Comparing Shopping Cart Strategies

[tkroll]

I'm putting a shopping cart system together for a website that sells unique items.

There seems to be two strategies:

1) Lock an item/remove from store when placed in the cart.
pros: Item 100% available for customer once placed in cart
cons: Abandonned or abused cart items unavailable for other customers (until timeout).

2) Let single items be placed in multiple carts. When item is purchased, remove it from other's carts.
pros: All items potentially available for purchase
cons: Mad customers if their carts' items no longer available at checkout.

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I know there are many other pros and cons. I am interesting in hearing them all and other members' experiences with these issues. Which strategy is most common, most effective?

Thanks!

[jwurunner]

Hi,
I feel the 2nd strategy is better. Add a tag in the cart stating that since items are unique, items not purchased within an x amount of time will be removed automatically.. I have been on a few site that have done this. Remember, you can't please every visitor. Some people will always find a way to complain. The rest will understand.

[incrediBILL]

Most off the shelf ecommerce that supplies inventory tracking removes the item from inventory and commits it to the purchaser when the order is actually posted and not one second before. The item becomes "sold out" in everyone else's cart immediately.