Hello,
Even after patch v1.5, I continue to have difficulty with the Thieves Guild Fences. The issues are as follows:
1. None of the fences in the main cities will open a dialogue with me, even to sell them non-stolen merchandise.
2. None of the merchant booths set up in the Ragged Flagon will purchase stolen merchandise.
3. I cannot access the Thieves Guild Safe even though I am Guild Master.

Here is what I have done to try to resolve the problem:
1. I completed all quests related to the Thieves Guild, including side-quests to unlock each city and the caravan.
2. I have deleted Game Data and reinstalled with the latest patch.
3. I have waited 38 game-days (through the wait and sleep function) then saved, powered down, and reloaded.
4. I have limited the number of open quests so that I now only have four open quests (unrelated to TG).
None of my troubleshooting has resulted in removing this bug/glitch.

Also worth noting:
1. One of my open Quests is the College of Winterhold. Another open quest involves the Mysterious Gemstones I have gathered - could these quests be interfering?
2. I am unable to dispose of a few "Quest Items" even though there is no related Quest listed in my journal. These items include a Statue of Dil., Mystic Gloves, a Soul Gem, a greenish potion, and a few more I cannot remember) - could this be the root of the problem?

Bethesda sent me this message when contacted directly:
Please, note any patches that are released are intended to fix the bugs or broken quest in the game, not the saved file itself. Try Waiting for time to pass in game. Many things are running in the world depending on what quests you've done or place you have visited. Using Wait or Rest options, passing time will clear up some of the broken issues. It depends how long you wait, it may take up to 30 days for some items. Saving, resetting, and loading after this will have the largest effect. This also resets any NPC characters or spawns missing items.

Unfortunately, these suggestions did not repair the bug.
Basically, is there anything I can try that I haven't already? For that matter, am I missing an important component somewhere? I am certainly not ruling out user error on my part, so ANY help would be most appreciated.

Thanks

1. Unfortunately I cannot help you much with that as all fences work well for me on my all 3 characters (except for Enthir who always only have 700 gold and all other fences have at least 4000; this bug with Enthir I only have on my 2nd character who is a Nord, for my other 2 characters he has 4000).

2. Yeah, none of the merchants in the Thieves Guild except Tonilia, buys stolen items. I find it pretty strange as they work in the Thieves Guild and still don't buy stolen items but since it is like that with all my 3 characters I think that's not a bug. Only Tonilia in the Thieves Guild buys stolen items.

3. Me neither. I thought this is how it was meant to be.

My answers will mirror diamonds - tonilia is the only merchant in the cistern who is an actual fence. the others are mere merchants - it is normal for the safe to be inaccessible, not sure why though - i have no problems with the city fences.

The CoW quests and stones of barenziah shouldnt be affecting the fences, nor should the quest items. The gloves are for the 'cleansing the focal points; quest for the CoW. The liquid may be for the Nurelions Mixture quest. If you specify the items, I can point you to where they go, but as I said, this wouldnt affect your fences.

EDIT: I assume youve done all the 'special jobs' in order to unlock the fences, right?

Yes, all special jobs have been completed. I am the Guild Master and there are four vendors in the Ragged Flagon. I can locate the fences in Whiterun and Solitude but neither character will talk with me. Thank you both for your help though. I was told by Bethesda to simply start a new character/game once I tried various troubleshooting.

As for the Safe, I think you are correct to say that we aren't supposed to be able to access it. I also would assume you are correct about the vendors in the Flagon. Basically, I am stuck with lack of fences, but I unlocked the Fencing perk and will just forge ahead with my game as is (I don't want to start from square one at this point).

well, good luck anyway.

heres your http://www.uesp.net/wiki/General:Fishy_Stick

@ Gramsci37: Are you sure you are talking to the right people? Those are TG fences


Mallus Maccius - Honningbrew Meadery, Whiterun
Gulum-Ei - The Winking Skeever, Solitude
Niranye - In the marketplace near blacksmith in Windhelm
Endon - Wanders around Markarth
Enthir - College of Winterhold
Atahbah - Khajiit trading caravan with Ri'saad
Ma'jhad - Khajiit trading caravan with Ma'dran
Zaynabi - Khajiit trading caravan with Ahkari