Anti-Bot Advanced Pre-Cart Checkout Step by Step Guide

Anti-Bot is the shopify bot protection technology to stop bots on their platform. It works by introducing a queue and multiple captcha point to stop bots and is used by all major US boutique. This guide teaches you how to optimize your purchase flow to beat bots and check out faster.

GOAL: The goal here is to complete the queue early, prior to release.

How does it work: You will use a dummy item to get you in queue early, so when the real drop happens, you only need to edit your cart with the correct item.

What you’ll learn:

    • Pre-release prep
    • How to prepare an anti-bot cart: Entering the queue
    • Where to find links
    • What to do during release
    • Tips to optimizing your flow, payment, CAPTCHA, etc

Video Walk Through

To view the mobile version of this video, click here.


PART 1: Essential Pre-Release Prep

Do this 15 minutes before

  1. Clear cookies & cache to your entire browser. We do this as it clears out potentially interfering information and previous history on your device. 
  2. Log in to Gmail 
    • Doing this helps with CAPTCHA and increases likelihood of easy captcha. If you don’t have a Gmail, Youtube also works. If you have neither, it’s time to get one.
  4. Log in to the store that is releasing product and check your info 
    • Make sure your shipping information is saved on file
    • This will auto-fill your shipping information on load during checkout
  5. Set up your browser auto-fill for BOTH Payment + Address
    • This will cover anything the store doesn’t auto-fill
    • You can normally find this under Preferences -> auto-fill in Chrome and Safari
    • it’s very important your credit card information is saved here
  6. Memorize your CVV so you are ready for release time (this cannot be autofilled)
  7. This method works best with CC first.
    • You can use Apple Pay or Google Pay as well.
    • Avoid Paypal. Paypal is slower
    • If you must, log into Paypal account 5 min before release
    • Do NOT use Shop Pay as it breaks this method.


PART 2: Preparing an early anti-bot pre-cart.

Main Tab = Entering queue

3-5 minutes before release, the queue will normally go live. Sometimes it can go live sooner so big release look for the SoleSavy staff to announce when a queue is live. The queue is like a real life line. The goal is to get you a place in line by picking any product. 

  1. Main tab — this is where you start and end your checkout process.
  2. Add dummy item to cart (it doesn’t matter what, the cheaper the better and you will save time during the live checkout if you can commit to buying this item)
  3. Proceed to Checkout to enter the queue. Do not use any other button except for checkout to begin this process. Shop pay, paypal, apple pay, or google pay will not work.
    • If you are taken to shipping WITHOUT the queue, you did this too early. Go back, wait 10 seconds, try again
  4. Once you wait through queue you will take you to the checkout screen.
  5. Check that your Info is correct.
  6. Fork in the road:
    1. If you DO NOT see Captcha at the bottom of the page then you may proceed to the payment screen.
    2. If you DO see a captcha, do not go past the information screen at checkout.
  7. You have now completed the queue and your main tab is now ready for release. Do not touch this until drop time


PART 3: Get links ready for release

Get ready to find the item that you want to buy. Open up extra tabs of where the product will potentially show up. It’s good to be prepared for all outcomes.

There are 3 areas you should check and have open. 

    1. Early Link if we provide it to you, use this.
    2. Monitor Links: but be aware sometimes sites may disable monitoring.
        • Check Slack Channel that corresponds to the release. Ie a Jordan release would be in #_monitor-jordan
        • Remember, to not use ATC (add to cart) size links from the monitors for this method.
        • Use the product link for this method
    3. Manually check the stores website, some common pages to check are:
      • New releases
      • Homepage
      • Brand category


PART 4: Release Time

When it’s release time

  1. Find the product: Cycle and refresh through the tabs/links/monitors opened to find the item
    • Remember it may not show immediately
  2. Add to cart: 
    • If it shows up in Slack monitor: click the product name link, DO NOT use the size links.
    • Once the product page loads add the real product you want to cart
    • If it shows up on site: click the link, add the real product you want cart
      • Be prepared for skill-testing question
    • DO NOT click on any buttons that say checkout, apple pay, google pay, shop pay, paypal etc. This will make you queue again
  3. Optional: Remove dummy product
    • Every second counts, so if you can afford to leave the dummy product in your cart. Do it. If not, remove the dummy item now.
    • Most stores will open your cart on the same page so you can edit it easily
    • If not, go to the cart page and remove the dummy item from your cart
    • DO NOT click on any buttons that say checkout, apple pay, google pay, shop pay, paypal etc. This will make you queue again
  4. Return to Main Tab to purchase
    1. Refresh the main tab
    2. You will get redirected to Checkpoint, complete the checkpoint captcha
    3. You will return to checkout and your cart will be updated 
    4. If you have the option to use Apple or Google Pay on this screen, that is recommend for speed
    5. Everything should be auto-filled 
    6. Continue on as normal to order.


Tips

  • In the case of a Very Hard or Endless Captcha, you can refresh the captcha
  • If something doesn’t show up such as shipping options or payment options, refresh the page,
  • EXCEPT for when you are queuing. NEVER refresh the queue
  • You can test autofill on store.solesavy.com
  • Recommend you dry-run the process on store.solesavy.com
  • Refresh shortcuts
    • F5 = PC
    • CMD+R = Mac
  • If a release sells out: don’t give up yet. Refresh the page for the next 2-3 minutes to try and catch a restock.