Cart Reservation Guide

Learn how to hold inventory during the checkout window to prevent overselling when consumers are admitted from Fanfare experiences.

Overview

When a consumer is admitted from a queue, draw, or auction, you may want to reserve their selected items until they complete checkout. This guide covers patterns for inventory reservation during the admission window. What you’ll learn:

Reservation strategies for different scenarios
Implementing time-limited holds
Handling reservation expiration
Integration with your inventory system

Complexity: Intermediate Time to complete: 30 minutes

Prerequisites

Checkout Overview guide completed
Understanding of your inventory management system
Backend development capabilities

Why Reserve Inventory?

Without reservation, admitted consumers may find their items sold out by the time they reach checkout:

Timeline without reservation:
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Consumer A admitted ─────────────────▶ Tries to checkout
                                              │
Consumer B buys last item ──────────────────────▶
                                              │
                                              ▼
                                    "Out of Stock" ❌

With reservation:

Timeline with reservation:
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Consumer A admitted ─▶ Inventory reserved ─▶ Checkout ✓
        │                     │
        └── 10 min hold ──────┘

Reservation Strategies

Strategy 1: Soft Reservation (Optimistic)

Reserve inventory on admission, release if not purchased:

// When consumer is admitted
async function onConsumerAdmitted(consumerId: string, productId: string, quantity: number) {
  const reservation = await createReservation({
    consumerId,
    productId,
    quantity,
    expiresAt: Date.now() + 10 * 60 * 1000, // 10 minutes
  });

  // Schedule release if not completed
  scheduleReservationRelease(reservation.id, reservation.expiresAt);

  return reservation;
}

// On successful checkout
async function onCheckoutComplete(reservationId: string) {
  await convertReservationToOrder(reservationId);
}

// On expiration or abandonment
async function releaseReservation(reservationId: string) {
  await deleteReservation(reservationId);
  // Inventory is automatically available again
}

Strategy 2: Hard Allocation (Guaranteed)

Deduct from inventory on admission, refund if not purchased:

async function onConsumerAdmitted(consumerId: string, productId: string, quantity: number) {
  // Deduct from available inventory
  const result = await decrementInventory(productId, quantity);

  if (!result.success) {
    throw new Error("Insufficient inventory");
  }

  // Track the allocation
  await createAllocation({
    consumerId,
    productId,
    quantity,
    expiresAt: Date.now() + 10 * 60 * 1000,
  });
}

async function releaseAllocation(allocationId: string) {
  const allocation = await getAllocation(allocationId);

  // Return inventory
  await incrementInventory(allocation.productId, allocation.quantity);

  await deleteAllocation(allocationId);
}

Strategy 3: Queue-Based Allocation

Allocate based on queue position:

// Pre-allocate inventory based on queue size
async function setupQueueInventory(queueId: string, productId: string, totalInventory: number) {
  await setQueueInventoryPool({
    queueId,
    productId,
    available: totalInventory,
    allocated: 0,
  });
}

// Allocate on admission
async function onAdmitted(queueId: string, consumerId: string, productId: string) {
  const pool = await getQueueInventoryPool(queueId, productId);

  if (pool.available <= 0) {
    // No more inventory - consumer can still browse but can't purchase
    return { allocated: false };
  }

  // Atomic allocation
  await atomicAllocate(queueId, consumerId, productId, 1);

  return { allocated: true };
}

Implementation Example

Database Schema

-- Reservations table
CREATE TABLE reservations (
  id UUID PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT gen_random_uuid(),
  consumer_id TEXT NOT NULL,
  experience_id TEXT NOT NULL,
  admission_token TEXT NOT NULL,
  product_id TEXT NOT NULL,
  variant_id TEXT,
  quantity INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1,
  status TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'active', -- active, converted, released, expired
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW(),
  expires_at TIMESTAMP NOT NULL,
  converted_at TIMESTAMP,
  order_id TEXT
);

-- Index for cleanup job
CREATE INDEX idx_reservations_expires ON reservations(expires_at) WHERE status = 'active';

-- Index for lookups
CREATE INDEX idx_reservations_consumer ON reservations(consumer_id, status);

Reservation Service

// services/reservation.service.ts
import { db } from "./db";

interface CreateReservationParams {
  consumerId: string;
  experienceId: string;
  admissionToken: string;
  productId: string;
  variantId?: string;
  quantity: number;
  expiresInMinutes?: number;
}

export async function createReservation(params: CreateReservationParams) {
  const { consumerId, experienceId, admissionToken, productId, variantId, quantity, expiresInMinutes = 10 } = params;

  const expiresAt = new Date(Date.now() + expiresInMinutes * 60 * 1000);

  // Check available inventory
  const available = await getAvailableInventory(productId, variantId);
  if (available < quantity) {
    throw new Error("Insufficient inventory");
  }

