Question 1

Who can join the CDO Program?

Accepted Answer

The Customer Direct Ordering (CDO) program is exclusively available to members of NS Wholesale. As an added part of their membership benefits, all NS Wholesale members are eligible to join the CDO program. Any individual or business that is not a member of NS Wholesale would be ineligible to join in the Customer Direct Ordering (CDO) program.

Question 2

What is Customer Direct Ordering?

Accepted Answer

Customer Direct Ordering allows your customer to order directly from Natural Solutions and for you to get a commission on each supplement they buy. The commission rate is based on which products are ordered.

Question 3

Pros and Cons of Customer Direct Ordering

Accepted Answer

Pros:

Increased product offerings: By partnering with a wholesale customer direct ordering program, retailers can offer a wider range of products to their customers without having to invest in inventory or logistics.
Better pricing: Wholesale customer direct ordering programs may offer retailers better pricing on products, which can increase profit margins and competitiveness.
Improved inventory management: By leveraging the wholesale customer direct ordering program's inventory management capabilities, retailers can reduce the need for excess inventory and improve their supply chain efficiency.

Cons:

Potential channel conflict: Retailers may experience channel conflict if the wholesale customer direct ordering program competes with their existing suppliers or distributors.
Dependence on the program: Retailers may become dependent on the wholesale customer direct ordering program for their product offerings, which can be a risk if the program is discontinued.
Costs and fees: Partnering with a wholesale customer direct ordering program may come with costs and fees, such as commissions or transaction fees, which can eat into the retailer's profit margin.

Overall, partnering with a wholesale customer direct ordering program can be a smart move for retailers looking to expand their product offerings and improve their supply chain efficiency. However, it's important to carefully consider the potential pros and cons before making a decision.

Question 4

What is the difference between CDO, Drop shipping, and Wholesale?

Accepted Answer

View the table below for the differences between Wholesale, Drop Shipping, and Customer Direct Ordering

Question 5

Is there a fee to use the Customer Direct Ordering program?

Accepted Answer

NS Wholesale offers the CDO program as a free benefit to wholesale account holders. As such, there are no fees to access and use this program.

Question 6

What products are available?

Accepted Answer

All of the products available through NS Wholesale will be available through the CDO Program with the following exceptions:

EnerSyncs
Blank Patches
QEST4/Asyra Supplies
STC cords
Sample Testing boxes and refills

There may be instances where a product is available through NS Wholesale and not the CDO Program - this generally happens when a product is in the process of no longer being carried by NS Wholesale. These will typically be marked on NS Wholesale as Being Discontinued

Question 7

How to sign up for Customer Direct Ordering (CDO)

Accepted Answer

If you are interested in signing up for the CDO program, simply fill out the form below or visit CDO Sign Up

Question 8

How can I get my customers to use my code/link?

Accepted Answer

NS product prices have been increased 25% above the suggested retail price to help dissuade practitioners' clients from ordering from us without using their practitioner's code or ordering directly from their practitioner if the practitioner hasn't signed up for the Customer Direct Program. Whenever customers use your code/link, it will discount NS products by 20%. This only applies to Natural Solutions Products.

Question 9

Do I have to disclose that I make a commission if I share my link?

Accepted Answer

Yes. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides, links shared where profit or 'commission' can be earned must be disclosed to the consumer in a conspicuous way.

Anywhere you share your link, somewhere nearby you must disclose that you may earn commission through a user. Below is an example of an acceptable disclosure notice:

This site contains referral links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.

Disclosure notices do not have to be long or contain specific details - they just have to notify your consumers that you do make a commission from purchases they make through the link.

Question 10

Can I use the CDO program to place personal orders?

Accepted Answer

Natural Solutions' CDO program does not allow for the use of personal orders.

It can be viewed as a conflict of interest. If a user earns a commission on their own purchase, it can be seen as prioritizing their own benefit over the benefit of their company/customers. It can make it difficult for the company to accurately track and measure the success of the CDO program if personal purchases are included in the data.

Question 11

Do I need to collect any payments from my customers?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Customer Direct Ordering is designed to streamline the ordering process for your customer and reduce the amount of work needed to place orders.

Question 12

Can my customers call in an order?

Accepted Answer

No. The CDO program is an online-only program and is solely designed to work with NS Retail's site.

Question 13

I live outside the USA, can I still use the CDO?

Accepted Answer

People living in Canada can use the CDO program but shipments through the CDO program are currently only available for locations in United States.

