---
title: "Verify unavailable variants cannot be added as available alternatives"
description: "Select sold-out and available variants of the same fixture product and verify price, stock messaging, add-to-cart eligibility, and committed SKU identity."
canonical_url: "https://vostride.com/agent-library/product-catalog/variant-availability-selection.md"
md_url: "https://vostride.com/agent-library/product-catalog/variant-availability-selection.md"
content_kind: "recipe"
topic: "product-catalog"
---

# Verify unavailable variants cannot be added as available alternatives

Select sold-out and available variants of the same fixture product and verify price, stock messaging, add-to-cart eligibility, and committed SKU identity.

## Risk

Variant availability can change independently of the parent product. A product page may disable the sold-out label while still sending a prior available SKU, making the shopper believe they selected an unavailable option successfully.

## Fixtures

- A sandbox product with one sold-out variant and one available variant with different option labels and prices.
- Backordering disabled and a documented rule for selecting or hiding unavailable variants.
- Hooks reporting variant stock and any cart line created during the scenario.

## Steps

1. Open the product and select the sold-out option through the supported variant control; verify the selected label and availability message.
2. Verify Add to cart is disabled or submission is refused according to the product rule, with no substituted variant added silently.
3. Inspect the cart hook and verify no line was created for the unavailable selection.
4. Select the available option and verify its distinct price, stock status, and enabled purchase action.
5. Add it once, open the cart, and verify the stored variant identifier and visible option labels match the available selection exactly.

## Expected results

- An unavailable selection cannot result in an unsupported purchase.
- The application does not silently substitute another variant.
- Switching to an available variant restores a correct, usable purchase path.

## False-pass traps

- A parent product in-stock badge can conceal one sold-out variant.
- An unchanged Add to cart button label does not establish which variant identifier is sent.

## Cleanup

- Clear the test cart and restore fixture variant stock levels.

## Use with agent-qa

Adapt this test design to your application's acceptance criteria and configured target using the [recipe execution guide](/agent-library/software-factory/turn-a-recipe-into-an-agent-qa-test.md). External fixture setup and non-UI checks require your own supported hooks or test tooling. Validate the authored test, execute it, and inspect the completed evidence; this recipe is not a recorded test result.

## References

- [agent-qa test](/docs/agent-qa/configuration/test.md)
- [agent-qa hooks](/docs/agent-qa/guides/hooks.md)
- [agent-qa auth state](/docs/agent-qa/guides/auth-state.md)

- [Product catalog QA recipes](/agent-library/product-catalog.md)
- [Software factory QA library](/agent-library.md)