In one personal shopping-agent run dated September 19, 2026, Christian Anderson classified 56 of 85 fashion sources as OK, 22 as blocked, four as parse failures, one as reachable with nothing parsed, and two as errors. Only 45 sources returned any items. The results show how structured storefront data can help answer “is this jacket in my size?”—and why a failed plain HTTP request alone does not prove a site blocked access.
What the 85-source run measured
Anderson’s report, published September 30, 2026, describes one daily source-gather run that took 854 seconds. These are the author’s classifications and counts for that run, based on his source list and implementation—not an independently replicated benchmark or a survey of fashion retail sites.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Outcome | Sources in the run |
|---|---|
| OK | 56 |
| Blocked | 22 |
| Parse failures | 4 |
| Reachable, but nothing parsed | 1 |
| Errors | 2 |
The categories sum to 85, but “OK” did not mean every source produced products: only 45 sources returned at least one item. The distinction matters because a request can complete without yielding useful product data.
Why products.json mattered in this run
Anderson collected 4,112 discounted products before applying filters for menswear, clothing or footwear, stock in his size, and whether a product was genuinely reduced. He reported 941 products confirmed in his size, 452 whose sizes could not be checked, and 1,411 removed as the largest stated removal category: wrong size. Those counts describe his own filters and shopping size, not the inventory or fit available to other shoppers.
#1 Best Overall
- Bluetooth Barcode Scanner For Shopify POS
- Works with Android and iPad.
- Scans all 1D and 2D barcodes, including UPC and QR codes.
- SETUP: 1-On your device, Search for Bluetooth devices, and pair. 2-In Shopify POS app, go the Settings, and enable "Allow HID mode". 3-Android only- On device, go to Settings > System > Keyboard > Physical keyboard and turn on "Show on-screen keyboard"
Twenty-one Shopify stores supplied 3,173 of the 4,112 collected items—more than three quarters, according to the report. In those tested stores, the storefront endpoint /products.json returned product and variant information including price, compare-at price, and per-size availability. That made it easier to compare sale prices and determine whether a particular size appeared available. It is an observation about the tested stores, not a guarantee that every Shopify storefront exposes the endpoint or the same fields.
Other stores offered different examples of structured data. One large retailer’s sale page exposed a public, search-only Algolia key used by its own front end; Anderson reports that his query returned 400 server-filtered items in this run. Foot Locker product-page JSON included per-size availability. These cases show that storefronts may make product data available in different ways; they do not establish that the same access or response will be available on other retailers or routes.
Rank #2
- A complete countertop point of sale — Combine dual responsive touchscreens, built-in POS software, and durable hardware for a fast, reliable checkout experience.
- Serve customers faster — Run smoothly through busy shifts, complex menus, and big orders with high-speed processing, memory, and responsive touchscreen displays.
- Accept every way they pay — Take all major cards at one simple rate, with no hidden fees or long-term contracts. Receive funds as soon as the next business day.
- Handle real-world demands — Resist everyday spills, dust, and wear with a durable, IP54-rated design.
- Stay reliable through every rush — Maintain strong connectivity and consistent performance through your busiest hours.
Price data is not the same as size-level stock
A product listing and price do not settle the shopper’s key question if per-size inventory is missing. In this run, eight sources returned products and prices without readable per-size stock: Nike, JD Sports, Selfridges, Footasylum, Puma, Converse, Clarks, and an unnamed flash-sale site. For Puma, the report says the size grid and inventory arrived through a later API call.
Anderson tagged products without verifiable size data as size_unknown and excluded them from alerts. That is a useful distinction for any shopping alert: “listed on sale” is weaker evidence than “shown as available in my size.” Even a reported size-level availability field reflects what the source returned at collection time; it is not a promise that stock remains available at checkout.
Rank #3
![Cash Drawer, Receipt Printer, Barcode Scanner [Compatible with Shopify POS]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41XvxPuHTkL._SL160_.jpg)
- Compatible with: ✅Shopify POS on Android ✅Shopify POS on iPad
- The receipt printer can connect to your tablet via Bluetooth or Ethernet (via router)
- The Cash drawer connects directly to the receipt printer with the included RJ11 cable.
