Are click conversions with same click_id and conversion_date_time always considered duplicates regardless of conversion count setting?

[Value Lab]

We are uploading click conversions to conversion actions via the Ads API.

Are click conversions with same click_id and conversion_date_time always considered duplicates regardless of conversion count setting at the conversion action level (once vs every)?

I understand that there are two conversion counting options for conversion actions - Once and Every - and that "Every" can count multiple conversions for the same click id and conversion action (aka multiple sales, etc). "Once" means you can send multiple conversions but it will only count as a single conversion.

What isn't clear is if the same exact conversion is sent multiple times (same click_id, same conversion_date_time) will it be counted multiple times in conversion actions set to "Every".

For example - tell me what would happen in this scenario:

I have a conversion action called "Booked Appointment" set to count "Every" conversion.

- At 1pm I send a conversion with click_id gclid 123xyz and conversion_date_time 2024-05-29T12:00:00+00:00 to the Booked Appointment conversion action

- At 2pm I send the same conversion (click_id gclid 123xyz and conversion_date_time 2024-05-29T12:00:00+00:00) to the same Booked Appointment conversion action

Will I get a ConversionUploadError.CLICK_CONVERSION_ALREADY_EXISTS error? If not, will both conversions be counted or just one?

Thank you!

[Google Ads API and AdWords API Forum]

Hi,

Thank you for reaching out to the Google Ads API support team.

Yes, a conversion with the same combination of click ID, conversion_date_time, and conversion_action when uploaded again is always considered duplicate, regardless of the conversion count setting. 

So, for your scenario, when you try to upload the conversion at 2 PM with the same combination of click ID and conversion_date_time as that uploaded at 1 PM, you will encounter the ConversionUploadError.CLICK_CONVERSION_ALREADY_EXISTS. Google will only count the first instance of such conversion and the other is ignored.

I hope this clarifies.

Thank You,

Google Ads API support team

[Value Lab]

Great - one additional question. Does the upload method matter? For example - if in my example the 1pm upload was via a csv import and the 2pm upload was via the Ads API. Would they still be considered duplicates?