Working as tech in a company without a technology DNA is like consulting for a client: fragmented processes, outdated tools, and almost no safety nets. Yesterday, a single CSV import wiped 30 lots from the catalog—an expensive lesson that led me to rebuild the entire data protection mechanism.
The 30-Lot Override Incident
The auction platform the company uses allows CSV uploads to update lots. But if the session already has data, the new file will completely override the old data without warning which specific lots are affected, no automatic backup, and certainly no Undo button. The result:
- 30 lots disappeared, including 20 critical ones.
- The whole team had to scramble to track down sellers and consignors to process payments after the auction.
- Internal news spreads fast—a small error easily becomes a "disaster" in others' eyes.
Why Logs Saved Us
Fortunately, I always keep operational logs: which file was imported, when, and by whom. Thanks to this, when the incident happened, I could trace back very quickly, compare with backups, and restore the exact lots needed. Without logs, the story would have been "ancient history"—not knowing the cause, let alone how to fix it.
Rebuilding the Backup System Properly
After this incident, I divided data protection into three layers:
- Immediate backup: every time we export a catalog, save a "comprehensive" CSV copy before importing anything.
- Structured naming: instead of letting the system name files randomly, backup files are standardized as
{auction-code}_{yyyymmdd}_{hhmm}.csvso Spotlight or Finder can find them in seconds. - Script the process: wrote a Selenium script that reads the auction name directly from the system, auto-clicks export, and saves the file to the right folder. Repetitive work is delegated to machines, avoiding scenarios where we backup the wrong session or forget to name properly.
Lessons from Doing Tech in Non-Tech
- Small UX risks become big business risks without protection mechanisms. A warning dialog isn't enough.
- Logging is a lifeline: not just for clear accountability but also to calmly find exactly what's broken.
- Automation must serve people: backup scripts help the whole team feel more secure, even colleagues who aren't tech-savvy.
- Share solutions instead of assigning blame: when people see there's a safety net, no one's interested in "calling out" errors anymore—we solve problems together.
A bit of discipline and a few small code snippets have made our auction catalog much safer. We don't need to wait for the platform to upgrade; we can proactively build a reliable system for our own team.