- The Thermal Printer does not require ink or toner. (Thermal paper roll required - 80mm or 3-1/8 inches paper width).
- PRINTER SETUP: In Shopify POS, tap Settings>Set up a new device > Receipt printers, and follow the prompts. (The Cash drawer connects directly to the receipt printer with the included RJ11 cable, no setup required) SCANNER SETUP: 1- In the included manual, scan Bluetooth HID mode. 2-On your device, Search for Bluetooth devices, and pair. 3-In Shopify POS app, go the Settings, and enable "Allow HID mode" 4-Android only- On device, go to Settings > System > Keyboard > Physical keyboard and turn on "Show on-screen keyboard"
Why a failed fetch does not identify the cause
A plain-client request can fail or return no useful products for several different reasons. In Anderson’s examples, product grids needed JavaScript to render, category paths were incorrect and returned 404, and requests for robots.txt returned 403 to a plain request. A 403, timeout, empty result, or 404 by itself does not establish that an anti-bot system made the decision.
The report describes five cases where the plain request to robots.txt returned 403; browser-style fetching then showed * allowed. That did not mean the product pages subsequently yielded useful menswear results: retests still came up empty for other reasons. Policy retrieval failure and a confirmed disallow rule are different findings. Likewise, a JavaScript-rendered empty grid and a request to the wrong route should not automatically be labeled an anti-bot block.
Rank #4
- With Square Terminal, you can ring up sales, accept payments, and print receipts, all with one device. Use it at the counter or ring up customers anywhere in your store.
- Accept all major credit and debit cards and pay one low rate with no hidden fees and no long-term contracts.
- Process chip cards in just two seconds.
- Get your money as soon as the next business day.
- Use it cordlessly with the built-in battery, designed to last all day.
Anderson also reports that one retailer worked for about 30 page loads before Akamai blocked access, while other sites used DataDome and reCAPTCHA. Those are observations from his run, not evidence that every failed source used a protection system. The report’s practical approach was to treat challenge pages, errors, and empty renders as blocked outcomes for collection purposes rather than trying to get around them.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHow the report handled access limits
The author states: “No proxies, no captcha solving, no rotating anything.” His reported safeguards were to identify the client honestly, keep per-site request volumes small, cache results, and back off for 72 hours after a block. These are the author’s stated operating choices for this project, not a universal specification for every site’s terms or policies.
Best Value
- No Hidden Fees or Forced Subscriptions: The SmartPOS 129 arrives ready to use, equipped with a comprehensive range of functionalities, ensuring no additional costs. For details on these capabilities, refer to the "SmartPOS Included Features" table below.
- Professional All-in-One POS System: The SmartPOS 129 comes with a 15" cashier touchscreen, a matching 15" customer-facing promo display, a cash drawer, a handheld scanner, and a thermal printer, ensuring a seamless checkout experience.
- Over 50 Card Processor Integrations: SmartPOS offers unparalleled flexibility, integrating with a vast array of card processors and forecourts, so you can select the best option for your business needs without extra hardware costs.
- Free Initial Setup Call: Benefit from personalized guidance with our specialists dedicated to ensuring your SmartPOS is up and running effortlessly, providing you with the tools and knowledge for a seamless start.
- Free Mobile App: Experience seamless integration with SmartPOS through the free Retail360 app. Easily scan products, update your price book, and make on-the-spot price adjustments — all from your mobile device, at no additional cost.
That approach also preserves the meaning of the measurements: a site that rejects the client remains a blocked source, rather than becoming a target for evasion. Anderson’s conclusion is concise: “Failing to read a policy is not the same as the policy saying no.”
Do not confuse the storefront endpoint with Shopify’s Admin API
The Shopify documentation relevant here covers the merchant Admin REST Product resource, not the public storefront endpoint discussed in Anderson’s report. Shopify labels the REST Admin API legacy and says product listing, creation, updating, and deletion were deprecated as of REST API 2024-04; its documentation also says new public apps must be built exclusively with the GraphQL Admin API starting April 1, 2025. Those statements concern the authenticated Admin API context. They do not establish whether a storefront’s /products.json route is available or what it returns.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors
