Hi all! I’m looking for a checkout counter NOT to reduce cart abandonments, but to actually reserve a cart for a specific amount of time. Meaning if it’s in someones cart and not fully checked out, it still it isn’t possible for someone else to add it to their cart. Is this possible? (Please don’t say I need Shopify Plus haha)
Topic summary
A user seeks a checkout timer that actually reserves inventory items in a customer’s cart, preventing others from purchasing them until the timer expires or checkout completes. This differs from standard urgency timers that only create psychological pressure without affecting inventory availability.
Current Limitations:
- Item reservation is not a native Shopify feature (available on any plan)
- Standard cart timers (like iCart) create urgency but don’t hold inventory
- Inventory is only validated during the actual checkout process
Possible Solutions:
- Third-party apps that manipulate inventory levels to simulate reservations
- Custom apps or automation tools like Mechanic that create draft orders from carts
- Workarounds involving inventory duplication and swapping
Important Considerations:
- Without IP tracking, bots could exploit the system to freeze inventory
- Countdown displays won’t appear in checkout without Shopify Plus
- Implementation requires either app store solutions or custom development work
The discussion remains open with no definitive solution identified for non-Plus merchants.
Hey @Jennale0916
With iCart, we have a cart urgency time feature that can create a sense of urgency by giving customers a set time limit to complete their checkout. However, item reservation (where a product is held in the cart and unavailable for others to purchase) is currently not an option.
Hi @Jennale0916 
What have you tried, have you searched? https://apps.shopify.com/guided-search?q=reserve+items+in+cart
Item reservation isn’t a native behavior.
The only thing there is when inventory control is enabled so item stock is validated during the checkout process.
Or duping items pre-checkout and doing swaps and other workarounds.
So any reservation system has to muck with inventory levels either as app from the app store, or a custom app.
Or using an automation tool like mechanic, e.g. https://tasks.mechanic.dev/create-a-draft-order-from-the-cart
Keep in mind without also building for I.P. tracking this creates a system whereby frontend bots can be used to freeze up inventory.
Further any countdown display will only show in the cart etc of the online-sales channel, and can’t be made to show in checkout without a shopify Plus plan.
If you have an actual need and a real budget for it then contact me for services.
Contact info in forum signature below 
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