8.5. Tutorial: Flagging Out-of-Stock Orders

Boutique Fudge has a challenge. It makes all its products in small batches, and products frequently sell out. For example, if its supply of imported durian dries up, then so too does its world-famous Mocha Malaysian Espresso Milk.

However, eager shoppers keep ordering products that aren't in stock. Eventually they'll get the goods, but an order for an out-of-stock product might linger, lonely and forgotten, in the database for weeks. Boutique Fudge would prevent a lot of customer confusion (not to mention thirst) if it could track down the folks who've ordered out-of-stock items and warn them about the wait.