auction house. not these ones you say are real. this is how a real auction house works. In the newpaper an auction house puts out an ad. \"level 30 longsword selling at 3 o\' clock at auction house on 35th street.\" Now people then show up at the auction house to bid on that item. the person with the winning bid wins the item and has to transfer the money from his bank account to the auction houses. if it is a small ammount of money then he can personally give it to the auction house right them. but if it is a large sum of money it must be transfered through an account for safety reasons.

Now if he wins the bid and the money isnt in the account by a certain time (like 24 hours later) then the auction starts all over again. Auction houses have been working for 100s of years. Obviously they are doing something right because they have worked in the same way for this long. So why change it now. Lets keep these rules the same for auction houses in PS.

[jonmack]

ages
Yes I suppose when PS goes truley MMO it would get a bit full But I was just throwing ideas around. How about just a selection of the biggest and rarest items on display?

As for talking to the NPC, myabe it would just be as simple as asking to see the list of available auctions, with some options thrown in. For example you could ask to see only the items that are due to end today. That way it would still have some RP aspect, but not having to ask 1000 times \"how much is that?\" - becasue you can see the list ( enevitably it would still have to be some sort of GUI )

whemy
Yeah, you\'re right, they are like that really. Good ideas, but it\'s the same old problem: What if people can\'t make it at that time, this is an international game after all.  Still, that would be awsome to have ads in newspapers etc! Again, how about a half-way solution - You can put items up for \"private\" auction, where anyone can put there name down, and after X days the auction is closed, but those who have an item which is very worthwhile/sought after could advertise a live auction, and really make some money when people have to start outbidding in real time That would be cool.

[ages]

The big problem with auctions at certain times is timezones. I am on GMT, and wouldn\'t want to have to get online at 2 in the morning to buy items from america.

[Kereshin]

I think having an auction house in every city (or maybe in just main cities) is a great idea. It would make selling your goods and crafts much easier than wandering around looking for people to sell to. Scenario:

Merchant: It took me 3 days to get to this level but Im finally here! Would you like to see my magical wares?
Warrior: Uh, no. Im a warrior. Look around *points to people of surrounding area* we all are!
Merchant: But...but...but...
Warrior: Sorry kid, but your looking for a lower level, you must have missed it!
Merchant: You mean I... *faints*
THE END

Bad way to end, huh? Well, auction houses could solve that problem.

[Nightmare]

To throw something into the mix, also for my first post, how about the concept known to all as the \"Bargain Bin\"?  It seems that the \"throw the item away forever\" deal is a bit harsh to the people with problems with their internet and stuff like that, but it\'s a true shame so see a giant, evil sword or some deep navy blue armor  ( ) go the way of the misspelled word if they aren\'t picked up.  

So:  I propose the bargain bin.  Items that haven\'t been picked up after their allotted pick-up time will be deposited in the bargain bin.  The money to pay for the item won has already gone to the seller, so the item can be throw into the bargain bin at a tenth or a fifth of its sold price (or whatever the auction-house deems a good price if these are too much) and can be purchased by any and all who wish to purchase it.  All money from the purchase goes to the auction house.  Even the buyer or seller can buy it, so it\'s kind of like a little extra time to buy it (unless bargain hunters beat you there  ).  

If the item isn\'t purchased after an allotted time (say, 15 days or so), the item will be thrown out.  Either deleted entirely or thrown in some heap for someone to pick out of the garbage, it feels like a better way to do business.  Tell me what you think, as I\'m open to criticism, just no flaming.

[Kereshin]

Bargin Bin is a great idea that could use polishing, and trash cant be picked up as it is thrown down endless wells never to be seen again. And if youre stupid enough to jump after it then... no, just kiddin.

[Nightmare]

So there\'s no way to do a trash heap?  That\'s fine.  I guess the items could be thrown on the ground then, or just deleted, depending on which way the balancing works out.  Either way, I\'m glad I could help contribute to this effort! :]