Skip to main content
Solved

Deleting users then adding them back

  • 16 February 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 370 views

If i delete a user, can i add them back with the same identifiers?

Best answer by ami-jones

Hi! 

Good question, as this is something that can catch you out if you don’t have a full scope of understanding on how this action truly works. 

This doc does a great job of giving the full story:

https://www.customer.io/docs/deleting-users/ 

The main part to call out is the piece where it details the difference between suppressing a profile at the deletion stage, or just deleting it without suppression.

If you suppress a person:

  • You cannot reuse the deleted person’s identifiers until you unsuppress them.
  • Any attempt to re-add a person with a suppressed identifier is ignored or results in an error (CSV imports, API).
  • Activity attributed to the deleted and suppressed identifier (the person) is redacted. Activity Logs show forgotten (anonymous) entries for suppressed identifiers.

If you don’t suppress an identifier:

  • You can reuse a deleted person’s identifiers to create a new person.
  • A person you add with the previously-deleted identifier will have no prior data, including their unsubscribe status: the re-added person can trigger previously received campaigns.
  • Activity remains attributed to the deleted person’s `cio_id`. If you re-create a person with the same identifier as the person you deleted, the new person does not regain the activity history of the previously-deleted person.

So, it sounds like the latter is what you want to do. It’s a good way to handle your profile limits while also leaving your options open for reactivation.

Hope this explains well enough for you!

View original

  • Community Manager
  • February 17, 2023

Hi! 

Good question, as this is something that can catch you out if you don’t have a full scope of understanding on how this action truly works. 

This doc does a great job of giving the full story:

https://www.customer.io/docs/deleting-users/ 

The main part to call out is the piece where it details the difference between suppressing a profile at the deletion stage, or just deleting it without suppression.

If you suppress a person:

  • You cannot reuse the deleted person’s identifiers until you unsuppress them.
  • Any attempt to re-add a person with a suppressed identifier is ignored or results in an error (CSV imports, API).
  • Activity attributed to the deleted and suppressed identifier (the person) is redacted. Activity Logs show forgotten (anonymous) entries for suppressed identifiers.

If you don’t suppress an identifier:

  • You can reuse a deleted person’s identifiers to create a new person.
  • A person you add with the previously-deleted identifier will have no prior data, including their unsubscribe status: the re-added person can trigger previously received campaigns.
  • Activity remains attributed to the deleted person’s `cio_id`. If you re-create a person with the same identifier as the person you deleted, the new person does not regain the activity history of the previously-deleted person.

So, it sounds like the latter is what you want to do. It’s a good way to handle your profile limits while also leaving your options open for reactivation.

Hope this explains well enough for you!


Reply


Cookie policy

We use cookies to enhance and personalize your experience. If you accept you agree to our full cookie policy. Learn more about our cookies.

 
Cookie settings