Version: 3.2.1.8
Critical Review of ZAuctionHouse
As a long-time user of ZAuctionHouse, I've encountered numerous issues that have significantly impacted my experience. While the plugin has potential, there are several critical areas that need immediate attention.
1. Mandatory Use of ZMenu:
Despite claims from the creator that ZMenu is not mandatory, the reality is that without it, ZAuctionHouse becomes unstable. The increased likelihood of duplication glitches and bugs without ZMenu makes it practically indispensable, contradicting the creator's statements.
2. Buggy Menus:
The menu system is fraught with errors. Frequent menu changes, especially when categories rely on different crystal colors, result in synchronization problems. For instance, switching quickly between categories like weapons (blue), food (pink), and materials (green) can cause a mismatch, displaying incorrect colors and leading to user confusion.
3. Delays:
While disabling delays on buttons such as sorting is optional, doing so introduces numerous issues, making the plugin function improperly. This mandatory delay significantly hampers the user experience, especially when performing frequent sorting actions.
4. Paid Addons:
The plugin’s pricing strategy is disappointing. Despite already paying 12€ for the plugin, essential addons like Redis cost an additional 20€, and placeholders for tops require another 7€. This nickel-and-diming approach feels exploitative given the initial investment.
5. Lack of Language Support:
Unlike many contemporary plugins, ZAuctionHouse lacks support for multiple languages. Essential languages like English, Italian, and Spanish are missing, limiting its accessibility to a broader audience.
6. Compatibility Issues:
Compatibility with newer Minecraft versions is problematic. While it was supposedly updated for 1.20.6, issues persist, particularly with addons like stats and zTranslator. These compatibility problems render the plugin unreliable on newer versions.
7. Developer's Conduct:
After exploring alternatives, I found AxAuctions and discovered troubling behavior from the ZAuctionHouse developer. It appears they've been posting negative reviews and false bug reports about AxAuctions. Upon switching to AxAuctions, I found it offered better performance, included features from paid ZAuctionHouse addons for free, and provided more frequent updates. This underhanded competition tactic is highly unprofessional.
8. False Promises:
The developer frequently makes false promises about future updates. Many features mentioned as "for the next update" on Discord are never delivered, and new feature requests are often turned into paid addons if its a little complex. This lack of transparency and follow-through is frustrating for users who rely on these promised enhancements.
While ZAuctionHouse has a solid community and the potential to be a top-tier plugin, its current strategy of showcasing only the positives while hiding significant drawbacks is misleading. With honest communication and a focus on fixing these critical issues, ZAuctionHouse could become a leading plugin in the market. Until then, I recommend considering alternatives like AxAuctions for a more reliable and cost-effective experience.