Product Attribute stock problem

I have an interesting product configuration problem that seems to challenge most eCommerce engines.

I have a product, an earring, and the earring can come with one of two types of loop, a surgical steel loop or a sterling silver loop. There is only ever one earring.

I have been able to add the earring and give it the option of the loops. The loop type is selectable as a radio button.

The problem comes when I select a steel loop type and add it to the cart. I go back to the earring product and select the silver loop type and add that to the cart. And thats the problem. I shouldn't be able to add the earring to the cart twice as it is already added to the cart.

So that the problem. Has anyone seen or been able to resolve this product problem before?

Any configuration advice would be very welcome.

Thxs, Rob

What if I want to buy two earrings - one steel and one silver ?

Hi,

the earrings are unique. They are handmade and as such there is only 1 pair of the earrings ever made.
However the loop type attribute means that the earring can either be sold with either a steel loop or a sterling silver loop type.
The earring quantity is set to 1.

Having selected an earring with a steel loop and added it to the cart, the buyer should not be able to select the same earring again with the other loop type.
The way that Zencart stands at the moment, I can do just this.

Thxs, Rob

As you noted, Zencart (and all other carts I'm aware of) doesn't handle unique items well.

I can't think of a way to fix this without custom coding.

It may not be a problem, though, if your customers were led to understand that the items are unique and they just wouldn't do as you've described.

Based on the standard way Zen handles inventory, couldn't you just make the stock level '1.' Once someone chooses to purchase the item with either attribute it will then be out of stock.

-lindasdd