I realise that Blizz policy is to inflate gold prices to ensure WoW tokens are lucrative for them, but it still is worth saying:
THE AUCTION HOUSE NEEDS A TRADING POST!
Two ways of buying selling:
As current. Sellers place an item they’d like to sell at the price they’d like to sell. Buyers can see the supply in the system (items available). When buyers buy, they buy the cheapest ones first.
Buy orders. Buyers place an order for items they’d like to buy at the price they’d like to buy. Sellers can see the demand (buy orders placed). When sellers sell, they sell at the highest available price.
Very quickly, the correct market value for items appears for each trade item.
I know Blizz would not consider this as it’s in their interests to keep prices high. They even spam you with “NO NEED TO UNDERCUT!” when you are putting an item on to try and stop prices dropping.
It makes the economy of the game so frustrating. And with the ridiculous craft mechanics for legendaries, it’s just pouring salt into that wound.
For mats the current system is the one that works best. Seller post mats at the price they are satisfied with, or they wait until price goes up again. If buyers where to make a buy order on mats that already are on AH but on a lower price, the price is more likely to be lower than acceptable for the sellers, and no one is going to fill that order.
For crafts however, and especially special/legacy craftings for mogs or toys or twinks, the trading post might be actual beneficial as these kind of items doesn’t usually sells so it is not likely to be on AH when a buyer wants it. Letting the buyers request such items through the trading posts allows crafters to craft on demand if they are satisfied with the price. And perhaps allow crafters to give their price if suggested price from buyer is too low. This system will anyway be somewhat convoluted, so perhaps it is best if buy orders do not have any pricing at all, but rather is a way for buyers to get in touch with crafters/sellers for price negotiation.
So my suggestion for buy order would be:
Buyer puts up an order for x number of a desired item.
Crafter/seller from same (connected) server apply their offer
Buyer get notified and can wait for more offers from multiple sellers, or decide to go with the first one.
Communication between buyer and seller would happen on a trading post-interface operating like instant mail, or it could be implemented to the chat and work like whisper.
This would indeed be more practical for buyers than having to spam trade chat.
Crafters could even opt to get notified whenever something they can craft on that char is requested on a buy order.
Trading post works better then the current system for all items, but especially for mats. Sellers are under no obligation to use buy orders. Nothing changes for them. However, if they want the money immediately, they have the option of using the Buy Orders (although they will be selling at a lower price).
Using Buy Orders to sell stuff will (as you correctly point out) always be at a lower price than the current system, but you have the advantage of a guaranteed and immediate sale. No “auction expired” messages.
If the buy orders are too low, someone will put an order in at a higher price. Trading Posts work best on high volume trades.
I would be happy if I could buy again from the person I want to buy from in the Auction house. By now, I am forced to buy from the 1 silver undercutter and cannot buy from people not dumping prices by 1 damned silver.
This is also part of the problem you mentioned. Because you always have to buy up the cheaper stock first, the ones who win are the AH players only. If I do not want to support a cotton baron, I have to look elsewhere than the AH to buy stuff. Pretty sad forcing this upon us, I just recently noticed that change in the AH. (yes I was on a long break and from the looks of it, it will probably end up being a brief vacation visit, seeing how the game and community feels like)