How do I prevent two customers buying a unique single product?

Every item in my store is unique and therefore has a stock level of 1.

I can prevent the same customer from selecting the same label more than once but I have not worked out how to prevent two customers from selecting the same item!

Does anyone know what I must do to prevent a single stock item being purchased more than once?

Additionally, is there any way I can prevent a stock item being saved in a customers cart?

Thanks:dontgetit

I am using the latest upto date version of Zen Cart with a Cherry Zen Template

There are configuration switches in Admin > Configuration > Stock that allow you to ensure that stock is checked and prevent customers from checking out with something that you don't have in stock.

However, there is nothing to stop two customers coming to your store at the same time and placing the same item in their basket. But only the first to checkout will get it. Similarly, if they put it their basket and come back later, they will only be able to checkout with it if it hasn't already been puchased.

There are configuration switches in Admin > Configuration > Stock that allow you to ensure that stock is checked and prevent customers from checking out with something that you don't have in stock.

However, there is nothing to stop two customers coming to your store at the same time and placing the same item in their basket. But only the first to checkout will get it. Similarly, if they put it their basket and come back later, they will only be able to checkout with it if it hasn't already been purchased.

Many thanks for the clear and concise answer - makes total sense. I sell matchbox labels which are often over a 100 years old and naturally I needed to be sure that I understood the logic behind the system as the last thing I want is upset customers who have paid for something that I can't supply.:clap: