Hello,
I've been reading the forums to great extent since I procured this game last Friday, the 4th of April 2014 in addition to playing the game since this date (reading zone chat).
What I have noticed is a incoherent economy. However what I have also noticed is an heightened player and social connectivity (relative to other MMOs). What I mean by this is, interaction (even if minor) is increased. When two players wish to purchase something from each other, usually they meet up to do this, and prior they might barter a bit over private chat.
This is good. It reminds me a bit of the earlier days in Runescape. Trading was personal. I missed that. The current system is insufficient though, from the feedback I am seeing. I also agree. Which is why I propose these two suggestions:
#1 - This is the primary idea.
A local trading board in each major city of a zone. This trading board would be as it says, local. Not server wide, but purely for that area. You may be asking why I'm not referring to this as an auction house. Good question, and there is an important distinction. An auction house is listing an item, with a starting price and a buyout price. This is too automatic. You lose what I was describing earlier, the social spark that even minor interactions like bartering and general trading enable.
So, whereas in an auction house most processes are automatic and far more anonymous, a trading board would simply allow you to list something you wish to sell, but not the price. If you wished to purchase it, there'd be an option to both send a private message to the seller, or to send them mail. Thus perpetuating interaction. Currently the only viable means of trading is through guild stores. Which are okay, but I don't think they should be the only serious option.
#2 - This is quite straightforward. Add a trade channel (local only once more). Simple, allows people to broadcast their wares without flooding zone chat.
That's it. I think these two ideas would significantly improve trading. Let me know what you think.