FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM SUPPLIERS

TopDawg offers its suppliers the ability to sell their products through a network of thousands of independent retailers. This helps our suppliers build a more complete e-commerce sales solution that enhances their current e-commerce strategy. A free supplier account with TopDawg can help you to increase your wholesale order volume as well as increase your product and brand exposure through thousands of our independent online retailers. TopDawg’s lowest cost shipping algorithm allows the end customer to buy your products from our retailers at a very low shipping rate. In addition, our prepaid shipping labels (provided with each order) will help improve efficiency with the operations team in your warehouse. Removing the need to log in to multiple shipping carrier platforms, weigh individual orders, and manually enter customers’ addresses will help your warehouse scale efficiently as your order volume with TopDawg grows.

TopDawg is looking to build our selection of products within the Home & Garden, Fashion & Accessories, Health & Beauty, Sports & Outdoors, Electronics, Kids/Baby/Toys, Automotive & Marine, Seasonal & Parties, Farm & Ranch and Pet Supplies departments. Specifically, we are looking for a diverse assortment of products within each department that can be shipped via small parcel with UPS, USPS, and FedEx.

TopDawg is an online wholesale distributor (B2B SAAS System) that makes your products available to our network of approved retailers through our platform, who then sell directly to their customers. We do not sell retail ourselves, and we do not sell on 3rd party marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc. TopDawg is the e-commerce version of your traditional brick and mortar distribution center.

Although supplier products are digitally streamed through TopDawg’s platform directly to connected retailers, suppliers will be working directly and only with TopDawg.

Yes. TopDawg provides all suppliers with a prepaid shipping label for each order. TopDawg offers its retailers the lowest cost shipping tool that calculates the shipping cost and determines the carrier (in real time) at the point of checkout on their websites. Therefore, all orders must be shipped using the prepaid shipping label that TopDawg provides.

With TopDawg, you don't have to worry about preparing domestic shipping documents or filling them in. The system will automatically generate all the documents you need. All you have to do is print them out, place the packing slip inside the package and attach the label to the outside of the package.

For domestic shipments, the following 2 items are required.

1. Shipping Label

The shipping label is a required document for all your domestic shipments and must be attached to the outside of the package. The shipping label will include the destination address, return address, shipment tracking number and a barcode that will be scanned to update the tracking information on the courier's website.

2. Packing Slip

The packing slip is for the end customer to ensure that the shipment includes everything that they ordered. This document must be placed inside every package.

With TopDawg, you don't have to worry about preparing international shipping documents or filling them in. The system will automatically generate all the documents you need. All you have to do is print them out, place the packing slip inside the package and attach the other two to the outside of the package.

For international shipments, the following 3 items are required.

1. Shipping Label

The shipping label is a required document for all of your international shipments and must be attached to the outside of the package, separate from the commercial invoice. The shipping label will include the destination address, return address, shipment tracking number and a barcode that will be scanned to update the tracking information on the courier's website.

2. Commercial Invoice

If required for the country you are sending to, the commercial invoice will be page 2 and possibly page 3 when printing the shipping label and it is important that you print both the label and the commercial invoice.

The commercial invoice document must be securely fastened to the outside of your box, separate from the shipping label. This is so customs officers can check what is being sent and the value of the goods, to calculate how much duty may or may not be owed.

The best thing to do is use a 'documents enclosed' pouch which is designed to be attached to a package for shipping. (Both UPS and FedEx will provide these free of charge if you request them.)

A clear plastic wallet or envelope is also suitable as long as it is taped down so the customs documents don't move in transit.

Standard envelopes taped down to the side of the package with 'Customs' written on the outside of the envelope are also acceptable, but please ensure it is not obstructing any barcodes on the shipping label.

What happens if I do not attach the customs documents?

Failing to supply customs documents can mean that your package is returned to you or delayed while the courier tries to make contact with you to get the customs documents sent to them.

The commercial invoice will be a required document for all of your international shipments. The commercial invoice is the primary document used for importation control, valuation, duty determination and identifies all the items being imported.

3. Packing Slip

The packing slip is for the end customer to ensure that the shipment includes everything that they ordered. This document must be placed inside every package.

TopDawg will provide you with an online portal to view your inventory, update quantities available, accept orders, and print prepaid shipping labels. When your products sell, you will be alerted via email and notified in your supplier portal that you have new orders to process. Simply log in to your account, accept the new order(s), print the packing slip and prepaid shipping label, then pack and ship the order.

TopDawg requires Net30 terms with all our suppliers. Payments will be automatically sent to your bank account on file between 14 and 21 days after the order has been delivered to the customer. We are happy to complete a credit application or provide trade references upon request.

