As a finance major, I love the potential of the in-game auction house. I think it could add a lot of interaction between characters, since many items cannot be purchased at the street vendors. As the game expands, with more characters, skills, and items, the "economy" of the game will only become more important.
My thoughts (in order of priority):
1. I think there must be an in-game interface to list items AND request them. The fact that I must open a new tab to see the auction page is a big turn-off.
2. We should be seeing many more items posted to the auctions. In theory, shouldn't I be able to buy every single item (even the ones that can be purchased from street vendors)? There will always be someone too lazy to walk across the street to buy their eggs and milk.
3. Allow the purchase of individual items on the auction page. Right now, if someone lists 400 cheese, and I only need 1, why do I have to buy all 400?
4. In a typical financial market, you have the "market price." I think it would be a cool idea to easily see the current "market" prices of key items. Also, in-game, the option to list an item for "market price" or "market price - 1 currant" etc. Obviously, you don't want to make this too complicated, but I think you have a lot of options.
5. I've purchased a couple items from the auction page. Some of them came in a mailbox; others came by frog mail. Is there a logic to this?
Overall, I've been surprised by how few items are listed on the auction page. If I need tortillas, why can't I buy them anywhere? Do I really need to learn an entire skill just to make them? The fact that a lot of these items aren't listed is a sign that the auction system isn't easy enough to use yet.
Let me know what you think. Thanks.