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Re:The State of Web Scraping 2022 by mymllnthaccount on Wednesday January 12, 2022 @11:30AM (#29908853)
It would be relatively easy to solve this problem if the original supplier wanted the problem to be solved. Instead of releasing a batch of inventory at a certain time, run a raffle over a week or two and then randomly select folks to allow to purchase the item.
Re:The State of Web Scraping 2022 by bluedays on Wednesday January 12, 2022 @11:59AM (#29909427)
Wouldn’t a queuing system be more fair?
Re:The State of Web Scraping 2022 by mymllnthaccount on Wednesday January 12, 2022 @12:18PM (#29909772)
By queuing, do you mean first come first serve?

No, that causes the problem. That encourages people to use bots to be the first one to purchase the moment the inventory is released.

I don't understand how a random raffle would ever not be fair (with the assumption that one person gets only one entry)

Re:The State of Web Scraping 2022 by Arnavion on Wednesday January 12, 2022 @01:32PM (#29910967)
That assumption doesn't seem like it'd hold. You'd just replace bot services with package forwarding services that can generate unique PO Box numbers or whatever.