Once your product sheet has been provided to TopDawg and loaded into your supplier account, we will provide you with the login credentials to access your portal at topdawg.com. This will give you access to view the products you have listed with us, along with the current wholesale cost and quantities available. You can make updates to your available inventory within your portal, but all other changes to your inventory must be submitted to your TopDawg account manager. Be sure to update your product quantities regularly to ensure that your products remain online and available for our retailers to sell.

TopDawg and its retailers do not hold any inventory; therefore, the only items we are able to list on our platform are individual units and small case packs. All items will be drop shipped directly to the end customer who is looking to purchase individual items. Can I prevent my products from being sold on 3rd party marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart? TopDawg works closely with our suppliers to restrict products from being sold on 3rd party marketplaces they would like controlled. We have terms of service agreements in place with our retailers that include a section regarding products with restricted marketplaces. We provide them easy access to the current list of products with restrictions. This information is also listed in the details of every product in our catalog, outlining the sales channel restrictions provided by our suppliers. If a retailer is found to be in violation, TopDawg reserves the right to suspend or terminate the retailer’s account.

Yes. TopDawg works closely with our suppliers to ensure their MAP pricing requirements are enforced. We have terms of service policies in place with our retailers, outlining our suppliers’ MAP pricing requirements. If TopDawg or its suppliers determine that a retailer is in violation of MAP Policy, TopDawg may suspend or terminate the retailer’s account.

Each supplier can set their own return policies. Our recommendation is to offer 14-day return window on new and unused products only. This will help customers feel more comfortable purchasing your products and lead to increased sales. If the cost associated with processing returns is an issue, we recommend offering a 15-day return window with a 15% restocking fee. This will help limit the number of returns and cover any costs associated with restocking the inventory.

If an order you have shipped has been lost, or misplaced prior to delivery, TopDawg will initiate a trace with the carrier and attempt to locate your shipment. Once the shipment has been found, another delivery attempt will be made. If the carrier cannot locate your shipment, TopDawg will still pay you for the merchandise shipped as we will be reimbursed from the shipping carrier for the lost order.

If you would like to update your email address on file, please submit this request via the support@topdawg.com page.

TopDawg works closely with our suppliers to restrict products from being sold on 3rd party marketplaces they would like controlled. We have terms of service agreements in place with our retailers that include a section regarding products with restricted marketplaces. We provide them easy access to the current list of products with restrictions. This information is also listed in the details of every product in our catalog, outlining the sales channel restrictions provided by our suppliers. If a retailer is found to be in violation, TopDawg reserves the right to suspend or terminate the retailer’s account.

Visit TopDawg, click on “Log In” in the upper right navigation bar, enter the same email address used to sign up along with the password you created, and click on the “Login” button to be directed to your portal.

Once you have logged into your portal, click on the “Account” in the upper navigation bar, hover over “Settings,” and select “Business Certificates.” You must enter the certificate number into the field. *This number may go by a variety of names depending on your state and type of business document you upload. You must upload your document by clicking on the “Choose File” button and selecting the appropriate document in a PDF format no greater than 4 MB. Check the required disclosure boxes and click “Upload Document” for a submission.

You may upload valid corporate registration certificates or annual report filing receipts. To view examples of acceptable documents, log into your supplier portal and navigate to the business certificates link in the account settings area.

Upon receipt of your submitted document, we will verify that it is current and valid. You will receive an email notification with the status of either “Accepted” or “Rejected.” If your document is marked “rejected,” there will be a reason included for you to review and make any necessary changes for resubmittal. Your status of the document will also be logged on the same page that you uploaded the document initially under “Documents Upload History”. If you see anything with “Pending” status in your dashboard, this document has been received by TopDawg and is waiting for review.

No. Unfortunately, we can only accept documents that are submitted through your supplier portal.

The ACH (or EFT) connection is needed for TopDawg to deposit payments directly into your account. ACH (Automated Clearing House) is an electronic network for financial transactions used to securely transfer money. This is often referred to as an EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) and is used to securely move money from one account to another and the transaction is completed electronically.

After you log in to your supplier account, click on the “Account” dropdown in the upper navigation bar, hover over “Settings,” and select “ACH Deposit Info.” Once you click on that link, you will be able to select the country where your banking account was created. The next dropdown will include the currency rate of the previously selected country and the option of USD for U.S. dollars. Next you will enter your routing and account number of the default account you want TopDawg to deposit your funds into for your payments. Lastly, click the yellow button “Register Your Account” to verify and save the account information.

