Bots are automated software programs designed to complete online purchases faster than human users can manually navigate checkout processes. In streetwear and sneaker releases, bots can add items to cart and complete payment within milliseconds of a drop going live, securing multiple units before regular customers finish loading the page. The bot economy has professionalized reselling—operators invest hundreds in bot software, proxies to mask their activity, and server time to run multiple instances simultaneously. Brands and retailers deploy countermeasures (CAPTCHAs, queue systems, raffles), but the arms race continues. Bots fundamentally changed drop culture, transforming many releases from 'who wants it most' to 'who has better technology.' Critics argue bots have ruined streetwear for genuine fans; the bot community argues they're simply optimizing within existing systems. The term 'bot' also functions as an insult—accusing someone of using bots questions their authenticity and suggests they couldn't secure items legitimately.
Definition B
Bot
Automated software used to purchase limited items faster than humanly possible.
Origin & Etymology
Shortened from 'robot,' describing automated software. The term predates streetwear usage in general computing but became specific vocabulary for automated purchasing tools in the mid-2010s.
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Related Terms
Drop
A scheduled, often limited product release that creates urgency and community ritual around new pieces.
Cop
To successfully purchase or acquire an item, especially a limited release.
L
A loss—failing to purchase a desired item from a drop or release.
Resale
The practice of buying streetwear items to sell at markup on the secondary market.
Proxy
A person or service that purchases items on behalf of others, often in different locations.