Abstract: Preparing items for a customer in advance of a fitting session. After receiving preliminary item selections, determining a fitting date and time at a fitting location. Then, determining a final item selection from the preliminary item selections not more than 48 hours before the fitting session. The customer does not commit to purchase the final item selection. After determination of the final item selection, locking the final item selection and locating the preliminary items between multiple locations and, using an automated mechanical system, assembling the preliminary items into a lot before sorting the lot into transfer bin(s). Then, transferring the bin to the fitting location in advance of the fitting session. At the date of the session, before the time of the session, preparing a final lot from the transferred bin and storing the prepared final lot in a temporary storage system operating in the building at the fitting location.