Bot Blocking

The end of RPI Locator is a reminder that price-tracking tools can disappear quickly when retailers lock down access to their data. The Raspberry Pi-focused service is set to go offline in July after many stores began blocking the bot it used to check prices and stock. For buyers who have relied on the site to compare listings across multiple hobby shops, the shutdown removes a practical shortcut at a time when Raspberry Pi boards are no longer as inexpensive as they once were. That makes the loss more than a routine website closure. What RPI Locator did for buyers RPI Locator acted as a price feed for Raspberry Pi products from hobby stores in several countries. Users could filter by country and board model, then review verified store listings, prices for specific boards, and current stock status. The service was especially useful because the Raspberry Pi market has not always been stable. When prices rise, a tool that can surface lower offers and available stock becomes much more valuable. Feature What It Offered Country filter Let users narrow results by country Model filter Let users search by board model Verified stores Showed a list of verified hobby retailers Price and stock tracking Displayed prices and availability for specific boards Why the service is ending André, the owner behind the makerbymistake account, confirmed on Bluesky that the site will be deactivated in July. He said most of the sites RPI Locator monitored have now blocked his bot, either intentionally or unintentionally. He added that replacement methods were tried, but they only worked for a few days or a few weeks before stopping again. He also said he does not have the time to contact every seller one by one to request access for the bot. That leaves the project with little room to continue operating in its current form. As a result, he decided to begin shutting the service down. Why the shutdown matters now Raspberry Pi has long been known as an affordable platform for learning, experimentation, and DIY projects. But after recent price increases, many buyers no longer see it as the same budget-friendly option. In that context, a centralized tracker like RPI Locator filled an important gap by making it easier to compare prices without checking each store manually. Once the site goes offline, buyers will need to move back to a more time-consuming process. Hackaday also highlighted the shutdown, underscoring that this is not just a small technical issue. It reflects a broader challenge for automated price monitoring when retailers tighten access against scraping tools. Limited time left to use the site RPI Locator is still available for now, and users who want a quick way to check Raspberry Pi prices can still make use of it before the start of July. If the schedule does not change, the service is expected to go offline permanently on 1 July. For buyers trying to find a specific board at a better price, that leaves only a short window to use one of the simplest available price dashboards. After that, finding deals will likely mean checking multiple stores individually again. Source: www.xda-developers.com

RPI Locator Will Shut Down in July, as Raspberry Pi Stores Keep Blocking Its Bot