Retainer upgrades, Market improvements, and World Market instead of AH

[kukurumei]

I don't think my suggestions cover the sale of high-end merchandise anywhere close to the true Auction House you proposed. I would love to see that type of AH in FFXIV.

Hmmm, I see what you mean. My reasoning was that those who weren't interested in upgrading their retainers beyond increased storage (due to gil shortage, or general disinterest in playing the role of trader) could go on with business as usual not renting market stands, and selling whatever items they aquired while adventuring in the local markets. Once players purchased/quested to upgrade their retainer and were able to sell on the World Market- I think you are right- they would continue to rent stands. I saw it as somewhat of a mid-game goal for players interested in trading.

Ex: You are in Ul'dah and want to buy 20 Willow Logs to break cut into lumber and grind up your carpentry by pumping out 80 masks. You first check the World Market and find the cheapest listing is for 2000gil each. Coincidentally, the retainer selling those logs is located in Ul'dah (since selling logs on the World Market from Gridania would impose an additional tax the player would likely chose to set up shop in Ul'dah or Limsa Lominsa) and to avoid paying the convienence fee associated with using the instant delivery World Market, you instead use the existing item search. Since you already know which retainer you want to purchase from, you mark only that specific retainer and travel directly to the appropriate Ward.
Same.Yeah, definately. Gil sinks and an AH dealing in high-end merchandise, such as Ami's suggestion, would be great for end-game players sitting on fat nest eggs.

Considering the FF11 evolution, market wards should be high end, and AH should be low end. Because volume of low end (necessities) would be infinitely greater need on efficiency.

Either that or you take it all out of players hands and into NPC hands. Like old school style. (Though with all the talk of "modern" I doubt people would like that)

The higher volume the trade, the more accessible it should be not less.

Why would you need an AH when you sell an item that could provide a month's worth of income. Back room deals more then make up that kind of trading.

What's stifling the economy is that much of the trading is wasted on things people will rarely need, because no one will trade moss grass even if you get a billion of them.

Fantasy like theories and practical theories don't always go hand in hand. If you need eggs, you expect to get it within 20minutes from anywhere. When you need a diamond ring, you expect to search for a good long time.

That's because everyone knows you need eggs all the time. Until there's a device that can do that in MMO, it's pretty much a stone-age mentality. AH should be for the masses even if you associate real like Auction house with elite items.