Set up product-specific commissions
In this guide we cover how to set up product-specific commissions to offer a higher (or lower) referral commission (or points) amount than the default amount that all other products get. We call these product overrides.
A common scenario for brands is that you reward ambassadors with one default rate (for example 10%) across your whole catalog, but you want a different rate on certain products: a higher rate to push a new launch, a lower rate on low-margin items, or no reward at all on a handful of products. Rather than creating a separate program, you can add one or more product overrides to your existing referral reward settings.
How product overrides work
- A product override sets a custom commission or points rate for specific products, grouped as override groups, where one rate applies to many products. Every other product in the order still earns your program's default rate.
- Overrides work for both referral commissions and referral points. You will find them in whichever one you are editing, and the reward type (commission or points) is inherited from the reward you are in.
- On Shopify stores, an override group can target individual products, whole Shopify collections, or a mix of both at the same rate. A collection override applies your rate to every product currently in that collection.
- Overrides are applied per product in the order. If a referred order contains a mix of products, the products you have set an override on earn their override rate, and the remaining products earn the default (or contact tag) rate, all in the same order.
- Product overrides take the highest priority. For a product that has an override, the override rate is used even if the ambassador would otherwise qualify for a contact tag override or the program default.
Precedence: Product override, then collection override, then contact tag override, then program default. If a product has its own override, that rate wins for that product. Otherwise, if the product is in a Shopify collection you have overridden, the collection rate applies. If neither applies, the product falls back to a matching contact tag override, then to the default rate.
Using collections (Shopify only): Instead of picking products one by one, you can point an override at a whole Shopify collection. Every product in it earns the override rate, and products you add to the collection later pick up the rate automatically after the next sync. If a single product ends up covered by two collection overrides with different rates, the lowest rate wins, so ambassadors are never over-rewarded by accident. An explicit override on the product itself always beats any collection, and the modal shows an overlap warning telling you which rate will apply. Collections are not available for non-Shopify stores.
Before you begin
- Product overrides work alongside your normal referral reward setup. Modifiers like new-vs-returning-customer rates and contact tag overrides only change the default rate applied to the rest of the order. They never change a product override's own rate.
- If your store is connected to Shopify, you can search and pick individual products or whole collections directly. If you are not on Shopify, you can add products manually by name and product ID (collections are not available for non-Shopify stores).
- You will need referral commissions or referral points already set up. See Set up referral commissions and Set up referral points
Works with tiered rewards. Product overrides are available even when your reward uses tiers. The override rate is paid on its products as usual, and your tiers apply only to the default rate on the rest of the order.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Open your referral reward settings
- Go to the Programs section in Roster.
- Click Settings for the program you want to edit.
- Open the Referrals tab and scroll to the Referral Rewards section.
- Click Edit next to Referral Commissions or Referral Points (whichever you want to add overrides to).
Step 2: Expand the Product overrides section
- In the reward settings, find the Product overrides section and click to expand it.
- Click Add product overrides.
The panel shows your Default rate at the top for reference, so you can see what you are overriding.
Step 3: Add the products (or collections) you want to override
- Use the Products / Collections toggle at the top of the add flow to choose what you are adding (this mirrors the "Applies to" toggle on Shopify discount rules).
- Products, Shopify stores: use the search box to find a product, then click to add it. You can also click or add product manually to enter a product by hand.
- Products, non-Shopify stores: add each product manually by name and product ID.
- Collections, Shopify only: switch the toggle to Collections and search for a collection to add. Its rate applies to every product currently in it, and products you add to the collection later pick up the rate after the next sync. A just-added collection may briefly show a "Syncing..." placeholder until its first sync completes.
- Add every product and collection that should share the same override rate. A group can hold a mix of both. A product can only belong to one product override at a time.
Step 4: Set the override rate
- Choose the Override type:
- Percentage of sale: a percent of the product's sale price (after discounts).
- Fixed amount: a set commission (or number of points) per unit of that product.
- Excluded: the product earns no commission or points at all.
