AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'print_item_cost' - python-3.x

Question

While running this code I am receiving the following error message:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 33, in <module>
item.print_item_cost()
AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'print_item_cost'
I have verified the attribute is defined in the object, so I am not clear why this error is being thrown.
class ItemToPurchase:
def __init__(self, name = 'none', price = 0, qty = 0):
self.name = name
self.price = price
self.qty = qty
def print_item_cost(self):
print('%s %d # $%d = $%d' % (self.name, self.qty, self.price, (self.price * self.qty)))
def calculate_subtotal(self):
return self.price * self.qty
if __name__ == "__main__":
i = 0
order_list = []
for i in range(2):
print('Item %d' % int(i + 1))
print('Enter the item name:')
input_name = input()
item = input_name
item = ItemToPurchase()
item.name = input_name
print('Enter the item price:')
item.price = int(input())
print('Enter the item quantity:')
item.qty = int(input())
order_list.append(input_name)
print('\nTOTAL COST')
total = 0
for item in order_list:
print(item, '\n')
item.print_item_cost()
total += item.calculate_subtotal()
print('\nTotal: $%d' % total)
The program input I am giving is:
Chocolate Chips
3
1
Bottled Water
1
10
Which should result in the following output:
Item 1
Enter the item name:
Enter the item price:
Enter the item quantity:
Item 2
Enter the item name:
Enter the item price:
Enter the item quantity:
TOTAL COST
Chocolate Chips 1 # $3 = $3
Bottled Water 10 # $1 = $10
Total: $13

Answer 1

You're appending a string, not the item object to the list
input_name = input()
...
order_list.append(input_name)
Then looping over that list, expecting it not to be strings...
I'd recommend cleaning up that section a little so that you actually call the constructor of the class
print('Enter the item name:')
input_name = input()
print('Enter the item price:')
price = int(input())
print('Enter the item quantity:')
qty = int(input())
order_list.append(ItemToPurchase(input_name, price, qty))