Been asked for and refused by Anet numerious times. there are many reasons for it but first and foremost is selling items is just not needed. Nor is buying items. there simpily is NOTHING in this game that is impossibile to attain, or find an equivalent from a trader, collector, or crafter at little cost. So the inflated unreasonable prices that always float around the game for stuff needs nothing to legitimize them. as such no AH will ever make it into GW 1.
Another reason is a back channel agreement between developers to not pursue it further... Indeed GW alpha server had a AH system ready to go back during NF beta, but it was scraped for this reason. It was too similar to the WoW auction house system.
Now they are looking at the Blackmarket system in City of Villains. Which is by far a superior system. Fortunately the work going into that function is going into GW2 from the ground up. So the engine will have something for an AH built into it from the beginning, not requiring a major reconstruction of the engine as it would if it came to GW1.
Aspects of the Blackmarket expected to show up in GW2 is.
- Extra sale slots available as you level
- Posting an item for sale shows auction history for instant price checks at posting (sales values trends and number available on the system).
(note this is the ACTUAL sales that go through the system, not Inflated sales postings that do not actually transact)
- Notifications of sale of item at time of final transaction so you can pickup payment
- Fee management for overpriced items that stay listed for too long and never purchased.
- Search function for entire BM Database. (type what your looking for and see what all is available in that category).
A result of this system coming to GW2 you can expect significantly less from crafters and traders and collectors when it comes to common max dmg weapons, as the AH will eventually have a significant inventory to choose from and at reasonably acceptable prices that is in line with acceptable demand.
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