The RealReal updates bot detection to block AI-automated inventory holding
Luxury resale platform The RealReal is upgrading its security protocols to prevent AI agents from monopolizing inventory through automated cart holds.
The RealReal has announced updates to its bot defense systems following reports that AI agents were being used to manipulate its item reservation process. The platform previously allowed items to be held for 20 minutes when placed in a shopping cart, a feature that automated tools exploited to keep items unavailable to other shoppers indefinitely.
By repeatedly cycling the 20-minute reservation window through automated scripts, AI agents effectively locked inventory, preventing human users from completing purchases. This tactic raised concerns regarding fair access to secondhand luxury goods on the site.
The company is now implementing technical safeguards to detect and mitigate these automated interactions. The move reflects an increasing industry-wide challenge, as retailers struggle to balance open access for consumers with the need to block malicious bot traffic and automated shopping exploits.