ps5-buying-bot

Automated buying bot for a PS5. This code can be used to check for a PS5 in stock at Big W and then buy it.

To create this Python script I started by reading the articles listed below:

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/building-scalper-bot-alex-g
• https://spltech.co.uk/how-to-make-a-python-bot/

This script uses Google Chrome and assumes you are already logged in to the Big W website and have saved credit card details. The script will run every X minutes until it has successfully bought a PS5, then it will stop.

Installation

To install the script first ensure Python 3.9+ and Google Chrome is installed on your machine (this was built in Python 3.9.7).

To install a virtual environment and dependencies run bash ./scripts/install.sh on Mac/Linux or double click ./scripts/install.cmd on Windows.

To activate the virtual environment run bash ./scripts/activate.sh on Mac/Linux or double click ./scripts/activate.cmd on Windows.

Set up

Environment variables

Duplicate the .sample-env file and rename it .env. Fill out the variables as described below.

• CVV - The CVV of your saved credit card
• PROFILE_NAME - Folder name of Chrome profile to use (see next section)
• WAIT_TIME_MINS - Number of minutes to wait between each stock check

Chrome profile

To create and configure a custom Chrome profile to use with this script:

1. Open Chrome
2. Click user icon and "Add" other profile.
3. Fill in details.
4. Go to the Big W website, make sure you set a local store, log in to your account and the details are kept in cookies. You must have a saved payment method for this to work.
5. Go to chrome://version/.
6. Note the profile path and navigate to that folder.
7. Copy the folder.
8. Create a new folder inside this repo called Chrome.
9. Paste the profile folder inside the Chrome folder.
10. The folder name is the profile name, e.g., Profile 1.

Test set up

To test the Selenium set up run bash ./scripts/test_set_up.sh on Mac/Linux or double click ./scripts/test_set_up.cmd on Windows.

To test the repeating job run bash ./scripts/test.sh on Mac/Linux or double click ./scripts/test.cmd on Windows.

Run

To run the script run bash ./scripts/run.sh on Mac/Linux or double click ./scripts/run.cmd on Windows.

Potential issues

• The Chrome driver binary version make not be compatible with your version of Chrome. You can check available versions at https://pypi.org/project/chromedriver-binary/#history, make sure it aligns (or is as close to) the version mentioned at chrome://version/.