AggData is short for aggregate data, which means a set of data that is collected together in one place. On this site, the AggData will come in the form of a list of records, where each record has details about a specific object in the group. For example, a set of AggData to describe countries would be a list of every country in the world, perhaps with details such as capital city, land area, population, and so forth. The raw data might look like the following:

Afghanistan, Kabul, 647,500 sq km, 31,056,997
Albania, Tirana, 28,748 sq km, 3,581,655
Algeria, Algiers, 2,381,740 sq km, 32,930,091
...

and so on. While this information is already publicly available on the web, the advantage of AggData is that the data is collected into one file that is very raw and portable, which makes it easy to integrate into any application or website.

When we collect a set of AggData, we are confident that it is 100% complete and accurate, as far as the source is complete and accurate. We simply use tools to extract data already available on the web, so we can only guarantee as much accuracy and completeness as the source provides. That said, we are very particular about making sure our sources are as official and as original as possible. For example, when getting listings for a retailer, such as Walmart, we go to that retailer's website (www.walmart.com) to collect information, and not some third-party business listing site.

We use a trusted third-party provider (e-junkie.com) to handle payment acceptance and product delivery to you in very secure and immediate manner. When you purchase a list and payment is confirmed, you will receive, by email, a URL link where you can download the file that contains your list. This usually happens only a few minutes after you make the purchase. This link is good for up to 5 downloads or 120 hours; if you need more than that for some reason, let us know and we can accommodate you.

The products you are purchasing are completely digital, so you will not receive a physical copy of the list on paper or on a CD. But the file is very easy to print, burn to a CD, or put wherever you need.

On every page that describes a piece of AggData, displayed in the AggData Profile section, is a "Last Updated" date. This is the date on which we last extracted the data for this list, and so the list represents the state of the data at that particular time.

We are committed to updating all of our data every 3 months. If there is an older list you've found on the site that you would especially like to see updated, please contact us and let us know.

Also, if you would like a more frequent update of a certain list, like a subscription to monthly updates, please let us know and we can work together to find a custom solution for you.

Absolutely. We are working on building up a full and diverse library of data for you to choose from here at AggData.com, but we understand that there is still a lot of data out there that needs to be collected. In fact, many of the new additions from our library start out by being custom requests. Simply contact us and let us know exactly what list you would like, and we will respond shortly with a custom solution that will fit your needs.

Certainly. Just let us know what lists you would like, and we will add up the listed prices and take off a portion from the combined total. While we don't yet have a more calculated way of providing this discount (coming soon!), we can safely say that the more lists you would like to purchase, the larger the discount we are willing to provide.

Yes. We have started offering a service called "AggData Premium", which gives complete access to our library for a subscription cost. Please contact us to find out more details.

Yes, please see our Terms of Use for details.

Geocoding is a very difficult process, and will never be a perfect science, but we've set up a system to get as accurate data as available. Our first option is to look for coordinates embedded in the HTML of the web pages themselves, which often appear in pages that show the locations on a map. We figure the company itself will take great care to make sure these locations are accurate. But, if this is not available, we go through 3 levels of geocoding APIs to map the addresses to coordinates, including APIs from Google and Yahoo. These are the same systems that Google and Yahoo use to map the addresses you type in a search bar to find locations on their map programs. And underneath these services are data sources common to most all Geocoders, including NAVTEQ and Tele Atlas.

Very rarely do all of these attempts fail to get the best possible coordinate data, but when it does happen, we will still get coordinates for the next highest level on the map, whether that be street level, zip code+4, zip code, etc. We have found this system to be very reliable and have many customers who have used the data very successfully in their geocoding and mapping projects.

The answer is almost always yes. We have developed many methods of extracting information from the web, and your request is certainly comparable to one we've run into before. There are, however, a few rare exceptions where circumstances prove too much of a roadblock for us to effectively collect the data you've requested. Usually this involves a site using non-standard technologies to display its data, such as a site that is programmed completely in Flash. In these cases, we do have a few alternatives that might be sufficient for your information need, such as drawing from third party sources. It is our commitment to work with you to make sure you have the best possible data available.

When you download your purchased file, it will be in a format called Comma-Separated Values (CSV). This just means that the file is made up of lines of text that are fields separated by commas. It is a very common format and used by many types of software and databases.

The easiest thing to do when you first download your AggData is to open it in Microsoft Excel or some other spreadsheet program (a great free alternative can be found here). These programs will automatically recognize the file and parse through it, putting the data in rows and columns like any standard table you can use to manipulate, sort, or filter the data. You could also import the data into a database, upload it to your GPS unit, or print it out for later reference. We wanted to use the most basic format for the data, so you have the flexibility to do what you want with it.

Many zip codes in the northeastern part of the United States have zip codes that start with a zero. We collect locations and store them in our CSV file with these zeros intact. If you look at any of the CSV files in their raw format, such as with Notepad or another text editor, you will see the zeros correctly.

The problem occurs when you open the file in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program. Excel does not recognize the values as zip codes, just as regular numbers, so it cuts off the leading zero. In order to fix this, highlight the zip code column, right click, and select "Format Cells" There should be a category called "Special", under which there is a format titled "Zip Code". Select this format type and click OK.

This is the process for the latest couple of versions of Excel, but there should be similar methods for other spreadsheet software.

Unfortunately, several people have confused AggData.com with the site of the actual retailer whose data we are selling. We are not representing or associated with these companies in any way. We simply sell publicly available data in a more usable and portable format.