# Hot UK Deals Scraper (`sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes deals from HotUKDeals (hotukdeals.com), extracting key details like prices, descriptions, and temperature ratings. Supports scraping from main pages, categories, or search results. Features smart throttling and expired deal filtering for reliable data collection.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Alam](https://apify.com/sync-network) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Integrations, E-commerce
- **Stats:** 18 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 2 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## HotUKDeals Scraper

### Overview

The **HotUKDeals Scraper** is an Apify actor that extracts deal listings from HotUKDeals based on customizable search criteria. This tool uses Playwright for reliable web scraping and implements human-like behavior to avoid detection.

### Key Features

- **Flexible Scraping Options**: Scrape from main pages, specific categories, or search results
- **Customizable Max Items**: Set the maximum number of deals to scrape
- **Smart Throttling**: Implements human-like behavior and adjustable delays between requests
- **Expired Deal Filtering**: Automatically filters out expired deals
- **Deal Temperature Sorting**: Results are sorted by deal temperature (hotness)
- **Real URL Resolution**: Follows redirect chains to get actual merchant URLs
- **Comprehensive Deal Information**: Extracts:
  - Image URL
  - Title
  - Description
  - Price
  - Company/Merchant
  - Deal Expiry
  - Temperature Rating
  - HotUKDeals URL
  - Get Deal URL
  - Real Merchant URL

### Input Parameters

#### Required Fields:

- **Scrape Type**: Choose from:
  - "Main Pages": Scrape from homepage sections
  - "Category": Scrape specific product categories
  - "Search": Scrape based on search terms

#### Conditional Fields (based on Scrape Type):

- **Main URL** (for "Main Pages"):
  - Root: `https://www.hotukdeals.com/`
  - Hottest: `https://www.hotukdeals.com/hottest`
  - Hot: `https://www.hotukdeals.com/hot`
  - New: `https://www.hotukdeals.com/new`

- **Category** (for "Category"):
  ```
  Examples:
  - computers
  - electronics
  - gaming
  ```

- **Search Query** (for "Search"):
  ```
  Examples:
  - "gaming laptop"
  - "iphone charger"
  - "coffee machine"
  ```

#### Optional Settings:

- **Max Items**: Number of deals to scrape (default: 10)
- **Throttle**: Delay between requests in seconds (default: 2)

### Output Format

The scraper returns a JSON array of deals. Example output:

```json
{
  "image": "https://images.hotukdeals.com/example.jpg",
  "title": "Samsung 65\" QN95C Neo QLED 4K TV",
  "description": "Lowest ever price for this TV model...",
  "price": "£1,799.00",
  "company": "John Lewis",
  "deal_expiry": "Ends in 2 days",
  "temperature": "325",
  "url": "https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-tv-deal-3254",
  "get_deal_url": "https://www.hotukdeals.com/visit/thread/3254",
  "real_url": "https://www.johnlewis.com/samsung-tv-65inch"
}
```

### Enhanced Use Cases

#### Price Tracking and Analysis

- Track price history of specific products
- Identify pricing patterns across different retailers
- Monitor flash sales and limited-time offers

#### Market Research

- Analyze which retailers offer the most competitive deals
- Track popular product categories
- Monitor competitor pricing strategies

#### Deal Alert Systems

- Build automated deal notification systems
- Create price drop alerts for specific products
- Monitor deals for specific retailers

#### Consumer Behavior Analysis

- Track deal temperature trends
- Analyze posting times and deal popularity
- Study seasonal deal patterns

#### Data Integration Examples

- E-commerce pricing optimization
- Competitor analysis dashboards
- Price comparison services
- Deal aggregation platforms

### Technical Details

#### Dependencies

- Python 3.x
- Playwright for web automation
- BeautifulSoup4 for HTML parsing
- Apify SDK for actor integration

#### Error Handling

- Implements retry logic for failed requests
- Handles CloudFlare protection
- Manages rate limiting through throttling
- Graceful handling of missing data fields

### Ethical Usage Guidelines

1. Implement appropriate request delays (recommended: 2-5 seconds)
2. Respect HotUKDeals' robots.txt
3. Use reasonable scraping volumes
4. Store and handle data in compliance with privacy regulations

### Performance Considerations

- Implements smart throttling to avoid rate limiting
- Uses efficient selectors for fast data extraction
- Implements parallel processing where possible
- Handles pagination automatically

***

For support or feature requests, please open an issue.

# Actor input Schema

## `scrape_type` (type: `string`):

Select the type of scraping to perform. This choice determines which other fields are required.

## `main_url` (type: `string`):

Select the main URL to scrape. Only required and used when 'Scrape Type' is set to 'Main Pages'.

## `category` (type: `string`):

Enter the category to scrape (e.g., 'electronics'). Only required and used when 'Scrape Type' is set to 'Category'.

## `search_query` (type: `string`):

Enter the search query. Only required and used when 'Scrape Type' is set to 'Search'.

## `max_items` (type: `integer`):

The maximum number of items to scrape. Applies to all scrape types.

## `throttle` (type: `integer`):

Time in seconds to wait between requests. Helps prevent overloading the server.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "scrape_type": "main",
  "main_url": "https://www.hotukdeals.com/",
  "max_items": 5,
  "throttle": 2
}
```

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{}' |
apify call sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,sync-network/hot-uk-deals-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/rmYuRD5nnFSdi6vXJ/builds/L4mBytog8L2BNAjsP/openapi.json