After you log in to your supplier account, click on the “Account” dropdown in the upper navigation bar, hover over “Settings,” and select “ACH Deposit Info.” You will do the same exact process from the initial ACH banking account setup process and click, “Register Your Account.” *You must add a new account before you can delete or change the default status to a new account. If you wish to delete an older account, click on the trash can icon within the older account after you have added a replacement account. If you choose to keep both accounts on file but update a new account to become the default, select the box next to the trash can icon of the account you wish to make the default. You will see a green check mark indicating which account is now the default for your deposits.

Stock levels of your products are managed in the supplier portal. This information can be updated manually or by bulk upload by completing the following steps:
MANUAL UPDATE
Stock levels can be updated manually by completing the following steps:

1. From the navigation bar, select Inventory.
2. Products are listed in ascending stock quantity order. Select Update on the desired product.
3. Use the (- or +) to decrease or increase inventory levels or type in desired amount in quantity bar.
4. Click on Update Quantity Available to submit changes.

BULK UPDATE
Option 1:

1. From the navigation bar, select Inventory.
2. Input stock level range in the Filter Stock Level navigation bar.
3. Click the green Download Report button.
4. Update your stock levels by changing the QTY column on the spreadsheet.
5. Save changes.
6. Upload your updated report by selecting the orange Upload Stock Level button.

Option 2:

1. From the navigation bar, select Inventory.
2. Click on TopDawg Inventory Spreadsheet Download.
3. Update your stock levels by changing the qty_available column on the spreadsheet.
4. Save changes.
5. Upload your updated inventory spreadsheet by selecting the orange Upload Stock Level button.

NOTE: Only updates to stock levels will be processed. Read our FAQ “How do I update my product titles, descriptions, pictures, or anything other than inventory levels?” for further information.

You can modify product information in the supplier portal. This information can be edited and updated by completing the following steps:

1. From the navigation bar, select Inventory.
2. Click on TopDawg Inventory Spreadsheet Download.
3. Highlight all changes in yellow. If a product needs to be deleted, highlight row in red.
4. Save changes.
5. Email support@topdawg.com.

Our team will review the updated spreadsheet prior to publishing and will notify you via email once the products have been uploaded to your TopDawg account.

You will receive notifications to both the email address associated with the account and within the supplier portal. You will also see a number in the cart icon located in the upper right corner of your supplier portal.

You can view specific orders in the supplier portal by completing the following steps:

1. From the navigation bar, select Orders.
2. Use Search Orders bar to search by order number or customer information. Be sure to have the correct date range selected. The default is 30 Days.

Specific orders can also be located by filtering status and completing the following steps:

1. If you want to locate by order status, select filter from dropdown menu under Filter by order status.
2. Orders can also be filtered by Paid Status and from date range by using the From and To navigation bar.

Order reports can be viewed and downloaded on the supplier portal by completing the following steps:
FILTER ALL BY DATE RANGE

1. From the navigation bar, select Orders.
2. Select Download Report to view all orders from the last 30 Days. (Default is 30 Days)

FILTER BY STATUS AND DATE RANGE

1. If you want to filter by order status, select filter from dropdown menu under Filter by Order Status.
2. Click on Download Report.
3. If you want to filter by date range, input date range on From and To navigation bar.
4. Click on Download Report.

After we have gone through our quality control processes, your products are uploaded into your supplier portal to be viewed by clicking the “Inventory” tab in the upper navigation bar. To view a particular product, you may click on “Update” or “View” to see the product picture and additional product information. Once the products are officially published, you can view your products by navigating to the main home page, selecting the “Products” tab in the upper navigation bar, and typing in your product title, brand name, etc. in the search bar. You may also search using the “Brands” filter option on the left side of the “Products” page and selecting “…Show All.” You can then search the brand/company in the search bar or locate in the alphabetized brand list.

In your supplier portal, select “Reports” in the upper navigation. You can view an assortment of data based on your selection of filters including order status, product UPC’s and date ranges. This will give you information on the orders in dollar amount, orders by volume, average price per order, top selling product history, and other weekly trends. You can also export the graph content from your filters into an excel spreadsheet by clicking the excel icon.

Inside the supplier portal, select the “Resources” tab in the upper navigation. Then click on the TopDawg Certificates tile. You may view or download these resources for your records by selecting “TopDawg Corporation Annual Filing Certificate” or “TopDawg Corporation Florida Annual Resale Certificate for Sales Tax.”

Once logged into your supplier portal you can click on the “DASHBOARD” link in the top navigation bar at any time to bring you back to the main supplier dashboard page.

We take measures to ensure that all sensitive data and banking information remain secure and private. All account transactions are processed through Stripe who has very strict security standards. TopDawg and Stripe only use HTTPS and HSTS for secure connections. All sensitive information and the communication of such information is encrypted. To view the security standards of Stripe, visit the following link for more information.

To log out of your supplier portal, hover over the “Account” dropdown in the upper navigation bar and select “Log Out.”