Consumers in the United Kingdom are expressing anger as air conditioning units, desperately needed during a severe heatwave, are being bought up instantly by automated bots. These bots purchase units the moment they become available from manufacturers, only to quickly list them on resale platforms like eBay for up to six times their original cost.
Customers attempting to acquire cooling devices from manufacturers such as Meaco have reported sold-out stock in under 30 seconds. Many of these units then reappear online at significantly higher prices. For example, a Meaco Cirro 12000 BTU unit with a recommended retail price of £540 was found being resold for over £3,000. Other models experienced similar markups, with units priced between £520 and £660 being resold for between £1,000 and £2,047.
Scalpers, individuals who buy high-demand items to resell them for profit, are reportedly using specialized bots. These bots are designed to scan websites for product releases or restocks, automatically filling in payment and shipping details to complete purchases in milliseconds. Some scalpers are sharing information about direct purchase links that can add items to a virtual shopping cart faster than standard browsing methods. These bots can also employ techniques like rotating IP addresses and multiple fake accounts to evade retailer detection.
Retailers are attempting to combat these automated purchases through various measures. Anti-bot software that uses machine learning to distinguish between human and bot activity is one approach. Other methods include imposing purchase limits of one item per customer and withholding direct buying links until the last moment.
Homeowners have been actively seeking air conditioning units to cope with record-breaking heatwaves in May, June, and potentially July. Major retailers like Currys have reported that air conditioning supplies are limited, with units selling out rapidly. DeLonghi has confirmed that all nine of its air conditioning models are out of stock. In France, instances of shoppers resorting to physical altercations for fans and air conditioning units at a Lidl store have also been reported.
Companies that install air conditioning systems are also experiencing a surge in demand. The Air Conditioning Company in London reported a 1,748% increase in email inquiries and a 736% rise in phone calls since the June heatwave. Aervue Air Conditioning in Birmingham noted that their sales have doubled since March, describing business as "manic."