J. Balvin’s Air Jordan 3 “Rio” got its first release Tuesday through the musician’s website, and a crafty little trick was employed in a new effort to combat bots.
Upon adding the hyped sneaker to their carts, customers were met with a whopping $25,000 subtotal for J. Balvin’s second iteration of the Air Jordan 3. The only way to drop the price down to a more reasonable retail price of $250 (plus shipping and taxes) was by entering not one but two discount codes. Those who failed to do so, whether by themselves or with bots undertaking the process were met with two results: forking out 100 times the MSRP or having their card declined for such an exorbitant purchase.
Judging by Twitter/X, at least one person fell in the expensive former camp.
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Some sneakerheads may have been frustrated or even scared off by the launch, but it represents a new wrinkle in the perpetual struggle against people, often resellers, who utilize bots in order to gain an unfair advantage.
The J. Balvin x Air Jordan 3 “Rio” is predominantly black successor to the off-white “Medellín” edition from last fall. It marks the Colombian superstar’s fourth overall Air Jordan sneaker, which have released sequentially beginning with a rainbow Air Jordan 1 in 2020 followed by a cloud-themed Air Jordan 2 in 2022.
For those that missed out on the J. Balvin x Air Jordan 3 “Rio” drop Tuesday for any reason, the sneaker will go on sale again Wednesday, May 22, through the Snkrs app and select third-party retailers. Pricing should remain at $250 — without any tricks.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior Trending News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
