Logitech was recently at the heart of a controversy after comments by its CEO Hanneke Faber mentioned a concept of a “mouse for life” by subscription. This idea of a high-end mouse with regular software updates, potentially linked to a subscription model, immediately sparked indignation among many users. Faced with the outcry, the Swiss manufacturer quickly denied the existence of such a project, but this controversy illustrates the sensitivity of consumers to the multiplication of subscriptions.
Logitech CEO Creates Confusion
Hanneke Faber, who has been the head of Logitech since last December, spoke about her vision for a “mouse for life” on The Verge’s Decoder podcast. She described a conceptual product that would be heavier and more robust than a traditional mouse, coupled with regularly updated software services.
Asked about a possible subscription business model for this mouse, the CEO replied “why not”, comparing it to the brand’s videoconferencing services. Comments that sparked a spate of controversy on social media, with many users finding it unacceptable to pay monthly for such an essential accessory, when a one-time purchase has been the norm for decades.
Logitech denies the existence of such a project
Faced with the scale of the controversy, Logitech quickly reacted via a press release from its communications manager Nicole Kenyon:
There are no plans for a subscription mouse. The mouse mentioned is not an actual or planned product, but a glimpse of a provocative internal reflection on the future possibilities of more sustainable consumer electronics.
The brand is therefore trying to put out the fire by denying the concrete existence of such a project. The words of its CEO were more of a conceptual reflection on the future of peripherals than a real product roadmap. But the damage is done.
This is not the first time that Hanneke Faber’s statements have been corrected after the fact by Logitech. Recently, she suggested that the brand’s smart home products were “virtually abandoned”, which the company was quick to deny.
Clumsy words for the one who took the reins of Logitech only a few months ago. Even if the concept of a “mouse for life” by subscription will probably never see the light of day, it illustrates the thinking of manufacturers to generate recurring revenue. But the prospect of paying each month for an accessory as basic as a mouse seems difficult to accept for consumers. In any case, it is not right away that Logitech would manage to impose a subscription model.