> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.shopwaive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.shopwaive.com/shopify/accounts/import-accounts.md). # Import accounts Giving customers credit should be easy. Thats why with Shopwaive we made it that way {% hint style="info" %} Start creating, importing, or migrating customer accounts from another platform. Need to create or update existing accounts? See [Create or Update accounts](https://docs.shopwaive.com/shopify/accounts/import-accounts#create-or-update-accounts-with-bulk-import) {% endhint %} ## Delete accounts with Bulk import {% hint style="warning" %} Deleting accounts is an irreversible action, ensure you create a backup before proceeding {% endhint %} Delete inactive, dormant, or terminated accounts with our Bulk import Delete Accounts mode. Follow the steps below to delete accounts via a bulk import operation. Importing accounts in this mode will mark them for immediate deletion, including all related customer data including transaction history. This action is irreversible, and cannot be changed. If you are unsure, please export your customer data prior to proceeding or contact us at . This action only deletes Shopwaive data associated with customers and does not delete any Shopify data. Deleting accounts may be desired if known accounts are inactive, dormant, or you wish to exclude accounts from being serviced by Shopwaive. {% hint style="info" %} Deleting accounts can help reduce your monthly expenditure by reducing your total accounts subject to usage fees that Shopwaive services. You'll use the same CSV template used for importing customers. When you delete customers the same import template is required but only data in the Email column is used to mark customers for deletion, all other column data is ignored and can be left blank {% endhint %} Open the app, visit the **Customers** menu, and click **Import** at the top right
Once you click **Import**, at the bottom right of the top card click the link labeled **I want to delete accounts**, this will activate **Delete mode.** If you need the template, click **Download the CSV import file** before you do: the link is not shown in Delete mode.
To delete accounts, You'll use the same CSV template used for importing customers. In the template, populate the Email column with emails of the accounts that you want to delete. Only the Email column will be used to delete accounts with matching emails on file. All other column data is ignored and can be left blank, however, the header columns of the downloaded import template are still required to complete the bulk delete operation.
After adding the account emails, drag and drop your import CSV file into the drop zone or click **Add file** to upload from a local drive.
Delete mode on the Customers page
Before you delete, click **Create a backup** to download the transaction history of the accounts in your file. When you are ready, click the **Delete accounts** button at the top right of the page. A popup will appear to ensure you want to proceed. After proceeding, your accounts and associated transaction data will be deleted immediately.
Upon successful deletion, a toast message will appear at the bottom of the page, "*Accounts deleted"*
After accounts are deleted, you are no longer charged usage (servicing) fees for these accounts. {% hint style="info" %} Have any questions on deleting accounts? Reach out to our team at , we're here and happy to help {% endhint %} ## Delete accounts from Settings From the **Settings** menu, you can visit the **General** tab and **Delete Accounts**. Click **Select option**, then **Yes, delete** to delete all your accounts on file, or **Only accounts without a balance** to delete only those. Both buttons start the deletion: close the window instead if you do not want to delete. This option is reserved as an irreversible nuclear option and should be avoided unless you have completed an export to backup your data or are working in a development environment where data is not necessary to retain. ## Create or update accounts with Bulk import {% hint style="success" %} If you have developer support, you can also create and import accounts using the [Shopwaive API](https://api.shopwaive.com/). Have questions? Reach out to our team at , we're glad to help {% endhint %} First, navigate to the **Customers** menu, then click **Import**

Click Import from the top right

## Get the template Click **Download the CSV import file** to download the template CSV file to your local drive

Choose to either assign or increment balances, then select Download the CSV import file

