Why not just buy things straight from the item search counter?

[Alzelia]

It seems to me the easiest fix to Market Wards is to keep the basic system as is, but remove the actual wards. Here's how I see it would work.

1: you exchange items with your retainer at the summoning bell.
2: you go up to an item search counter and check the current rate of the item you wish to sell
3: While in the same menu you select up to 10 items from your retainers inventory to sell.
4: if you want to buy something you search the item search feature and purchase it directly from that menu. They money goes to that players retainer.
5: you pick up your Gil from the retainer bell after your item sold.

this way would keep the market wards working exactly how they already do, just without the constant zoning and without searching for the retainer with the item your looking for. Also you wouldn't have to run back and forth between your retainer and the door to check the prices of what you want to sell.

I don't see how this system would work without a flat tax on all items, or perhaps different tax rates on different types of items at different cities to encourage people to go the LL and Grid more often.

[Betelgeuzah]

Because the informed masses voted for AUCTION HOUSE instead of "wasting their time on the Marketplace" when the fix is this simple. And SE listens, since communication makes the game so much better.

[Alzelia]

Because the informed masses voted for AUCTION HOUSE instead of "wasting their time on the Marketplace" when the fix is this simple. And SE listens, since communication makes the game so much better.

This would pretty much be an auction house without the price history or people's character names in the search. Perhaps I didn't quite get me point across effectively

[Betelgeuzah]

This would pretty much be an auction house without the price history or people's character names in the search. Perhaps I didn't quite get me point across effectively

Yeah, I know. I've been saying this since December. But the players want an Auction House. And now it has been probably in the making for months (since it was mentioned in the first letter of the producer).

[Nakiamiie]

Because the informed masses some people voted for AUCTION HOUSE instead of "wasting spending their time on the Marketplace" when the fix replacement is this simple. And SE listens, since communication makes the game so much better.

I like shopping in the Market Wards, it would be a shame to see them disappear. However, I agree that some people just don't enjoy the Market Wards and it's ok. So, for them there could effectively be an option to buy directly at the search counter (make an actual search counter that looks like an auction house counter, if it what it takes) and have the item delivered in their pocket.... for a price (5% sounds like a good idea).
That would add a gil sink in the game, make people in a hurry get their hands on what they want faster, and keep the Market Wards open for people like who like shopping. With that, we don't need an auction house, all you have to do is select which item you'd like and which listed price you'd like.

[Smokie23]

To lazy to travel to a ward to buy something you want, when your already sitting at the telepoint to any ward you want?? HAHAHA wow some people are frigging lazy. (probably gonna say some 'but players are in a hurry' now) I think players can spend 1.5 minutes to buy something from a retainer. Actual time it took me to buy hempen yarn from a retainer was 1 min 29 seconds (the majority of that time was trying to find 'hempen yarn' from the stupid search). So people are complaining that they cannot take 1.5 minutes out of their time to go buy an item they want....that is laziness not 'players are in a hurry' excuse. laziness is nothing to cater to.

[Eldaena]

I actually like going to the retainers rather than straight buying an item from a menu. It gives me the opportunity to look at other items in their bazaar that I may also be interested in buying.

[Reika]

I actually like going to the retainers rather than straight buying an item from a menu. It gives me the opportunity to look at other items in their bazaar that I may also be interested in buying.

^ This.
/10char

[Enthy]

I actually like going to the retainers rather than straight buying an item from a menu. It gives me the opportunity to look at other items in their bazaar that I may also be interested in buying.

Then you get to walk back to the door to check the price on the other items in that bazaar and then you get to walk back to the same retainer if the price is actually the best deal. how fun......

[BlaiseLallaise]

Then you get to walk back to the door to check the price on the other items in that bazaar and then you get to walk back to the same retainer if the price is actually the best deal. how fun......

I's called an "impulse purchase" and only the cheapest and most frugal amongst us would bother to go back to the door and check the price to see if it's lowest when we see one in front of us at a price we find reasonable. And in a game where we have gil coming out the nose, we can afford to be a little less cheap.