Have your bot buy it somewhere else, for less

Elon tweeted this week that he just has his bot buy stuff somewhere else at a lower price. He was quoting James Douma, who posted:

"Amazon locked out my Grok Bot. So it just bought the same thing from a different site (at a lower price)."

— @jamesdouma on X

"That's what I do too. Just have @Bot buy it somewhere else at a lower price."

— Elon Musk on X

That's a pretty great lesson by accident: one store isn't the whole internet. Here's how I have my bot shop for me without handing it the keys to my bank account.

Step 1: Ask for a comparison, not a purchase

Say what you want and how to judge it:
"Find this blender at three or more stores. Show me price, shipping, and rating. Don't buy anything yet."
In the latest update (0.78.1), shopping results show up as product cards with a photo, rating, price, and store. Three or four of them scroll in a carousel, so you can actually compare at a glance.

Step 2: If a store won't let it in, just move on

Some sites block bots. Don't fight it. Tell your bot: "If a store won't let you in, check the others." That's exactly what happened in James's post. Lower price, same item.

Step 3: Open the card and check the details

On a product page, in-stock options come first and anything no store has is greyed out. Pick the size or color you actually want.

Step 4: You approve, every time

Buy now starts an order you approve. Your bot shows you the amount and you allow or deny it. Nothing gets bought without your OK. Read the store, the total, and the ship-to before you tap.

Step 5: Keep your cards in the Vault

Save your card in the Vault (in Settings). Its Payments tab lets you pick which payment method your bots try first, including Shop Pay if you use it. You still approve every purchase.

Step 6: Let it track the box

After you order, your bot tracks it and tells you when it ships and when it arrives.

Safety tips

• Say "don't buy yet" when you only want prices. Make it a habit.
• Check the store name on the card. A cheaper price from a store you've never heard of deserves a quick look.
• Never paste your card number into a chat. Use the Vault.
• Set a budget in the ask: "under $60, delivered."
• If an order goes wrong, the bot won't promise you a refund. Check the store's own return policy.

Try it today: pick one thing already on your shopping list and ask your bot for a three-store comparison. Don't buy. Just look.

AgentShorts is an independent, fan-made course. Not affiliated with or endorsed by SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI) or SpaceX. Grok is a trademark of its owner.