Question 14

Commission Percentages

Accepted Answer

Commission is based on the average difference between wholesale cost and the company line's suggested retail price with a 10% convenience fee subtracted for this service. The convenience fee has already been removed from the commission rates below.   Company Commission Rates*: 40% - Natural Solutions 35% - Alive Innovations 35% - BioLight Technologies 35% - Dr. Dov 35% - FGF USA  35% - Frequency Apps   35% - Healthy Reflections 35% - Soul Tender (will be active when CBD is available) 30% - Energique 20% - Dr. Jocelin Whitaker Essential Oils 20% - First Fitness    Additional Products: 35% - Seven Flowers 25% - ThreeLac 10% - Miracle II Products    *Percentages subject to change

Question 15

Commission Payouts

Accepted Answer

Commission Cycles are the 21st to the 20th each month.

Earned commissions are paid on the 25th of each month (or the closest business day).

Users of the CDO program must have their Payment information entered in their dashboard prior to the 25th in order to receive that month's earnings. Earnings are accumulative if the monthly payout is missed.

Question 16

What are the payout methods?

Accepted Answer

The current payout methods are:

PayPal
Venmo

Other methods may be added in the future.

Payout with PayPal and Venmo must be accepted & collected within 30 days of the payout being issued, otherwise the amount may be automatically returned to Natural Solutions

Question 17

How to set up payouts on CDO dashboard?

Accepted Answer

How do I get paid my commissions? Before you start sharing your codes and url, you will need to set up your payment settings. You can do this by using the Payment Settings section in the CDO dashboard. Payment Settings

Question 18

How do I setup a PayPal account?

Accepted Answer

How to set up a PayPal account: Personal

Visit PayPal’s website and click the Sign Up button in the top-right corner
Select the account type — Personal. Then click Get Started.
Select your country and hit Get Started.
Input your phone number and verify your number.
Add your name, email address, and password, and click Next.
Add your address and other required info, and then click Continue.
Optional: Click the blue Get started button to add your debit, credit, or bank info.
Verify your email address by clicking the link in the email sent to you by PayPal.

How to set up a PayPal account: Business

1. Visit PayPal’s website and click the Sign Up button in the top-right corner
2. Select Business and provide the requested information about your business.
3. Enter the email address you’ll use with your business account. You’ll want to use a different email address than the one you use for your personal PayPal account (if you have one).
4. Enter your PayPal business type. You’ll choose either Sole Proprietorship or Company. You can choose Sole Proprietorship even if you don’t have a registered business, while the Company option encompasses LLCs, partnerships, corporations, and nonprofits.
5. Enter some basic business and personal information.
6. Enter some additional business and personal details. A series of prompts will ask you for further details: the keywords that best describe your business, your estimated monthly sales, your website (optional), your Employer Identification Number or EIN (unless you chose Sole Proprietorship as your business type), your Social Security Number, date of birth, home address, and bank account information.
7. Once you’ve completed these steps, congratulations! You now have a PayPal business account.

Question 19

How do I set up a Venmo account?

Accepted Answer

Things You Should Know

You need a phone number and email to register for a Venmo account.
Venmo is only available in the United Sates and compatible with U.S banks and phone numbers.
You can sign up for a Personal or Business account.

Signing up for a personal account

Download one of our mobile apps: iOS & Android (Venmo does not have a Windows app)
Open the Venmo app
Choose your sign up method and create a secure password (between 8 and 20 characters long, and should contain at least one number or symbol like (!@#$%)).
Verify your phone number and email address
Add and verify your bank account

You can also sign up for Venmo from your computer here.

Venmo is only available in the United States and only compatible with U.S. based bank accounts and phone numbers. You must also be able to send and receive SMS/text messages from short codes.

How to Sign Up for a Business Profile

I already have a Venmo account

If you’re eligible for a business profile, you’ll see the option to create one in the Venmo app and when you sign in from the web:

In the app:

Tap on the “+ Create a business profile” option in the drop-down near the top of your screen on the “Me” tab and follow the prompts
You can also select the Settings gear and tap “Create Business Profile to get started

On the web:

Sign in to your account at venmo.com/account/sign-in
Select “Create a business profile” from the menu and follow the prompts

Once your business profile is created, you can manage the profile and customize your settings from the Venmo app. You’ll use your existing login info (not your business profile username) to access either profile. If you’re already signed in, you can use the drop-down at the top of the “Me” tab to toggle between your personal and business profiles.

I'm new to Venmo

In order to create a business profile, you’ll be required to sign up for a Venmo account, which includes a personal profile. Both profiles can be created during the same signup process from the app or the web.

To get started in the Venmo app or on the web:

Choose the “Business” option, then "Get started"
Enter your mobile phone number and tap "Send code"
Enter the code sent to your phone
After verifying your phone number, enter your legal name and the email & password you want to use on Venmo
Review our legal terms and conditions and tap "Agree"

If the phone verification process is successful, your Venmo account will be created. Your phone number must be successfully verified for your Venmo account to be successfully created. You'll be able to retry this step if needed.

