So, I joined a trading guild

tallenn · April 2014

I haven't given up on trying to convince ZOS that the games needs a better trading system, but I know it's going to take a while. In the mean time, I decided to join a trading guild or two -my primary guild takes up 2 slots (one for overall guild and one for faction specific), so I could join up to 3.

So anyway, I get my invite into the trading guild. it's a pretty big guild, over 400 members (probably maxed by now), so as you can imagine, the guild store has lots on it. I decided to check it out, to get a feel for how it works.

I've heard the complaints about how bad the interface is, but I was not prepared for the reality. There's no way to find what you might want to buy, or to see what others are charging for what you might want to sell -and you'd be wasting your time anyway, since no one else would be able to find your wares!

There's not even a search by name feature! You can browse by a few very general categories (weapons, armor, materials, etc) and put a level limit on it. That's pretty much it. Oh, and the results only show 100 items, with no way to "go to the next page", at least no way that I saw.

I couldn't even find simple things like iron ore or a health potion. If it's not in the first 100 or last 100 (at least you can sort by price), you won't see it. That means there's no point in posting something above or below the prices that are showing up, because no one else will be able to see your wares, either.

The interface for the guild store is an absolute disgrace. How did this get past QA? They came up with this whole trade-in-guild system, did they never even test trading in a full sized trading guild? It appears that there is just no way to even view the vast majority of what's available for sale -am I missing something?

dagnome · April 2014

I don't think they tanked as bad as you describe them in your post, I have been trading for a while and in my opinion COD mail is a great trading tool. I do agree with the inability to sort your inventory by rarity, quantity, etc. A feature like that would be nice.

Shimond · April 2014

Out of curiosity, because I just don't know, was it actually intended as part of the design to have 'trading guilds'? I realize people have created them to try to fit an auction house purpose of some sort, but I'm really wondering if that was actually why they put them in.

Just wondering if they really ever intended for a guild store to have more than 100 items of a type (if you truly can't page through them).

loops73 · April 2014

the trading interface is horrible in guild stores..it would be very helpful to compare prices of the same item within a store. sifting through hundreds o listings is just stupid.

Rev Rielle · April 2014

I haven't had any experience with that as I like to trade 'traditionally' (i.e. face to face with people). But if what you're saying is true it needs significant improvement. It sounds disappointing. Hopefully they'll get to work making it user friendly soon.

tallenn · April 2014

I've done a little research, and apparently, there are a couple of addons that make searching the guild store better. I haven't used them, but they look promising.

However, that really only helps buyers to find what they need. Unless the use of these addons becomes extremely widespread (essentially everyone who uses a guild store), you still have the problem of your listing not ever being seen by buyers.

A much better guild store interface is going to have to be a part of the DEFAULT UI in order to address this issue.

Zakua · April 2014

Ew, that doesn't sound well thought out at all! I was thinking this morning of getting into a trade guild so I could get a better understanding of whats out there but....think I'll pass for now.

I do hope they implement a better/more detailed system then what you have described, yikes.

Ysne58 · April 2014

I have no patience with the way the current guild store is set up. I don't use it.

Dovel · April 2014

I wish there was a way to put the Store in the center of the screen. As it is now, it's pushed off to the right and the other half is taken up by the Bank Teller.

We need better search features also.

Meogi · April 2014

There are two addons on esoui called "Guild Store Search" and "Guild Store Searcher". No better solution right now

Lalai · April 2014

They really do need to fix the search interface for guild stores. I think a lot of people's woes with not being able to find items they're looking for (and then resorting to zone chat) have a lot to do with the guild stores being extremely difficult to browse through if you're looking for a specific something. I've used them to find bait, cheap recipes I haven't found yet, and cheap motif books (picked two up for 250g yesterday

) but if I'm looking for a specific item I do just ask in guild first, trade chat second, with guild store being a last resort (that I haven't yet had to use).

Oh! There is a next page option. It's towards the bottom of the store window. Logging in now to get a screen shot and will update this with it.

Edit: Got it! Next is at the bottom, next to where it displays your gold.

Also, one really annoying thing is that gear is included in materials. So you'll see weapons, jewelry and armor when you're trying to find materials you need.

Foxhunt · April 2014

I agree that the guild store interface needs some work. On a different note, I know that cod=cash on delivery, but can someone describe what it is/does and how it works for me?

Lalai · April 2014

Foxhunt wrote: »

I agree that the guild store interface needs some work. On a different note, I know that cod=cash on delivery, but can someone describe what it is/does and how it works for me?

So if you want to CoD something to someone, you put an attachment in (usually the item you want to sell), select the CoD radio, and input the amount of gold you are selling the item for. It'll charge you some postage that seems somewhere around 10% (not exactly that, I forget the exact).. but when the person receives the mail and goes to get the attachment, a message will pop up asking if they accept the CoD charge. They hit yes, and it automatically mails you the money, they get the item.

Benefits are they can't take the item without paying, and right now the postage is a cheaper cut than what guild stores take.

Hawtsauce · April 2014

Downside is you dont get the $ until they open the message and click yes so if they blow it off or are offline for days - you dont have your $ and your dont have your item to sell to someone else.

autumnleaf · April 2014

COD you send an item to someone via mail with price specified, the person upon getting the mail and taking the item, the specified amount of gold will be deducted from his pocket and send to you, the game eat a cut of that profit though.

