Grinch Bots

[Mark Twain]

I listened to this on NPR on my way home for work: https://www.npr.org/2017/12/05/568624246/grinch-bots-attempt-to-steal-christmas-by-driving-up-toy-prices

This troubles me because a reseller might use a specific algorithm to track a product, but that does not mean that a bot will purchase thousands of that product once launched, leading to price/ product manipulation. There seems to be a pretty big disconnect between perception and reality.  Nowhere in the article does it mention that most retailers put reasonable limits on online orders or that banning people, or I guess bots, occurs. 

Anyone got any Hamilton tickets?

[bigboy61]

This is stupid. Most resellers don't even use bots. We just know where to go and sometimes get lucky. The article is just a knee-jerk reaction to capitalism at its best . 

[MrToes16]

I remember the days when Tickle Me Elmo didn't need bots to purchase all available inventory before they became "Pony up the cash Elmo".

 

[Fenix_2k1]

The funny thing is a lot of the Xmas hoarding is done by mum's wanting to pay for Xmas by screwing other mum's lol

Edited December 6, 2017 by Fenix_2k1

[CosmicSpeed]

They had a report on this last night on NBC. I had to laugh really hard. They were claiming prices for the SNES Classic on ebay was $18,000 USD. Its like they didn't even care that it was probably the highest listing; no-one is buying that listing and it was merely used for the shock value.

[exciter1]

5 minutes ago, CosmicSpeed said:

They had a report on this last night on NBC. I had to laugh really hard. They were claiming prices for the SNES Classic on ebay was $18,000 USD. Its like they didn't even care that it was probably the highest listing; no-one is buying that listing and it was merely used for the shock value.

The reporting on that was almost entirely inaccurate.  I'd be ashamed if I was that program director.

[minicoopers11]

Saw the NPR article shared on facebook today. Hahahaha. Scammers. I don't really partake much in QFLL, but good grief. This is literally capitalism at work.

[TheOrcKing]