A dedicated Lollapalooza fan recently shared on Reddit how they engineered a custom price-alert bot that snagged two 4-day passes for just $463.88 each—well below typical resale prices. The bot scrapes verified resale listings every 30 seconds and instantly emails alerts when tickets dip below set thresholds. By pre-filling billing info, the redditor sped through checkout to lock in the deal. They’ve open-sourced the code on GitHub and helped others replicate the setup using ChatGPT, sparking a lively discussion on r/lollapalooza.
However, this DIY hack sits in a legally and ethically gray zone. The Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS Act) of 2016 outlaws software that bypasses ticket purchasing protections, aiming to preserve fair access for genuine fans. Violators risk fines up to $16,000 enforced by the FTC.
While price-alert bots that only notify without purchasing in themselves are less likely to breach the law, automating checkout or bulk-buying remains problematic. Additionally, ticket scams are rampant on resale platforms, so vigilance is crucial. The BBB advises sticking with official channels and verifying reseller reputations before committing to purchases.
Recent verified-fan programs by major ticketing platforms have successfully reduced bot activity, limiting secondary market availability and inflated prices. Still, savvy fans continue to devise creative workarounds like this Redditor’s bot to outsmart the resale market.
This Reddit thread highlights the ongoing tension between fans seeking affordable tickets and a market saturated with bots and scalpers. While the bot offers a clever tool for some, it’s essential to balance cost savings with legal risks and the potential for scams. Buyers should proceed with caution and prioritize secure, official sources whenever possible.
Source: r/lollapalooza