BETA
Chapter 1
The birth of sneaker culture and resale
Chapter 2
The economics of artificial scarcity
Chapter 3
The digital trading floors of footwear
Chapter 4
The battle of the bots
Chapter 5
The high-stakes world of sneaker authentication
YOUR GOAL
Master of The economics of sneaker reselling
Ch 4 · The battle of the bots
dash Sneaker Bot Reselling Economics
Bots snatch 'em quick, oh so fast! Resale prices just won't last!
dash Retailers spend millions of dollars on cybersecurity to block bots and ensure shoes reach real customers.
dash Resellers pay monthly subscription fees to join private online communities that share release strategies and bot access.
Fun Fact
Bot speed: Some advanced checkout bots can complete a transaction on a retail website in less than 50 milliseconds—faster than a human eye can blink.
Glossary
bot (noun)
A software program designed to perform automated, repetitive tasks over the internet. In 2019, resellers used bots to instantly buy out Boston retailer Bodega's rare sneaker stock.
A software program designed to perform automated, repetitive tasks over the internet. In 2019, resellers used bots to instantly buy out Boston retailer Bodega's rare sneaker stock.
Quiz
What technology do retail websites use to analyze user behavior and block automated checkout scripts?
Quiz
Which mobile app does Nike use to release its most exclusive sneakers via raffles and location-based drops?
Quiz
Approximately how fast can an advanced checkout bot complete a purchase on a retail website?
Quiz
Which US law passed in 2016 banned the use of bots to bypass security for event ticket sales?