OP Factions Rework the Gold Fee

[GeneralOmar1]

Minecraft username:

GeneralOmar1​

Suggestion:

Rework the Gold Fee​

Detailed description:

Currently, there is a 5 gold, non-refundable fee to list an item for gold on the Auction House. This system creates a significant economic barrier and a high-risk environment, particularly for new and Free-to-Play (F2P) players who have limited access to gold. If an item fails to sell, the listing fee is lost, resulting in a net loss for the seller.​

To address these issues, I propose one of the following changes:​

1- Ideal Solution: Complete Removal of the Listing Fee.​

Remove the gold listing fee entirely. This would create a risk-free environment, encouraging everyone to participate. A standard sales tax on completed auctions would be a much fairer alternative.​

2- Compromise Solution: Make the Fee a Refundable Deposit.​

Change the fee to be a refundable deposit. If an item sells, the 5 gold can be kept as a tax. However, if the auction expires or is cancelled, the 5 gold deposit is returned to the player. This would still prevent spam while removing the risk.​

Reason(s):

1- High Barrier to Entry for F2P Players: For players who earn their gold exclusively through in-game activities, the non-refundable fee represents a major gamble. The risk of losing their hard-earned gold can discourage them from participating in the premium economy altogether, removing a key pathway for their progression on the server.​

2- Creates Economic Disparity: The fee is a negligible expense for wealthy or P2W players, but a significant risk for those with little gold. This widens the economic gap between players, creating a "rich get richer" dynamic that can feel unfair and detract from the competitive balance of the server.​

3- Punitive System: The current system punishes players when an item doesn't sell. A failed auction is often due to market fluctuations, timing, or other factors outside of a player's control. A fairer system would tax a successful sale rather than penalizing an unsuccessful attempt.​

Example(s):

Example 1: The F2P Player​

A F2P player spends hours grinding to get a valuable item. They have only 10 gold in total. To sell their item, they must risk 50% of their entire wealth on the listing fee. If the item expires without selling, they are left with only 5 gold, making them significantly poorer for their efforts and hesitant to try again.​

Example 2: The Established Player​

An established player with 5,000 gold wishes to sell the same item. The 5 gold fee represents just 0.1% of their wealth. They can list the item with zero effective risk. If it doesn't sell, the loss is insignificant, and they can easily afford to relist it multiple times.​