You can also choose to skip the creation of your business profile now and continue to finish setting up your Venmo account. If you skip this now as a new user, please know that the option to sign up for a business profile is available for existing users as well.

If you continue creating your business profile, the next series of screens will ask for details about your business, including:

Whether your business uses an SSN or EIN
Your business display and username, as well as a short description and business category
A background and profile photo – we recommend using one that highlights what you do and attracts potential Venmo buyers
The mailing address you use for your business
Public business information including customer-facing business address (full address or just city and state), phone number, and social media

At this point, you’ll have the opportunity to preview your profile (to view what your customers will see). You can now publish your business profile.

Information provided by help.venmo.com

Question 20

International Payouts

Accepted Answer

At this time, international payouts can only be done through PayPal.

Question 21

Dashboard Overview

Accepted Answer

Home The Home tab is the page that shows up when a user logs into their account. It showcases the user's referral link, coupon code, commission structure, summary, and details. Home The Home tab displays the referral link and the coupon code that has been assigned to the user. ⓘ When a customer uses the user's referral link or coupon code to make a purchase in the store, that order will get recorded in the app. The user will earn a commission on that sale.         Summary In the Summary section, users can view data such as, Referrals have been made using their referral link. Orders that have been placed using their referral link. Conversion percentage of visits to purchases made using the referral link. Number of Sales made using the referral. Total commission Earnings by the user.   Details The details section shows the date, order number, order amount, and commission on the sale. It can also be set up to show additional information to the user.

Question 22

How to use the CDO dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Using Your Dashboard Learn how to use the CDO dashboard After creating an account, you will be provided with a referral link. This referral link will be used in promotions. You can share this referral link with your friends, customer, or followers. The referral link is present in the Home tab of the dashboard. What happens when you share the referral link? When a customer purchases a product from the Natural Solutions retail store using your referral link, you earn a commission on the sale. How do coupon codes work? If a coupon code has been assigned to you by Natural Solutions, you can also promote the coupon code. When a customer purchases a product from the Natural Solutions retail store using your coupon code, you earn commissions on it. The coupon code is present in the home tab of the dashboard.         How do I know that if a customer has purchased a product using my referral link or coupon code? When a customer makes a purchase using your referral link or coupon code, the referral will show up in the summary section in the Home tab of the dashboard. The summary section shows you the number of referrals, the number of orders that have been placed using your referral, the conversion rate (from visits to purchases), the sale value, and your earnings. You can also view the summary of your referrals for different time periods by using the drop-down bar.

Question 23

How to track Analytics?

Accepted Answer

Analytics The Analytics tab can be used to view advanced analytics of their referrals. These statistics can be used by them to refine and improve their performance.     Here, a user can view data such as the browsers, operating system, or device used by visitors (visiting the store using the referral link). They can also view the landing page and the origin of these clicks. In addition to this, users can also view the number of visits, the number of orders, the conversion rate, and the commission they have earned.   Traffic Analysis In the Traffic Analysis section, the user can view data such as the domain from which the traffic is coming, the orders, visits, commissions, and conversions. They can aggregate the data by: Origin Origin Domain Source UTM Source UTM Campaign UTM Medium UTM Content Term Date Landing Page Custom Query Param Each aggregate will display a different kind of data.

Question 24

How to view payouts?

Accepted Answer

Payments Payments Tab shows the user their payment information. Here, the user can view the amount they have been paid, the amount that is pending to be paid, and the last payment that was made to them. When a payment is made, the details section will show additional information on the payment. Payments Tab

Question 25

How long does it take for a sale to show up on my dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Each sale should appear within 5 - 10 minutes and will be viewable on the homepage and on the transactions tab.

Question 26

Can I edit products shown on my shop page?

Accepted Answer

CDO users have the option to select the products that they want to display on their public store page: Here, click on the edit icon. Click on Edit   From here, CDO users can select the products they want to add or remove from their public store page. Add or remove products

Question 27

Can I view what my customers have ordered?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Transactions tab shows users their customers' transaction information, such as the date, type, and amount of the transaction. Users can view what each customer bought by clicking on the transaction number. It also displays the final earned balance after each transaction.

Question 28

What is the shipping time for my customers?

Accepted Answer

Generally, customers can expect to receive their packages between 3-7 business days, depending on their location.

Question 29

What is the shipping policy for CDO?

Accepted Answer

Orders received by 3 pm EST during regular business hours will be sent out that same day.

Orders received after 3 pm EST or outside of regular business hours will be sent out the next business day

Customers are responsible for shipping costs and will pay during checkout. Shipping costs are not counted toward commission earnings.

Shipment destinations must be within the United States.

Shipping couriers include the United States Postal Service and UPS.

Question 30

What is the return policy?