- Enter the Amount for the rate you chose. (When the type is Excluded, the amount is locked to 0.)
- Click Create override.
Step 5: (Optional) Add more override groups
- To set a different rate for a different set of products or collections, click + Add another override group.
- Choose the type and amount for the new group, then add its products and/or collections.
- Each group shows a summary of what it covers, for example "25%, 3 products, 2 collections".
- Repeat for as many groups as you need, for example 25% on new arrivals and Excluded on clearance items.
Step 6: Save
- Click Save changes in the product overrides window.
- Then Save your referral reward settings to apply the overrides.
Override types explained
Type | When it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
Percentage of sale | Rewards a percent of that product's sale price (after discounts), multiplied by quantity ordered. | 25% on a $40 item gives $10 |
Fixed amount | Rewards a set amount (or points) for each unit of the product ordered. | $5 per unit, 2 ordered gives $10 |
Excluded | The product earns nothing, no commission and no points. | Clearance items give $0 |
Product overrides use a single flat rate per group. A product override does not change based on who the ambassador is or how the rest of the order is rewarded. New-vs-returning-customer rates, contact tag overrides, and tiers all apply only to the default rate on the remaining products, never to the override rate.
How overrides are calculated on an order
Roster uses a hybrid calculation. When a referred order comes in, it looks at each product in the order:
- Products with an override (their own, or one from a collection they belong to) earn their override rate (percentage, fixed per-unit, or nothing if Excluded).
- All remaining products are rewarded together at your default rate. This is where new-vs-returning-customer rates, a contact tag override (if the ambassador qualifies), and tiers apply. They adjust the rate on this remaining balance only, never the override rates above.
- The two amounts are added together for the order's total referral reward.
An Excluded product earns nothing, and its sale value is taken out of the remaining balance too, so it does not quietly earn the default rate either.
So a single order can mix overridden and non-overridden products, and each is rewarded correctly.
Frequently asked questions
Do product overrides work for referral points too?
Yes. Product overrides are available for both referral commissions and referral points. Open the Referral Points reward, expand Product overrides, and set your rates the same way. Amounts are entered as points instead of currency.
What happens to the rest of the order?
Only the products you have overridden use the override rate. Every other product in the order earns your default rate (or a contact tag override, if one applies to that ambassador).
Can I stop rewarding a specific product entirely?
Yes. Add the product to an override and set its type to Excluded. That product will earn no commission or points, while the rest of the order is rewarded normally.
Can I set different rates for different products?
Yes. Add a separate override group for each rate you need. For example, one group at 25% for new arrivals and another set to Excluded for clearance products.
Which price is the percentage based on?
The percentage is calculated on the product's sale price after discounts, multiplied by the quantity ordered.
I don't see the Product overrides section, why?
Product overrides live inside the Referral Commissions or Referral Points reward editor, in the Product overrides accordion between the default rate fields and the Contact tag overrides section. Make sure you have clicked Edit on the reward and expanded that accordion. If you still do not see it, reach out to support.
Can I override a whole Shopify collection?
Yes, on Shopify stores. In the Manage product overrides modal, switch the add flow to Collections and pick a collection. The override rate then applies to every product in it, including products you add later (after the next sync). You can mix individual products and collections in the same group. Collections are not available for non-Shopify stores.
What if a product is in two collection overrides with different rates?
The lowest rate wins, so ambassadors are never over-rewarded by accident. If you have also set an override on that specific product, the product override always takes priority over any collection. The modal shows an overlap warning so you can see which rate will apply.
Do product overrides work if I use tiered rewards?
Yes. Product overrides work alongside tiered rewards. Overridden products are paid at their override rate, and your tiers apply only to the default rate on the rest of the order.
How do product overrides work with recurring orders?
Product overrides still apply on recurring (subscription) orders. On each recurring order, any overridden product uses its product override rate and the rest of the order uses your recurring order rate (or the default rate). The two are combined just like on a one-time order.
Next steps
Need help?
If you have any questions or need assistance with commission overrides, contact our customer success team at [email protected]. We're here to help!