Import & export
Bringing a customer list in from a CSV file, and downloading your whole customer list.
You can bring a customer list into SellerTower from a CSV file, and download your whole customer list as a CSV file.
Who can do this: importing needs the permission to add customers, which the Administrator, Admin, Store Admin and Cashier have. Exporting needs its own permission, which only the Administrator and Admin have. Staff who work in a single store can never export customers, whatever their role. The import works on every plan. The export also needs a plan that includes exports: Available on Scale
Before you start#
- Import only works on a larger screen. On a phone, Import CSV is hidden and the import page says Import needs a larger screen.
- The column rules are in CSV templates.
Import customers#
- Open Customers, click More actions, and choose Import CSV.
- Click Download template to get a file with the right headers and one example row.
- Fill in your customers. Each row needs a first_name, and an email or a phone.
- Click Choose file and pick your CSV file.
- Click Validate file. This checks every row and saves nothing.
- Read the Validation summary. Each problem shows its Row, Column and Problem.
- Fix the file and validate again, or click Import valid rows to save the good rows and skip the rest.
- Read the Import summary. It shows how many rows were imported and skipped.
After validation you see one of these messages:
- "Every row is valid. Review the summary, then import."
- "Some rows need attention. Fix them, or import the valid rows only."
Fields#
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Required columns | first_name, plus an email or a phone column. |
| Column order | Any order. Unknown columns are ignored. |
| Tags | In one cell, separated by semicolons. |
| Birthdays | Written as YYYY-MM-DD. |
| File size | Up to 2,000 rows and 8 MB. Split a bigger list into batches. |
Export customers#
- Open Customers and click More actions.
- Choose Export CSV. You see Customer export downloaded.
The file holds every customer in your business, whatever tab or filter you have open. It uses the same columns as the import, so you can edit it and import it again.
Behind the scenes#
The import uses the same rules as the add form. Emails and phone numbers must be unique in your business. A row that repeats an email or phone already used earlier in the same file is flagged with the row it clashes with. A row that matches a customer you already have is flagged too, and is not imported. This makes it safe to import the same file twice.
Watch out#
Troubleshooting#
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| That file is too large. Split it and import in batches. | The file is bigger than 8 MB. | Split it into smaller files. |
| The import refuses the file because it has too many rows. | The file has more than 2,000 rows. | Split it into files of 2,000 rows or fewer. |
| A row says the email is a duplicate. | The same email is on an earlier row, or on an existing customer. | Remove the repeat, or leave the existing customer as it is. |
| Export CSV is missing. | You do not have the export permission, or you work in a single store. | Ask the Administrator. |
| Export CSV asks you to upgrade. | Your plan does not include exports. | See Plan capabilities. |
| Import CSV is missing. | You are on a phone, or you cannot add customers. | Use a larger screen, or ask for the permission. |