Accepted Answer

Customers may return their products within 30 days of purchase as long as the product is unopened and in good condition. Customers will receive a full refund for the returned items once they are received by Natural Solutions.

Natural Solutions is not liable for freight costs associated with returning products.

Question 31

What happens if my customer returns a product/order?

Accepted Answer

If customers return a product/order, it will be deducted/removed from your commissions in the following ways:

Product return initiated before payout issued:
The amount of commission is automatically removed from your earnings, and will not appear in analytics, reports, or on the transaction tab.

Product return initiated after payout is issued:
The amount of commission will be deducted from your next payout cycle. If there is no activity for your CDO account during the next payout cycle or the amount does not cover the refunded commission, it will be charged to your card on file.

Question 32

What happens if my customer places an order and it's not associated to me?

Accepted Answer

Natural Solutions will not be held liable for orders placed without the use of referral links or codes. It is the responsibility of the account holder to ensure their customers accurately and consistently use the provided referral links and codes for each sale.

As a courtesy, if a customer places an order online with Natural Solutions and you do not receive a commission, Natural Solutions allows you to request for the order to be tagged to your CDO account.

Submit a request to*:

cdo@naturalsolutionsphc.com
(229) 777-7712

*You will need to verify at least the customer's name and the billing or shipping address. You may also be asked for the customer's email address and order number. Have these things ready before contacting Natural Solutions.
Alternatively, your customer can reach out to Natural Solutions and let us know that they are your customer and to make sure their order is tagged as such.

Question 33

What if a product my customer purchases is out-of-stock?

Accepted Answer

If a customer orders a product that is out-of-stock, Natural Solutions will issue a refund to the customer. See section on returns for more information on refunds with the CDO program.

In these events, Natural Solutions will contact the customer using the email provided with the order and inform them of the refund.

Question 34

International Orders

Accepted Answer

At this time, the CDO Program does not allow for orders to be shipped internationally.

Question 35

How long do the cookies last on the URL?

Accepted Answer

Cookies are used to track referrals. And, of course, such cookies have their expiration date. Basically, a cookie's lifespan reflects how long the prospective buyer who clicks through your link might make you a profit through a given campaign. Each time your referral link is clicked, cookies are enables and last 90 days. Any sales made during those 90 day on the NS Retail site will be attributed to you. Each time a person reuses your link, the cookies' duration resets.

Question 36

Can I share my link and code online?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You are able to share and use your link/code anyway and where you would like.

You can share it via email, text, QR code, website, social media - it doesn't even have to be shared only online, you can share it in-person or any other place you could imagine

Question 37

Do I have to disclose anything if I share my link?

Accepted Answer

Yes. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Endorsement Guides, links shared where profit or 'commission' can be earned must be disclosed to the consumer in a conspicuous way.

Anywhere you share your link, somewhere nearby you must disclose that you may earn commission through a user. Below is an example of an acceptable disclosure notice:

This site contains referral links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.

Disclosure notices do not have to be long or contain specific details - they just have to notify your consumers that you do make a commission from purchases they make through the link.

Question 38

How are my customers' orders linked to my account?

Accepted Answer

A User ID is assigned when you sign up through our online form and is linked to your referral URL and discount code. Links given to you use a special format that includes this ID. Every time a customer follows one of those links to our site, this unique URL tells us which user sent the customer to the site. We keep track of the User's ID as the customer browses through our website, and we also use cookies to keep track so that even if a customer closes their browser and comes back later, they would still be tracked as using the User's ID.

Question 39

How do I share a link to a specific product?

Accepted Answer

Generate referral links for products In the Tools section of the CDO Dashboard, you can generate referral links for the products you want to promote, you can do this by pasting the product URL link from the NS Retail site in the given field. A link will be generated next to it with your referral code that you can then use in your promotions.

Question 40

How do I Share a Cart?

Accepted Answer

The Shop tab can be used to create checkout links for your customers. Shop tab   Here, CDO users can search for and view products in the shop. They can add the products to their cart.   Shop Cart The cart shows the products, the price, the quantity, and the order subtotal.   After clicking on Checkout, users can open the checkout page and copy the checkout link to share it with customers.   Below is a how to Video *feature available only on new CDO site (cdo.nsdirectorder.com)

Question 41

Why do I have to submit a W9?

Accepted Answer

W9 forms are required to be on file with Natural Solutions prior to the first payout with CDO program.

Between the end of December and the end of January, Natural Solutions will issue 1099s to each CDO user. As Natural Solutions pays wholesale users of the CDO program, each user must report their earnings as income to their state.

CDO users can submit the W9 during sign-up or fill out the W9 Form section in the Settings tab of the dashboard..

Question 42

Do I have to collect sales tax from my customer?

Accepted Answer

No. The CDO program takes care of collecting and reporting all sales tax for any order placed through the NS Retail site.

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