Roomba maker iRobot is no longer accepting new signups for a subscription service that offers a new Roomba every three years, plus replacement parts, for $29 a month.
The iRobot Select program will remain active for existing subscribers, the company confirmed, but those looking to try the service for the first time are out of luck.
An iRobot spokesperson said the company closed the door to new iRobot Select subscribers in the wake of Amazon’s scuttled acquisition of the Roomba manufacturer.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot vacuum cleaners.
“As part of iRobot’s recent organizational restructuring, the company is not accepting new iRobot Select subscriptions,” the iRobot rep told TechHive. “However, active iRobot Select subscribers will continue to enjoy its benefits without interruption.”
iRobot Select is an iRobot subscription program that offers a variety of benefits, including a room-mapping Roomba with a self-emptying dock, free replacement parts, a “premium” protection plan for the robot, and dedicated support.
You can also get a brand-new Roomba every three years at no additional cost.
The iRobot Select service costs $29 a month, plus a $199 activation fee for month-to-month subscribers.
There’s also a two-year plan with a lower $99 activation cost but the same $29/month subscription fee.
Current iRobot Select users who signed up for the two-year plan automatically move over to a month-to-month commitment once their two-year term ends, and “this policy will continue” following iRobot’s decision to close the program to new customers, the iRobot spokesperson said.
One quirk of iRobot Select is that once your membership ends, iRobot will deactivate the Roomba that came with the program, and the only way to revive the robot is–or was–to restart your lapsed subscription. But now, “a customer cannot reactivate a subscription once they’ve cancelled it,” the iRobot rep confirmed.
iRobot was dealt a body blow back in January when Amazon, which had previously announced plans to acquire the Roomba manufacturer, backed away from the deal.
Amazon nixed its proposed iRobot acquisition after learning the deal had “no path to regulatory approval in the European Union,” according to a joint statement issued by the two companies.
Following the failed deal, iRobot laid off 350 staffers and dismissed its CEO, moves that set off alarm bells about the company’s future.
Since then, iRobot has hired a new chief executive and just announced a pair of budget-priced bots, the Roomba Combo Essential (a vacuum-and-mop combo for $279.99) and Vac Essential (a vacuum-only model for $249.99).
Updated May 24, 2024 to add a comment from iRobot clarifying that iRobot Select subscribers who allow their memberships to lapse cannot reactivate their subscriptions.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature.