System fails to warn of overwriting existing contacts

[GaryJW]

The current system does not warn that existing contacts will be overwritten which means that some valid data can be lost. Many "new" contacts simply don't know which systems they have signed up for because they simply don't pay attention. Even MicroCrap Outlook will warn you before overwriting a contact. How hard can this be? Skippy and Scooter in IT, are you listening?

[JudyG3]

I wish Constant Contact did not automatically overwrite existing information with new data. We add contacts from lists compiled by various of our departments. Some people are better typists than others. Susie Snowflake may be in our contact list as ssnowflake@verizon.net. If she is on another list as ssnowflake@verixon.net the correct address is overwritten by an incorrect address. Then I have to go through our bounces and try to weed out the mistakes. Until the next import when I get to start over again. I wish an overwrite option popped up for each of these: Overwrite? Yes No

[KenRG]

Hi,

Thank you for your post. I do like that idea. If anyone else had the same idea please vote on this topic so that it gets implemented in the future.

Ken

[SethLeary]

There are two enormous problems with the uploading of contacts from a file that are easily fixed.

1) Option to NOT overwrite existing contact information - Scenario: I spend years adding detail to my contacts (job titles, phone numbers, etc.) then I need to upload a file with 500 contacts, many of whom are already in my database. This new file has incomplete data--phone numbers for some folks but not others, for example. I want to add as much data as I can to my database, of course. The PROBLEM is that if 300 phone number fields are blank, they will DELETE ALL OF THE PHONE NUMBERS that I spent years collecting. SOLUTION: Have a check box for "do not overwrite existing data".

2) Option to NOT upload existing contacts at all - Scenario: I want to make a list of new clients. My spreadsheet has all of my clients in it, with the new folks mixed throughout. So I have 400 people in my CC database. My spreadsheet has 500 people on it. I want to make a new list that only has the 100 new people. The PROBLEM is that it can't be done and, if I do upload all 600 names, the previously described problem happens. SOLUTION: Have a check box for "ignore existing contacts" when uploading a file.

This should take the development team a few minutes to fix, probably no longer than it'll take to drink a Red Bull or coffee. Make it so.

[KenRG]

Seth,

Thank you for taking the time to submit such detailed feedback. I have set this as "vote for this idea if you agree" so that we can get other customer's opinion on this topic as well, see who else would like this implemented. I do agree with you that it does seem like an easy fix, and will make our developers aware that you are asking for this feature.

Ken

[JudithW0]

Trying to add excel list of contacts that has some bad e-mails. Don't want to replace the good e-mails in our existing contact list(s). Need a way to disable the overwrite feature & have Constant Contact ask which to use before automatically changing.

[Hannah_M]

HI Judith, 

Thanks for posting. When you import this file are you choosing to update or just add new?

[SethLeary]

This has gotten buried in the voting area and I fear that the development team is just going to ignore it.

https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Contact-Management-and-Contact/We-need-options-when-uploadi...

We need options when uploading contacts. Huge problem, easy fix.

There are two enormous problems with the uploading of contacts from a file that are easily fixed.

1) Option to NOT overwrite existing contact information - Scenario: I spend years adding detail to my contacts (job titles, phone numbers, etc.) then I need to upload a file with 500 contacts, many of whom are already in my database. This new file has incomplete data--phone numbers for some folks but not others, for example. I want to add as much data as I can to my database, of course. The PROBLEM is that if 300 phone number fields are blank, they will DELETE ALL OF THE PHONE NUMBERS that I spent years collecting. SOLUTION: Have a check box for "do not overwrite existing data".

2) Option to NOT upload existing contacts at all - Scenario: I want to make a list of new clients. My spreadsheet has all of my clients in it, with the new folks mixed throughout. So I have 400 people in my CC database. My spreadsheet has 500 people on it. I want to make a new list that only has the 100 new people. The PROBLEM is that it can't be done and, if I do upload all 600 names, the previously described problem happens. SOLUTION: Have a check box for "ignore existing contacts" when uploading a file.

This should take the development team a few minutes to fix, probably no longer than it'll take to drink a Red Bull or coffee. Make it so.

[MarkT158]

why can't I post and not have any additional details or comments. Maybe it's better if you not make this a requirement to post as well!!!!

[Hannah_M]

Hi @MarkT158 

Posting your feedback is totally optional although we appreciate your ideas!

Can you tell me more about what time of information you are overwriting? Are you uploading something like membership numbers so you would need some to be blank?

Thanks!

[GaryJW]

Contacts are fickle and often don't know which organization(s) they belong to. CC needs to fix the upload from a file system so it warns the client BEFORE, REPEAT BEFORE, it updates an existing data so it does not overwrite everything.

[Hannah_M]

Hi @GaryJW

Can you tell me more about how you use your account and update contact information? Do you upload a new file with the same contacts on a set schedule? Is it possible to leave some of the fields blank when you upload so the contact information isn't changed?

[GaryJW]

STILL need a means to prevent the system from overwriting and/or updating an existing contact without warning/permission of account owner.

[GaryJW]

This is a simple no brainer. Before the system updates a contact, it should provide a warning to the customer with the opportunity to selectively edit what will be updated. Overwriting with so much as a list of which contacts were modified is just plain inadequate.

[GCChapelStPeters]

I'm very disappointed that any time I upload contacts, Constant Contact recognizes this as an automatic update to any existing contact's information and changes it without any 'check' from the user. Because of this, I'm unable to integrate with other event registration products, and I was shocked to learn that I can't even use YOUR event registration feature without it wreaking havoc on my contact list. I hope there is a plan in the works to fix this. I was seriously considering upgrading to Email Plus, so I could use your event registration tool, but now I'm glad I didn't. It would have created an enormous problem for me. Now I'm actually looking into other email marketing products that don't allow this to happen with existing contacts. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Beatriz_R]

Hello @GCChapelStPeters,

Thank you for providing this feedback. I agree and have opened this up for voting and passed the feedback along to our engineers to consider when making product changes.