{% hint style="info" %} New! Target Shopify's new [Store Credit Primitive and API](https://www.shopify.com/blog/store-credit) during bulk import: under **Choose an import target**, select **Shopify's Store Credit Primitive and API**. Choose the target first, before you choose an import type or add a file. With this target only the Increment import is offered. Shopify's native store credit requires new customer accounts. You can use Shopify's native store credit feature in combination with Shopwaive balances and Checkout extensions {% endhint %} ## Assign balances using the Balance column Select **Assign customer Shopwaive balances** to set each customer's balance to the value in the **Balance** column. An Expiry date applies to the customer's total balance. Columns of the template `Set balances.csv`: `First name`, `Last name`, `Email`, `Balance`, `Expiry`, `Tags`, `Note` {% hint style="success" %} Note, you cannot use both the Balance and Increment columns in the same template. Choose the import type before you add your file and do not change it afterwards: the type selected when you click **Import** decides whether each amount replaces the customer's balance (Assign) or is added to it (Increment). {% endhint %} ## Increment balances using the Increment column Select **Increment customer Shopwaive balances** to add the value in the **Increment** column to each customer's balance. A negative value debits the balance. With **Multiple expiry dates** selected under **Settings** > **Theme** > **Expiration**, an Expiry date applies only to the added amount. With **Single expiry date**, it becomes the expiration date of the customer's whole balance. Columns of the template `Increment balances.csv`: `First name`, `Last name`, `Email`, `Increment`, `Expiry`, `Tags`, `Note` Copy and paste your customer's email address, existing credit balance or incremental deposit or debit, and any note you'd like to attach to the customer import transaction. The Email and either the Balance or Increment are required. First name, Last name, Expiry, Tags and Note can be left empty, but keep every template column. With **Shopify Import Sync** on under **Settings** > **Theme**, Tags and Note are also added to the Shopify customer. The template has no Shipping column. To set shipping credits, add a column named **Shipping** to an **Assign** import and enter each customer's number of credits: the number replaces the customer's shipping credits, just as **Balance** replaces the balance. An Increment import does not change shipping credits. If you use shipping credits, include the **Shipping** column in every **Assign** import. Each shipping credit is equal to free shipping on a single order. See [Shipping Credit](/shopify/accounts/app-embed/shipping-credit.md). {% hint style="success" %} The Balance column takes a number of 0 or more: in an Assign import, an empty or negative Balance sets that customer's balance to 0. The Increment column also takes a negative number, which debits the balance. Neither column requires a currency symbol, but you can include it if it is convenient. Your balance currency will always be defined by the currency setting defined in **Settings**. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} The number of rows you can import does not depend on your subscription plan. The import handles 5,000 rows at a time: split a larger list into files of 5,000 rows or fewer. {% endhint %} ## Upload your customers Ensure you save or export the template with your customer data as CSV (.csv file extension). Then click **Add file**, or drag and drop the file, to load your data into Shopwaive. When the file upload is successful, your page will appear similar to the example provided below.
The import preview on the Customers page

Accounts are successfully uploaded and ready for import

If you have trouble importing your customer data, try the troubleshooting steps listed here, otherwise you can skip this section and continue to **Confirm and Import your customers** ## Troubleshooting imported customers To ensure you are successful with importing your existing customer data, follow the guidance and requirements outlined below. 1. Ensure you use the CSV template file by clicking **Download the CSV import file** 2. Only include data for the columns in the template, plus a **Shipping** column if you set shipping credits, and do not change the column titles 3. Check to be sure your customers email addresses are valid and are in the correct format 4. Expiry is optional: leave the cell blank for no expiration. A date must be after today and works best as M/D/YYYY, for example 9/1/2028. Replace the template's example row: its Expiry is the date you downloaded the file, which the import refuses 5. Only include numerical amounts greater than or equal to zero in the **Balance** column. The **Increment** column accepts values less than zero to perform a debit. In contrast, values greater than zero will perform a credit. Currency symbols are optional, but consider removing them if you receive errors. Define your balance currency under **Settings** > **Theme** > **Store Currency** 6. Split a large list into files of 5,000 rows or fewer: the import handles 5,000 rows at a time. ## Confirm and Import your customers After you confirm the data is ready, click **Import** to proceed to import your customers into Shopwaive. If you have customers that did not previously have a Shopify account, a Shopify account is created for them. {% hint style="success" %} Discover the powerful benefits of using Shopwaive. Give credit to new leads or potential customers that have opted-in for email notifications. The import creates a Shopify customer for each email address that has none; it does not send an account invite. With a [branded sending domain](/shopify/install/setup-branded-email.md) set up, you can then send emails within Shopwaive to encourage first-time customers to visit your site and spend their welcome credit. Pretty neat, right? {% endhint %} ## Successful import If the import is successful, you'll receive a success message and the import transactions take effect immediately (with the exception to large datasets described below). Most imports take effect within seconds. For large datasets with new customers without a previous Shopify account, allow an additional 7 seconds per new account. For each new customer you can estimate the time to complete using this formula: **No. of *****new***** customers** x **7 seconds** = ETA to complete > For example, you have 1,000 new customers without a previous Shopify account. The estimated time to import is calculated below: > > 1,000 accounts x 7 seconds = 7000 seconds / (60 seconds / 1 minute) = Approximately 2 hours to import and sync 1,000 new Shopify customers Alternatively, if all your imported accounts already have a Shopify account and you only need to update their Shopwaive data, you can estimate the time to complete an import to update Shopwaive data by assuming 5 ms per transaction. For example, you have 1,000 transactions to update. The estimated time to complete the Shopwaive data updates with bulk import is: > 1,000 transactions x 5 milliseconds = 5,000 milliseconds, or approximately 5 seconds to import and sync 1,000 transactions