Lalai · April 2014

Hawtsauce wrote: »

Downside is you dont get the $ until they open the message and click yes so if they blow it off or are offline for days - you dont have your $ and your dont have your item to sell to someone else.

Good point. I think the timer is 2-3 days or so until it automatically gets sent back to you. I did have one person do that to me.

Sihnfahl · April 2014

Shimond wrote: »

I realize people have created them to try to fit an auction house purpose of some sort, but I'm really wondering if that was actually why they put them in.

It was pointed out back in beta that this is exactly the scenario that would occur; that, lacking an AH, people would gravitate to the guild store as the functional AH.

So, yes, if they didn't listen to us in beta and implement a AH prior to release, then that was their design decision.

Zabalah · May 2014

As a new player who has recently achieved lvl 20 on my main, I am struggling with item management. I created 3 mules exclusively to mange my items... 1 who is crafting just to function as a clearing house, 1 that holds items to sell in 1 of 3 trading guilds, and 1 that holds my provisioning/woodworking items. I am spending more than an hour a day managing my bank. This represents close to 25% of my online game time. If anything drives me away from this game, it will be the banking/trading functionality and NOT the other bugs. For me... having to devote time to managing my character due to the lack of functionality in the game design, is a GAME BREAKER for me.

MasterSpatula · May 2014

It really is that bad. It's straight up at the "How did even so much as one person, much less the whole team, think this was remotely good enough?" level of bad.

PermaGrin · May 2014

Ysne58 wrote: »

I have no patience with the way the current guild store is set up. I don't use it.

Agreed.
I joined 3 trading guilds at one point. Guess what, filled with a bunch of others trying to sell stuff. No one really buying, cant search for anything, etc.

Now I just horde all of my stuff on alts.
Then when they do break and add an AH....

tallenn wrote: »

I've done a little research, and apparently, there are a couple of addons that make searching the guild store better. I haven't used them, but they look promising.

I do not know why stuff like these addons are erking me. I mean I understand some, but something like this, to search your own guild store???
An addon for something easily implemented by the developer. Makes me question why this is the price it is when "addons" are needed for basic interface design to aid the user. Mind boggling to me.
Nevermind stuff like showing me damage numbers or even a combat log, etc. Give the user the option to turn it on and off with in the game. Not make users rely on addons.

Gwarok · May 2014

@ZOS Just being able to alphabetize A-Z and Z-A the store search(es) by clicking "Name" would be extremely satisfying. It's not the most perfect solution to the whole guild store problem, but it's a great start.

Xiola · May 2014

I'm trying to hold onto the few positive aspects of this game that I enjoy, I really am. It's getting harder and harder to overlook, with a "wait and see" approach, the glaring shortfalls of the game. More and more, with each passing day, I dread logging in, simply because I know that 30%-40% of my game time is going to be spent on inventory management and trade.

Being in game should not feel like a second job. If the community has been able to come up with barely passable workarounds with what we've been given to work with (player created mods, etc.) for free, one has to wonder what could be done with a paid team of developers and designers.

TicToc · May 2014

It is a pretty pathetic interface given that it is the only method allowed to us other than zone spam. It is bad enough that the guild store already reduces potential buyers to a fraction of what they could be, but much of what you put up for sale cannot even be seen. You are charged a listing fee, but you item doesn't truly get listed...not visibly anyway.

This is not one of those things that should have been left up to addon developers to work out. Many people don't use addons and, frankly, we can't count on addon developers sticking around to support their addons. Some have already left.

Yankee · May 2014

I have tried using our guild store. It is a pretty bad interface. Just a month before live on PTS there were so many progression stopping bugs. They were pushing so hard towards live date to just get the major bugs (like main quest) worked out so the game was even playable.

I believe the guild and store interface just never got any love.

If the sub model survives they will probably improve it.

Mishoniko · May 2014

Please don't necro old threads .. this one died April 11, a mere week after release.

Yankee · May 2014

Mishoniko wrote: »

Please don't necro old threads .. this one died April 11, a mere week after release.

Didn't notice that.

Although the subject is still pertinent. The store interface is still terrible.

Zabalah · May 2014

Mishoniko wrote: »

Please don't necro old threads .. this one died April 11, a mere week after release.

It was not my intent to revise "old" threads. I am a NEW player, and all these threads are NEW to me. I wanted to comment on an issue or RAISE a point... instead of starting a NEW thread, I did a search and landed on this one.

Regardless, if this issue is not on the radar of the developers, it should be. The thread was started on April 11th... a sufficient amount of time for a developer or designer to add a comment and throw us a bone regarding the functionality of the trading/banking system.

Don't get me wrong... I realize the devs have an enormous amount of work on their plates. But inadequate game design that breaks the game playing spirit of players is a serious issue and deserves attention.

PermaGrin · May 2014

You make a new thread, people tell you to use the search function.
You search and post in an older one on the subject you are looking for, people tell you not to post in old threads.
:S

Zabalah · June 2014

PermaGrin wrote: »

You make a new thread, people tell you to use the search function.
You search and post in an older one on the subject you are looking for, people tell you not to post in old threads.
:S

^ This

Pallmor · June 2014

I too think this thread is still relevant.

Seroczynski · June 2014

How come nobody has mentioned the BatmanStoreFilter addon in a thread such as this?

I agree the default UI could have been way, way better but we got to do with what we got, and BatmanStoreFilter is a must for everyone using the guild store.