  // Create reservation in transaction
  return await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
    // Decrement available inventory
    await tx
      .update(inventory)
      .set({ reserved: sql`reserved + ${quantity}` })
      .where(eq(inventory.productId, productId));

    // Create reservation record
    const [reservation] = await tx
      .insert(reservations)
      .values({
        consumerId,
        experienceId,
        admissionToken,
        productId,
        variantId,
        quantity,
        expiresAt,
        status: "active",
      })
      .returning();

    return reservation;
  });
}

export async function convertReservation(reservationId: string, orderId: string) {
  return await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
    const [reservation] = await tx.select().from(reservations).where(eq(reservations.id, reservationId)).for("update");

    if (!reservation || reservation.status !== "active") {
      throw new Error("Invalid reservation");
    }

    // Update reservation status
    await tx
      .update(reservations)
      .set({
        status: "converted",
        convertedAt: new Date(),
        orderId,
      })
      .where(eq(reservations.id, reservationId));

    // Update inventory (reserved -> sold)
    await tx
      .update(inventory)
      .set({
        reserved: sql`reserved - ${reservation.quantity}`,
        sold: sql`sold + ${reservation.quantity}`,
      })
      .where(eq(inventory.productId, reservation.productId));

    return reservation;
  });
}

export async function releaseReservation(reservationId: string) {
  return await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
    const [reservation] = await tx.select().from(reservations).where(eq(reservations.id, reservationId)).for("update");

    if (!reservation || reservation.status !== "active") {
      return; // Already released or converted
    }

    // Release the reservation
    await tx.update(reservations).set({ status: "released" }).where(eq(reservations.id, reservationId));

    // Return inventory
    await tx
      .update(inventory)
      .set({ reserved: sql`reserved - ${reservation.quantity}` })
      .where(eq(inventory.productId, reservation.productId));
  });
}

Expiration Worker

// workers/reservation-cleanup.ts
import { releaseReservation } from "../services/reservation.service";

export async function cleanupExpiredReservations() {
  // Find expired reservations
  const expired = await db
    .select()
    .from(reservations)
    .where(and(eq(reservations.status, "active"), lt(reservations.expiresAt, new Date())))
    .limit(100);

  // Release each one
  for (const reservation of expired) {
    try {
      await releaseReservation(reservation.id);
      console.log(`Released expired reservation: ${reservation.id}`);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(`Failed to release ${reservation.id}:`, error);
    }
  }

  return expired.length;
}

// Run every minute
setInterval(cleanupExpiredReservations, 60 * 1000);

Integration with Checkout

On Admission

// When journey reaches "admitted" state
async function handleAdmission(snapshot: JourneySnapshot) {
  const { admittanceToken, experienceId } = snapshot.context;

  // Get selected products from your cart/session
  const cart = await getConsumerCart(snapshot.context.consumerId);

  // Create reservations for cart items
  for (const item of cart.items) {
    await createReservation({
      consumerId: snapshot.context.consumerId,
      experienceId,
      admissionToken: admittanceToken!,
      productId: item.productId,
      variantId: item.variantId,
      quantity: item.quantity,
    });
  }
}

During Checkout

// Checkout API handler
app.post("/api/checkout", async (req, res) => {
  const { consumerId, cart, admissionToken } = req.body;

  // Verify reservations exist and are valid
  const reservations = await getActiveReservations(consumerId);

  for (const item of cart) {
    const reservation = reservations.find((r) => r.productId === item.productId && r.variantId === item.variantId);

    if (!reservation) {
      return res.status(400).json({
        error: "RESERVATION_MISSING",
        message: `No reservation for ${item.productId}`,
      });
    }

    if (reservation.quantity < item.quantity) {
      return res.status(400).json({
        error: "RESERVATION_INSUFFICIENT",
        message: `Reservation only covers ${reservation.quantity} units`,
      });
    }
  }

  // Process order
  const order = await createOrder(cart, consumerId);

  // Convert reservations
  for (const reservation of reservations) {
    await convertReservation(reservation.id, order.id);
  }

  res.json({ orderId: order.id });
});

On Abandonment

// When admission expires or consumer leaves
async function handleAdmissionExpired(consumerId: string, experienceId: string) {
  const reservations = await db
    .select()
    .from(reservations)
    .where(
      and(
        eq(reservations.consumerId, consumerId),
        eq(reservations.experienceId, experienceId),
        eq(reservations.status, "active")
      )
    );

  for (const reservation of reservations) {
    await releaseReservation(reservation.id);
  }
}

