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Is anyone aware of an Amazon API that allows you to purchase items programmatically?

I looked at tons of their web services (Product Advertising, MWS, etc.), and none of them seemed to do this.

I found this thread that seemed to suggest there was no solution, but there was no definitive answer: https://forums.aws.amazon.com/thread.jspa?threadID=45127

Just to be clear, I want to make a purchase with MY payment details, not on behalf of any user. I figured if ANYONE supported this, it would be Amazon. But I realize there may be business (security?) reasons not to support this as well...

John Rotenstein
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elsurudo
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    There is a third-party service (which I made) that provides an API for placing orders on Amazon. [Zinc.io](https://Zinc.io) – Doug Nov 26 '12 at 16:55

2 Answers2

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http://www.zinc.io/ shows that it is, in fact, possible to do this.

I've read around the net that you could do this by sending crafted _GET responses, although I, myself, am currently trying to figure out which ones to send.

Theodore R. Smith
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    UPDATE: As of December 2013, I created a complete auto-purchase bot for Amazon that *also* applies giftcards, credit cards, etc. So I know for a fact it is possible. I used CasperJS to do it... – Theodore R. Smith Sep 18 '14 at 15:11
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    Using CasperJS to simulate user activity on the website is *not* the same thing as Amazon.com providing an API for automating purchases. It's fragile. Your bot can break if Amazon changes their markup. – Asaph Oct 15 '14 at 06:18
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    Yeah, no doubt. That's why I have upwards of 100% test code coverage on the beast with 24x7 text message alerts if something breaks ;-) Still, it *is* a programatic solution. – Theodore R. Smith Oct 16 '14 at 16:13
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    Hey @TheodoreR.Smith did you by any chance open source that? Checked your github but could not find anything related. – stylesuxx Nov 08 '15 at 19:15
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    @TheodoreR.Smith Any chance on opensourcing that bot? – Adam Moisa Jan 19 '17 at 01:53
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    @AdamMoisa Do you know how much I license this out to people?! Holy hell! It's worth at least 5 figures. – Theodore R. Smith Nov 28 '17 at 15:46
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    I get that this is quite an old question but the topic is still relevant! I'd like to be able to order programmatically but cannot see where to begin, as Zinc is awfully expensive. Has anyone got any suggestions? – James Geddes Mar 06 '18 at 15:06
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    @AdamMoisa there are some other open sourced amazon bots based on CasperJS. https://www.google.com/search?q=amazon+purchase+casperjs+github – Cameron Wilby Aug 02 '19 at 21:57
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    The non-compete / non-disclosure agreement I signed in 2015 is about to expire. I'll recreate it open sourced then. – Theodore R. Smith Jul 27 '20 at 13:14
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    @TheodoreR.Smith very interested in what you have for an open source solution! – Devon Lind Aug 26 '20 at 20:29
  • The NDA expires on 15 November 2020 and I plan on pouring work into it. I've made a prototype already. Automation tech GREATLY improved since 2013... I've already made a functional autobuyer for walmart.com, but I don't know if there's interest. – Theodore R. Smith Sep 23 '20 at 13:30
  • @TheodoreR.Smith -- do you still have this script for Amazon? I am willing to pay. Need to place 25,000 orders. – FDRH Oct 22 '20 at 21:03
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    Heads up!!!!! My IP lawyer has certified that I can start deving this in earnest on 21 December 2020 :P 16 days from now! I've already abstracted out the generic WebBot and will be open sourcing that before Christmas! – Theodore R. Smith Dec 06 '20 at 03:49
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    I will have an automated Amazon Login bot open sourced before 15 January 2021 and an Amazon Regsitration bot a few days later. By then, i'll have the GitHub project all set up and you guys can star + watch it... – Theodore R. Smith Dec 06 '20 at 03:51
  • @TheodoreR.Smith, is the bot available? – Cantor Jan 20 '21 at 09:03
  • @TheodoreR.Smith I don't suppose this is available yet, is it? It would be tremendously helpful! Thanks! – James Geddes Apr 25 '21 at 11:58
  • @TheodoreR.Smith what's the latest on your autobuyer? Did you open source that already? – jroyce Feb 15 '22 at 20:41
  • @TheodoreR.Smith any news? – Luka Samkharadze Aug 11 '22 at 13:22
  • @theodore Free the bot – Danyal Aytekin Sep 09 '22 at 16:19
  • @TheodoreR.Smith just keeping the alerts coming. Looks like there's a lot of need for this – Dan Jan 09 '23 at 14:21
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UPDATE 2019/12/10 Even though my answer was accepted as the best answer it's outdated. Please see this answer: https://stackoverflow.com/a/17180929/799155

It's not possible – I guess for a bunch of security reasons. Read through the thread you posted in your question ;)

Lorraine@AWS, Aug 13, 2010 2:02 PM

Amazon does not offer APIs to place a customer order. Neither a Corporate Account or the Associate Program will allow you to build the type of solution you are describing.

Lorraine@AWS, May 13, 2011 4:17 PM

Amazon still does not offer this service, to the best of my knowledge, and this isn't something I would ever expect to see included in the Fulfillment Web Service which is specific to the FBA program.

dom
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  • `@moosgummi` your answer is outdated as of 2012. – nurettin Jul 04 '13 at 08:35
  • @nurettin is it outdated or not? The year is 2016 and have Amazon provided with an API for placing orders? I've seen their Order API, but it seems to only provide readable actions, not writable. – Marco Aurélio Deleu Aug 16 '16 at 17:06
  • @MarcoAurélioDeleu I think the Amazon Product Advertising API (http://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSECommerceService/latest/DG/Welcome.html) is still the best way to go. Although your potential customer has to checkout out via amazon.com itself. – dom Aug 17 '16 at 06:25
  • It is possible with a business relationship with Amazon. See my answer. – kevinc Mar 30 '19 at 22:59