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Maurice Ferguson
6 min read
Sneaker bots are a favorite tool of many e-commerce companies: If you set up a sneaker bot correctly, it can help you gain a real competitive advantage over other resellers. To use these bots to their fullest potential, read our guide that answers the most popular questions on this topic: What does a bot do? How do shoe bots work? How to create a sneaker bot? and more.
What is a bot?
Most tasks on the internet can be automated as the very structure of a web page is organized hierarchically via HTML, the HyperText Markup Language. “Markup” is the keyword here: Web developers use different HTML tags to divide different parts of the page into segments. For instance, a table storing data about the latest sneaker collection and its prices will have the corresponding <table> tag.
Sneaker e-stores are no different: We can write software that will automate buying (and even reselling) sneakers that will run 24/7, across any number of online shops. This kind of software is called a sneaker bot.
What is a sneaker bot?
A sneaker bot is a software program that is designed to automate the process of purchasing limited edition sneakers online. Sneaker bots are often used by sneaker enthusiasts and resellers who want to buy the latest releases before they sell out, and they can give users an advantage in purchasing limited edition sneakers by automating the process of searching for and buying the sneakers.
How do sneaker bots work?
Sneaker bots typically work by scraping the website or marketplace for information about upcoming sneaker releases, such as the date, time, and URL of the release. When the release goes live, the bot will automatically navigate to the product page, select the desired size, add the product to the cart, and proceed to checkout.
To avoid detection and being blocked by the site's anti-bot measures, sneaker bots often use specialized techniques such as spoofing user agents, rotating IP addresses, and using CAPTCHA solving services. They may also be used in conjunction with sneaker proxies, which provide users with multiple IP addresses from different locations to simulate the behavior of multiple users.
What are sneaker proxies?
Sneaker proxies are specialized proxies that are used by sneaker enthusiasts and resellers to purchase limited edition sneakers online. These proxies allow users to buy sneakers from online stores and marketplaces without being detected and blocked by the site's anti-bot measures.
Sneaker proxies work by providing users with multiple IP addresses from different locations, allowing them to simulate the behavior of multiple users and avoid being detected as a bot. They also often come with high speeds and low latency, which is important for sneaker enthusiasts who need to be able to make purchases quickly and without delays.
Sneaker proxies are typically datacenter proxies, and are often used in conjunction with sneaker bots, which are software programs designed to automate the process of purchasing limited edition sneakers online. The combination of sneaker proxies and sneaker bots can give users an advantage in purchasing limited edition sneakers, as they can automate the process of searching for and buying the sneakers, and can do so from multiple locations simultaneously.
How to create a sneaker bot?
Creating a sneaker bot can be a complex and time-consuming process, as it involves a deep understanding of programming, web scraping, and automation. Here are some general steps that can be taken to create a sneaker bot:
Choose a programming language: Sneaker bots can be created using a variety of programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, and Java. Choose a language that you are comfortable with and that has strong libraries for web scraping and automation.
Understand the target website: Before creating a bot, it's important to understand the structure and behavior of the target website. This includes identifying the URLs and parameters of the product pages, as well as any anti-bot measures that may be in place.
Develop the bot logic: The core of the sneaker bot involves writing code that navigates to the product page, selects the desired size, adds the product to the cart, and checks out. This involves using web scraping techniques to extract information from the website, as well as automation techniques to simulate the behavior of a human user.
Test the bot: Once the bot has been developed, it's important to test it thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected. This includes testing it on multiple websites and marketplaces, as well as under different network conditions.
Use anti-detection techniques: To avoid being detected by the site's anti-bot measures, it's important to use anti-detection techniques such as rotating IP addresses, spoofing user agents, and using CAPTCHA solving services.
Using a third-party solution
Alternatively, you can use a pre-made sneaker bot. You may have less control over its functionality and have to pay a subscription fee, but it’s much easier to set up. Here are some popular sneaker bots – you can use Infatica proxies with any of them:
- AIO Bot
- SneakerHead-Bot
- Heated Sneaks Bots
- Supreme Bot
- Sole Slayer
- NikeShoeBot
- Easy Cop Ultimate
- Nike Bot
- Better Nike Bot
- Another Nike Bot
- ANB Supreme Bot
- ForceCop
- Superior
- Sole Slayer
Is sneaker botting legal?
To quote our recent web scraping legality overview:
Q: Is web scraping legal for commercial use?
A: In various regulations across the world, a key factor that makes web scraping legal is transforming collected data to generate value for the user. If you parse airfare data to create a price aggregator, it’s an OK use of their data; if you simply copy and republish it to your own website, you’re breaking a law.
👩⚖️ Further reading: Is web scraping legal?
Sneaker copping via automated software is an interesting case: Using this data to build a sneaker aggregator may render it legal in the court’s eyes. Most people, however, use sneaker bots to resell shoes in a quick succession – if the scale of this operation is sufficient, some merchants might pursue legal action. Additionally, the use of sneaker bots and proxies may violate the terms of service of the online stores and marketplaces, and may result in the user's account being banned or restricted.
Frequently Asked Questions
They will be a subpar choice if you’re serious about your sneaker copping venture: Free proxy networks typically house large numbers of users – and their infrastructure cannot sustain it, resulting in high response time and constant disconnects. Conversely, your competitors may use paid proxies to be quicker than you.
In the context of e-commerce, botting is often used to gain an advantage in purchasing limited edition items, such as sneakers or concert tickets, by automating the purchasing process.
Sneaker reselling is a highly competitive and unpredictable market, and there are no guarantees of profit.
Still, some limited-edition sneakers can retail for a few hundred dollars, but can quickly sell out and then command several times their retail price on the secondary market. In some cases, resale prices for popular and rare sneakers can even reach into the thousands of dollars.
- StockX: a popular marketplace for buying and selling authentic sneakers, streetwear, and other items.
- GOAT: a similar platform to StockX, that specializes in authenticating and reselling sneakers.
- eBay: a general e-commerce platform where you can sell sneakers and other items.
- Grailed: a marketplace for high-end men's fashion, including sneakers.
- Depop: a social shopping app where you can sell sneakers and other items to a community of buyers.
- Facebook Marketplace: a platform where you can sell sneakers to local buyers.
