Are you fed up with these scalpers who use bots on the internet to buy Xbox Series X and PS5 in large quantities and then resell them at full price? Amazon too. In order to fight against this most detestable phenomenon, the e-commerce giant has decided to develop its own invitation system.
Amazon goes to war against bots
According to comments collected by our colleagues from TechCrunch, this new option aims to help “legitimate” customers acquire one of these two consoles at the right price, while avoiding stock shortages caused by bots that buy the most popular products in large quantities. Llew Mason, vice president of consumer engagement at Amazon, explains:
We work every day to provide customers with low prices, a huge selection and fast delivery. This includes developing a shopping experience where customers can purchase the items they want without having to worry about bad actors buying them and reselling them at a much higher price.
In concrete terms, this new system allows any customer to request an invitation to purchase a “high demand” item. This request is made directly from the product sheet page, all you need is an Amazon account, whether you are a Prime subscriber or not.
Products eligible for an invitation are marked “available by invitation”. The product page will also state that it is a “high demand item with limited quantities” and that Amazon “will not be able to accommodate all requests. »
If your invitation request is accepted, you will receive an e-mail which will specify the time you have to make your purchase. You will also find a link that will allow you to place your order. Your article page will tell you how many hours and minutes you have before your invite expires. The company has also provided a screenshot that shows you how it all works.
This new option is available today for the PlayStation 5 in the United States, and will be offered for the Xbox Series X in the coming days. Amazon plans to expand this program to other countries and products in the coming months.
