Convenience stores can sell Starlink dishes for commission

SpaceX has embarked on a mission to drastically expand the Starlink customer base ahead of its gigabit network launch. The new V3 satellites will add massive capacity that has to be monetized somehow, and not long ago Starlink started a cash referral program to boost adoption.

On the retail end, SpaceX is now allowing every store owner to sell Starlink. It has even created a dedicated Starlink retail section on the website where it explains that it will deal with everything else, like providing the connectivity and support, while the shop only has to stock the Standard Kit or Mini dish.

SpaceX opens Starlink dish sales to anyone

It is now much easier for brick-and-mortar shops to sell Starlink hardware. A new "Retailers" page on the Starlink website, which appeared on November 6, invites US businesses to apply to stock the company's satellite internet kits and earn a cut from every sale.

Until now, Starlink kits mostly reached shoppers through the company's own online store or through a network of authorized resellers that remains invite-only. The new retailer channel is a separate, open route, and any store can fill out the "Apply to Become a Starlink Retailer" form. Retailers, such as ranch and convenience or hardware and sporting goods stores, will sell the hardware, alongside other products if they like, and earn commission. Starlink retains control of everything else, including the internet service, customer support, payments, and user accounts. In other words, a customer can buy the dish at a local shop, but the subscription is still managed through Starlink's website or app.

The page highlights two kits. The Starlink V4 is aimed at home use such as streaming and video calls, while the Starlink Mini dish that goes for about $300 on Amazon targets people who want a portable setup for roaming plans. Residential and Roam plans are both mentioned, and SpaceX is clearly pitching the program at rural and remote areas, where satellite internet demand is strongest and where it has been forced to resort to quirky sales methods like self-service kiosks.

None of the commercial terms, such as the sales commission, minimum order quantities, or delivery specifics, is listed publicly, so interested store owners may find that the cut for them is decided on a case-by-case basis, for instance. Starlink does ask about the number of stores and customers per week, as well as the location of the dish kit displays that it will provide. "Starlink will provide an in-store display for their product," it says, and asks is the owner would be "willing to place it in a high-visibility location we specify, such as an endcap, and keep that display up."

The program is currently limited to retailers in the US, but an expansion to other markets may follow soon, just as Starlink did with the referral program. Starlink kits are already sold at big chains such as Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Home Depot. Opening the door to smaller independent shops could put the hardware in far more towns, especially where the nearest big-box store is a long drive away.