TL;DR

Current trade guild system is broken. Add a public trader kiosk to each zone that allows ALL players to list a limited number of items at a higher overhead cost compared to trade guilds. Everyone can sell, but trade guilds still have value.

Full story (sorry this is a huge post!):

This is a compromise that could resolve some of the issues we're currently seeing with the trade guild system, without creating a global auction house (opposed by ZOS and some players). Here's how I see things currently:

1. Trader kiosks are a limited resource - there are only about 100 (?) total per megaserver, serving a max of 50,000 guild members (500 each).
2. Assuming 500,000 active players per megaserver (a guess), this leaves about 90% of the player base with no reasonable way to sell items (no zone selling! see #5)!
3. Kiosk location is very important, and there are only about 30 kiosks that are in "prime" locations.
4. Due to fierce competition over kiosks (even in sub-prime locations now), trade guilds must have high membership fees and/or sales quotas to raise enough gold to win a kiosk.
5. Suggesting zone chat for the 90% of players that don't have access to a kiosk is untenable - both because it's painful for sellers and buyers (and for people trying to use zone chat for chatting) and it simply won't scale.

Of the above, I think point #4 is the worst. It's forcing out players (like me) who enjoy playng the game and like to make some spending gold along the way. We're heading towards an economy where only dedicated farmers/grinders can sell, since they're the only ones that can live with quotas/fees. A global AH avoids all of the listed problems, and it's what I would prefer (a default global economy is developing anyway because of web sites that track and trend ESO sales). But to make everyone (un)happy, I'm suggesting a "public trader" idea as a compromise:

• Each zone would get one new "public trader kiosk" that would be located in a "sub-prime" trader location (not a terrible location, just not in direct competition with prime locations).
• Public traders would service only the zone they are located in (no global inventory).
• ALL players could list a limited number of items (maybe 10) through ONE public trader (i.e. only in one zone)
• The listing fee and house-cut of the public trader would be higher than that of guild traders (how much higher would need tuning over time)
• Existing member limit on guilds would be increased - maybe to 2000 (fewer, bugger trade guilds is more efficient)

Benefits:

• Everyone can sell some items even if they're not in a trade guild, or their trade guild loses it's kiosk
• Casual players do not need to worry about meeting sales quotas or paying weekly fees to list items, but they will not make as much gold due to the higher house-cut and only being able to list a few items at a time.
• Competition for kiosk locations should be reduced, and guild trader fees/quotas can be eased
• Guild trader's still have value-add by having prime locations and being able to offer more items at competitive prices (basically they get economy of scale - kiosk costs are spread out more and overheads can be lowered, resulting in higher profit)
• Annoying zone chat sellers go away
• ZOS doesn't have to scrap/convert the existing system, only add a new system

Discuss!