Supreme bans online shopping bots

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Jul 5, 2015

Supreme has taken a stance on online shopping by banning the use of bots to purchase its new releases online. Twitter user, The Supreme Saint, revealed on the social media site that the company is "banning the IP addresses based off of how frequently you poll Supreme’s website via refresher or bot." Loyal Supreme shoppers took to Twitter to voice their concerns and praise. 

The use of shopping bots has been an oft-discussed issue in the sneaker and streetwear communities. Shoppers use bots to shop with them in order to increase their chances of securing merchandise on their release date. Usually bots are used so that customers can buy more than one item or size. Due to this, items sell out within hours and often even within minutes.
 
Nike very recently introduced a raffle system so that customers can secure their sneaker before it sells out. Through this system, customers can pick up their purchase at a store and avoid having to compete against bots. Both companies are continuing their efforts to level the playing field for their loyal client base, something that sportswear giant Adidas has yet to do.

However, Adidas has introduced the Confirmed app that reserves a shoe size for the user to pickup at an Adidas retailer. Although the company introduced the app for the release of the Yeezy Boost, it has not yet fixed the ongoing glitches. Still, the Confirmed app is an effort, and with three major companies in the streetwear and sneakers communities battling against bots, major changed in the industry may occur sooner than later.