How do you find what you're looking for on the market forums?

[Wykidmystik]

I think if there was a "Buying (LTB/WTB)" and "Selling" forum I for one think that would be a better option than putting it all in one place... just an idea

[Rahmorak]

I voted Main Search but:

1) I also browse the first 1 or 2 pages now and again

2) I get frustrated that you can't search for an exact phrase (or at least I haven't seen an option ), e.g. "symbiant, extermination" finds anything with symbiant or extermination whereas symbiant AND extermination only finds items with both words ocurring.

[Cz]

I'm sorry folks but I can't do updates on this software. Only what's allowed by the admin page is within my reach, and having extra moved to the bulletin board at this time is very unlikely. I'll see what we can do based on that, and then we'll all have to wait to see how the in-game trading works out in AI.

[Trajan]

I use the " Search This Forum option" several times a day when I am looking for something specific, but I also scan everything on the first few pages just to keep up with current prices and to see what items seems to be popular. But like Rahmorak said, the search function is a bit frustrating, especially when I get the following result when searching for "Division 9":

The search term you specified (9) is under the minimum word length (2) and therefore will not be found. Please make this term longer.

Originally posted by Graan
The sale forum is unique, inactive thread should be *automatically* deleted. If a thread hasn't been updated in say 2 days, its should be gone.

I disagree, because old threads are really the only way to gauge the current value of an item. Old/closed posts need to stick around a few weeks as opposed to a few days. Even then I would prefer if old threads were sent to Market Archives for six months as opposed to deleted.

Originally posted by Kissysuzuki
My basic theory is that if the post selling an item is not on the first or second page then the seller isn't paying attention. Therefore ignore it.

This is not necessarily true. Often, my post slide to page two in just a bit over 30 min. I care about all of my WTS posts, but I can't watch the forums continually, I do need to work, eat, sleep, see friends in RL, etc. And bumping a thread every hour just to keep it on the first page doesn't quite seem right to me.

[_____________Merkath]

well i think that a in game term would be cool but i dont think i like the idea of a list of prices or like a lowst price that would drop all the prices down to insanely low to a point where its almost not worth it to sell i think that it should be like the forums only more seachable (ie says items, ql, etc) and have the topic be computer generated so that they would all be the same instead of haveing to read all the topics of stuff like WTB nanos that not realy usefull but you could have the person add his own comment like the normal forums but as for the forums now i would like to see the search changed liek ever1 has said about grid armor that makes me soooo mad geting a ton of "armor" i also realy like the idea of separte wtb and wts forums would me my life a whole lot easyer anyways im in a rush so sorry about mispell and nething else

[Kissysuzuki]

Originally posted by Trajan

This is not necessarily true. Often, my post slide to page two in just a bit over 30 min. I care about all of my WTS posts, but I can't watch the forums continually, I do need to work, eat, sleep, see friends in RL, etc. And bumping a thread every hour just to keep it on the first page doesn't quite seem right to me.

True enough but you will bump your thread every so often. So since i'm now (as has been recently pointed out) one of the top 50 trolls on the forum i'd recognise your thread and bumps as being , while not every 30 mins, regular enough that you are still paying attention to any requests posted.

[Sharps]

[edited because of formatting]

What I would like to see is the buy/sell sections *as well as* certain QL range groups for the posts.

As a low-level player I get annoyed that most if not all of the WTS/WTB posts are for ql 100+ items. And as I am very limited in the search options it becomes difficult to specify a QL 25 Ithika versus a QL155 Ithika <insert special name> since I have to search using "ithika" only.... This means I have pages and pages of posts to weed through to find if a low level version is available....


I think something like:

RK2 Market
|--- Selling
......|--- QL 1-50
......|--- QL 51-75
......|--- QL 76-99
......|--- QL 100-150
......|--- QL 151-175
......|--- QL 176-199
......|--- QL 200+
|--- Buying
......|--- <ditto above> ...

...would do wonders for the players trying to find certain QL range items. (This is of course only true *if* the search engine still won't allow specific phrasing like "ql 25" searches... as it is now you just can't do it easily.)

The only problem with this format would be that those selling a large amount of items would have to take extra effort to put each item in the appropriate catagory....

Add the auto-age-delete feature on the posts and you have a start at something somewhat more manageble...

[Vuelhering]

I use the search feature, but it is lacking. You cannot search for strings, only words.

That means if I search for "Control Unit", I'll get every frikking symbiant because it has "Unit" in the name. I've tried quotes, backslashes, etc. "Control AND Unit" helps a little, but is a kluge at best.

[_________Toy Soldier]

I use the search to find what i need... otherwise i browse through endless pages of items i have no interest in.

My Suggestion

[iroz]

my 2 cents in this,

old/inactive thread should not be deleted but moved to another section. I used them from time to time to get a sense of market price and availability of an item.

[Proco]

Usually I browse 2-8 pages looking at titles that may indicate something I'm looking for. Very time consuming.

What I want 2nd most is that everyone use the helpbot feature to add items to their posts, to make 100% sure all items are spelled correct, with qls. That would make searches a great way to look for items or check prices. Maybe a required wtb/wtt/wts/pricecheck as the first word of a title? Or (optional) auto-generated titles?

What I want most is what you guys talked about with the terminals; you just put your items in and set prices (set/min/max/time...) and let the selling/auction run 24/7. Then everyone should be able to search/buy/bid/bo your item and receive it any time of day. This would benefit the 1hour/day players a lot. Banks work all over RK, market terminals should be no different.

Also I agree that old posts should be kept for pricechecks/availability checks. And how about an auto-close-post after a set ammount of days with no posts? (From anyone or thread creator.) Then an option to exclude closed posts from your searches?

[Ianjier]

Pure luck really. Very unorganized. Would be nice to have a Buyers, and Sellers market, so they weren't mixed. And there are so many posts, it's often several pages of new posts, pushing newly posted ones several pages back within a few hours. I mostly browse just to see what prices stuff sells for when I feel like it. I mostly roll my eyes in disgust at the greed and extortion I see, and then refuse to look again for months.

[_Bonk_]

I just look at the titles and then look at the content of the threads

Ive always assumed using the search would pull up too much old stuff that would already be sold

The real solution I think though is to put bazzar terminals in the game with your AI expansion. Just make it so you can only sell items on the bazzar if you have a shop and have them all over so everyone can use it

[Matrofix]

Voted "other" because I'm mostly lookiing at 1st and 2nd page as I'm active market forum poster and monitoring it all the time.

But when I looking for some specific item to buy or going to do a price check on items I'm selling, I use the general search forum feature.

"Exact phrase match" feature would be very usefull, if it can be added. Getting too much spam when doing price checks.

Another fine option could be adding "services" category/forum.
Tradeskillers, escort services , delivery, blitzing, camping etc.
Thats not really sales, they have longer duration often and have a high demand sometimes.

[Matrofix]

Originally posted by Proco
What I want most is what you guys talked about with the terminals; you just put your items in and set prices (set/min/max/time...) and let the selling/auction run 24/7. Then everyone should be able to search/buy/bid/bo your item and receive it any time of day. This would benefit the 1hour/day players a lot. Banks work all over RK, market terminals should be no different.

Some times ago i offered addition that will be much easier to implement.
http://forums.anarchy-online.com/sho...nsfer+terminal
Only ONE transfer terminal in ICC will greatly improve urrent situation.
Many of my sales (especially bank ones) was loosen because we are playing in different time with buyer. Or he want me to stop SKing in inferno (after I was 2 hours LFT) and meet him at RK to sell 200k worth crap.
Only one terminal. You put item you sold there, enter the price and the name of person who can take it. Only that person can take item if price entered correctly. You will take your money at next visit there.

[Liwa]

I use main search to find something I don't see on first page. I also search to see what rare items are going for ... sold for over past 6 - 8 weeks. GA IV is an example search.

I review threads on first page by browsing titles just to see what is out there.

I didn't know about the "search this forum" option, will use that in the future.

I would love to use the view/search new threads in "upper right corner" of forum ... but could not find it. This would be great on market forums for people like me who like to browse for cool stuff with nothing specific in mind. Would save me looking thru threads I have already seen.

I think threads should stay for at least two/three weeks after last post. Many players are only online on week-ends. Plus many players can't have forum/email and game on at same time. What would be the point of search option if only one week of stuff was available to search? How would we get idea of current price of items that don't show up every week?

[Snyel]

I only search the titles, and if something catches my eye I open the post.. I don't use the search feature as I cannot limit the results or use a consise item name -- Also, if I bid on an item and I dont hear from the person ingame within 24hr, I will re-bid on an item from someone else.. I would like to see the posts that are not updated within 24hrs deleted - If you have something to sell, and you dont logon within 24hr to update/deliver/bump then effectivly you are just wasting EVERYONES time........

[inelson]

Given that SOE blatantly has ripped a few AO features off from Funcom for Everquest, I say Funcom needs to give AO a bazaar. Probably what would be best, is a few of them, to avoid overcrowding and to promote travel throughout RK/SL. I think a 'trade' feature would be pretty awesome as well. In addition to specifying prices, also allow players to specify acceptable trades (items could be linked easily using a bot to enable this for example). If a person wants to trade for a PC vendor's item instead of obtaining it with credits, they simply open the "bazaar" trade interface, place the appropriate trade items in the window and the exchange is made automaticaly.

Being able to throw your items into a bag, set prices, and go AFK while things are sold was a beautiful thing in EQ. Something similar in AO would be great. Lots of ways this could be implemented, I think it would be a nice benefit for everyone.

If nothing else, a bit more refined search function on the forums would be nice... WTB exact searches for example.

[Qaetus]

I generally browse, but when I'm looking for something specific, I search the forums and use my google tool bar to highlight the words

[xantranax]

I do 1 and 3

1. Read the titles,

3. Use the Search all forums button.