UI Feedback

Show reservation status to consumers:

function ReservationStatus({ productId }: { productId: string }) {
  const { reservation, timeRemaining } = useReservation(productId);

  if (!reservation) {
    return <p className="warning">Item not reserved</p>;
  }

  if (timeRemaining <= 0) {
    return <p className="error">Reservation expired</p>;
  }

  return (
    <div className="reservation-status">
      <span className="icon">✓</span>
      <span>Reserved for you</span>
      <span className="timer">
        {Math.floor(timeRemaining / 60)}:{(timeRemaining % 60).toString().padStart(2, "0")}
      </span>
    </div>
  );
}

Best Practices

1. Match Reservation to Admission Window

// Reservation should match admission expiry
const admissionExpiresIn = 10 * 60 * 1000; // 10 minutes
const reservationExpiresIn = admissionExpiresIn + 60 * 1000; // +1 minute buffer

2. Handle Race Conditions

// Use database transactions and row locking
await db.transaction(async (tx) => {
  const [product] = await tx.select().from(inventory).where(eq(inventory.productId, productId)).for("update"); // Lock the row

  if (product.available < quantity) {
    throw new Error("Insufficient inventory");
  }

  // Proceed with reservation
});

3. Provide Clear Feedback

function CheckoutButton({ hasReservation, reservationExpired }: Props) {
  if (!hasReservation) {
    return <button disabled>Items not reserved</button>;
  }

  if (reservationExpired) {
    return <button onClick={retryReservation}>Reservation expired - Try again</button>;
  }

  return <button onClick={checkout}>Complete Purchase</button>;
}

4. Monitor Reservation Metrics

// Track reservation outcomes
async function recordReservationOutcome(reservationId: string, outcome: "converted" | "released" | "expired") {
  await analytics.track("reservation_outcome", {
    reservationId,
    outcome,
    timestamp: Date.now(),
  });
}

Troubleshooting

Inventory Drift

If reserved counts become inconsistent:

// Reconciliation job
async function reconcileInventory(productId: string) {
  const activeReservations = await db
    .select({ total: sum(reservations.quantity) })
    .from(reservations)
    .where(and(eq(reservations.productId, productId), eq(reservations.status, "active")));

  const expectedReserved = activeReservations[0]?.total || 0;

  await db.update(inventory).set({ reserved: expectedReserved }).where(eq(inventory.productId, productId));
}

Reservation Not Found

// Always check reservation before checkout
async function validateCheckoutReservations(consumerId: string, cart: CartItem[]) {
  const reservations = await getActiveReservations(consumerId);

  const missing = cart.filter((item) => !reservations.find((r) => r.productId === item.productId));

  if (missing.length > 0) {
    throw new ReservationError("Missing reservations", { missing });
  }
}

What’s Next

Payment Processing - Handle payments
Order Completion - Complete the order cycle
Webhooks - Server-side event handling

Overview

Integration Patterns

Authentication

Checkout Integration

Platform Integrations

Use Cases

Advanced

Cart reservation

Cart Reservation Guide

Overview

Prerequisites

Why Reserve Inventory?

Reservation Strategies

Strategy 1: Soft Reservation (Optimistic)

Strategy 2: Hard Allocation (Guaranteed)

Strategy 3: Queue-Based Allocation

Implementation Example

Database Schema

Reservation Service

Expiration Worker

Integration with Checkout

On Admission

During Checkout

On Abandonment

UI Feedback

Best Practices

1. Match Reservation to Admission Window

2. Handle Race Conditions

3. Provide Clear Feedback

4. Monitor Reservation Metrics

Troubleshooting

Inventory Drift

Reservation Not Found

What’s Next

Overview

Integration Patterns

Authentication

Checkout Integration

Platform Integrations

Use Cases

Advanced

​Cart Reservation Guide

​Overview

​Prerequisites

​Why Reserve Inventory?

​Reservation Strategies

​Strategy 1: Soft Reservation (Optimistic)

​Strategy 2: Hard Allocation (Guaranteed)

​Strategy 3: Queue-Based Allocation

​Implementation Example

​Database Schema

​Reservation Service

​Expiration Worker

​Integration with Checkout

​On Admission

​During Checkout

​On Abandonment

​UI Feedback

​Best Practices

​1. Match Reservation to Admission Window

​2. Handle Race Conditions

​3. Provide Clear Feedback

​4. Monitor Reservation Metrics

​Troubleshooting

​Inventory Drift

​Reservation Not Found

​What’s Next

Cart Reservation Guide

Overview

Prerequisites

Why Reserve Inventory?

Reservation Strategies

Strategy 1: Soft Reservation (Optimistic)

Strategy 2: Hard Allocation (Guaranteed)

Strategy 3: Queue-Based Allocation

Implementation Example

Database Schema

Reservation Service

Expiration Worker

Integration with Checkout

On Admission

During Checkout

On Abandonment

UI Feedback

Best Practices

1. Match Reservation to Admission Window

2. Handle Race Conditions

3. Provide Clear Feedback

4. Monitor Reservation Metrics

Troubleshooting

Inventory Drift

Reservation Not Found

What’s Next