Lenovo outlet resellers using scripts to snag machines [ Edited ]

[lay1995]

People have noticed that it appears that some people are using macros/scripts that can add machines to carts instantly when machines appear.

If the owner of the script doesnt complete the checkout within 15mins the script simply re-adds the machines after they time out. Other times the script keeps readding the same machine for days but never checks out.

Dell has addressed these issues on their outlet site by making people add a "capchka" to add a machine to their cart.  Lenovo should do the same to resolve this issue.

Another example: Recently Lenovo added 400+ Yoga 11s's to the outlet and over a few days someone set their script to keep re-adding all of them to their cart making it difficult for people to purchase these...

[ucfjoe]

I second this issue. Its funny, you have to type a captcha inorder to post on here but not on their system. I'm wondering if Lenovo wants the scripts to block sales because it helps so articifal demand for some of the items, if course they could just not post as many items in the outlet and could accomplish the same thing. Lenovo should install a captcha or do like ticketmaster where if you don't complete purchase in x amount of time it goes into the cart of the next person in line. 

[lay1995]

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ucfjoe wrote:

I second this issue. Its funny, you have to type a captcha inorder to post on here but not on their system. I'm wondering if Lenovo wants the scripts to block sales because it helps so articifal demand for some of the items, if course they could just not post as many items in the outlet and could accomplish the same thing. Lenovo should install a captcha or do like ticketmaster where if you don't complete purchase in x amount of time it goes into the cart of the next person in line. 

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Thanks your your response. Lenovo by not acting is causing their customers who try to use the outlet to have a terrible experience. They should really be trying to gain the trust of new and current customers...

[Mark_Lenovo Former Administrator]

lay1995,

Thanks for the feedback.  I will pass that along to the outlet web team...

Scripts can be problematic, whether it is spammers loading up the forum with unwanted junk, or people hammering our support site and degrading responsiveness  trying to do bulk warranty lookups via the individual lookup tool. We have resorted to captcha in a number of places.   Perhaps there can be a more elegant solution put in place on the outlet.  Thanks also for the info that this affects others in the industry.

As pure speculation... do you think this is the work of someone trying to get first pick of what is put up on the outlet, or someone simply trying to impair the ability for others to purchase?

Mark

[lay1995]

This is the work of resellers who try to get the first pick of the machines that are put up. In order to get the first pick the script adds every machine that is put up into their cart. They probably tweak their scripts to ignore certain machines though, or to stop adding others.

Additionally if they keep re-adding the same item for a few days without making a purchase the price of the item will get reduced and then they will complete their purchase.

The proof/evidence of all this is that the exact items that get grabbed using scripts appear on ebay shortly after they are sold. 

Although the resellers probably only intend to grab certain machines, their scripts actualy impair the outlets usability for all customers. Many people after having a terrible experience at the outlet refuse to use it ever again.

[Mark_Lenovo Former Administrator · Accepted solution]

lay1995,

Thanks for the additional feedback to characterize the impact from the customer perspective.    The outlet team is aware of the scripts and have been working through various counter measures while trying to avoid making the customer shopping experience too onerous. .

I've asked that we carefully consider the captcha suggestions you propose.

I know that on the support site, when we implemented this in the warranty lookup process, we created some concerns and ultimately implemented a different, and more strategic solution which provides some of the script protections while being completely transparent to the average customer.

I have asked if there are an concrete plans we can share or timeline other than the knowledge that it is an ongoing effort toward continuous improvement.  Obviously, if we communicate specifically what we are going to do and when, it will be easier for those abusing the system to circumvent those measures as well.

Thanks for your support on this, and for your interest in the outlet products.   As you understand, the intent of the outlet is help people get deals on systems and ideally that should benefit the end customer.

Best regards,

Mark

[indest]

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Mark_Lenovo wrote:

lay1995,

[...] 

As pure speculation... do you think this is the work of someone trying to get first pick of what is put up on the outlet, or someone simply trying to impair the ability for others to purchase?

Mark

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Could be that by preventing the sales of these machines, they create a supply/demand price hike on 3rd party websites like Amazon. This has been reported with the Y2P.

[gjbquist]

This is still a problem. I have been trying to purchase a Yoga 2 13 because the one I purchased a couple weeks ago came in the wrong color (I ordered orange but the one I received was black). I was trying to get a clementine orange for my wife. Today I saw exactly what I was looking for $449.00 and as I went to click on it, the site went down for roughly 1 minute. After refreshing repeatedly, when the site came back up they showed out of stock. I am speculating that the scripts kicked in and killed the site until the one I needed was gone. I suspect that the only reason I was able to buy a yoga 2 13 on the site was because I paid to much for it and the people running scripts didn’t want it.

I would love it if someone at the Outlet could help me replace the current laptop for what I actually ordered because I'm begining to feel like I won't be able to get it just by watching the outlet. (When I called in about getting the wrong one they said they couldn't help me because the inventory available on the outlet is constantly changing, which I understand, but this is rediculous.)

Thanks.

[Nullrez]

Sorry for rezzing an old post, but I am still having this problem of trying to compete against scripts. Whats worse is that the customer representative said that multiple people can actually add the same item to their carts! This explains why even though I managed to add an item to my cart, they kept disappearing. Is there anything that Lenovo is doing to stop this so people like me that actually wants to buy a laptop can get one?

[nflanaga]

I agree.  If any doubts this is a problem google these search terms:

freelancher.com lenovo outlet add cart

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Nullrez wrote:
Sorry for rezzing an old post, but I am still having this problem of trying to compete against scripts. Whats worse is that the customer representative said that multiple people can actually add the same item to their carts! This explains why even though I managed to add an item to my cart, they kept disappearing. Is there anything that Lenovo is doing to stop this so people like me that actually wants to buy a laptop can get one?

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