13 months and Alta HR dies?

[springergal]

Anyone have any experience with a fitbit working great while under warranty and then as soon as its up the fitbit stops working?  I have an Alta HR that i got in April 2017.  Last week the battery started only lasting 2-3 hours after a full charge.  I chatted with fitbit support yesterday and they wanted me to do a battery drain test that required me to fully charge the fitbit. I tried to put it on the charger to do the test and it won't even power on or charge on the charger now.  A friend has a different fitbit model that also quit working at 14 months of age.  Are these devices designed to be disposable as soon as the warranty runs out?  I love it, but $179 each year is a costly investment.  I emailed support to see if anything could be done, but haven't heard back.  Anyone have any ideas or similar experience?  Thanks.

Moderator edit: clarified subject.

[debraleec]

I've had two Fitbits die after the warranty expired.  How long should a Fitbit last?  More than a year or so?  I'm so disappointed in this company and their response just to offer a percent off a new one.  I'll go out and buy a cheaper version that will last longer.  

When you contact them to complain about it not working, are they able to completely shut it down on their end? 

I'm done.

[mysticrose70]

I am completely done with Fitbit. I went to a Samsung watch that is on my
cell phone plan. So if something goes wrong with it my device insurance
covers the cost of a new one minus the deductible (which I am fully aware
of from the get go). Much happier with Samsung.

--
Tracy St. Clair

[GloriaBF]

Me too!  only downside is charging more frequently but better interfaceMy Samsung Galaxy Watch rocks!

[mysticrose70]

Same!!!! But hey I don't mind charging more frequently as long as it is
working 🙂

--
Tracy St. Clair

[Designgirl85]

 I'm happy to respond that I eventually connected with someone from FitBit Customer Service who solved my problem. I couldn't get my FitBit to sinc. I just threw it in my jewelry box in disgust. Tried several times to work with customer service with no solution. The last person I talked with asked the right questions, I guess, because the next day I tried to get it to sinc and Bingo, it worked and has been working for months now.  

[NVFL]

Yep!! My first Fitbit lasted one year, two months and my second one year, seven months. They were $230 Versa’s. I (any good consumer would) refuse to buy a new $200+ watch every single year of my life. What a joke! Done with this company.

[Walkingtoloose]

I'm having the same exact problem.   This problem doesn't seem to be isolated.  I've drained the battery and when I go to charge it, the charge doesn't even last a full day!!!

[NVFL]

Nope, not an isolated problem, but a "conspiracy." It is criminal. The company needs to be punished/pay the price. On top of this, they took/stole the fitness tracker company Jawbone's ideas, ultimately putting Jawbone out of business. 😠*

[Designgirl85]

After exactly 12 months and 3 days of purchasing my Versa 2 Fitbit, it died.  It absolutely refused to sync. I put it in a drawer and moved on.  However, a few weeks later I decided to address the problem again by actually trying to call customer service. To my surprise, I actually connected with a representative.  She tried to walk me thru different steps but nothing worked. I posted on Facebook about my disappointment with my Fitbit. About a week later I picked it up again and gave it one more try.  It had synced somehow and it's works ever since. That was over a year ago. Don't know if the rep did something in house, or what.  All I know it's still working!!!

[Tomn13]

I did not read the whole thread but I wanted to add my story here for other people that google and find this:

This happened to my wife last year:  I don't know the model but my wife's Fitbit turned 14 months old and flat out died.  Not even the slightest performance issue prior to that.  Just dead.  Had to buy a new one.

This just happened to me now:  My Fitbit Versa 3 lasted 13 months and died (It's stuck in a reboot-loop where it just keeps rebooting) and I'm currently chatting with support for assistance.

I just calculated my cost of ownership of my Versa and it was $16.25 for each month that I owned it.  I used to have a Blaze 2.  The thing was a TANK and it worked beautifully for about 3 years.  Thing wasn't even water proof or resistant I think and I'd go swimming with it etc etc.  I loved that thing.  Anyway my cost of ownership of that was like $4 for each month of owning it.

If I have to pay for another fitbit then they will have lost a customer forever.  It's far too suspicious that these devices are failing after 13/14 months.

[Barbaracg]

I ended up purchasing an Apple Watch which has been great. I owned two Fitbit’s which I loved, but neither of them made it past 14 months. The Fitbit company wouldn’t do anything about either one so I moved on. Sounds like this is an ongoing issue with Fitbit.

Sent from my iPhone

[mysticrose70]

100%!!!!! I switched to a Samsung and have had ZERO issues. I have had it
for 2 years. Yes I pay $3.25 a month for it being linked to my phone plan,
but I can answer my phone, text, etc and it is also linked to my insurance
plan. So Fitbit absolutely lost a customer here. I would highly recommend a
Samsung Galaxy watch to anyone

--
Tracy St. Clair

[Xxdemosthenes]

my third fitbit in 4 years...dies within 13 months like clockwork and only get an offer to "buy another at a discount!" instead of creating a product that actually lasts. taking my business elsewhere. 

[GloriaBF]

if you have an android phone think about a Samsung watchStill going strong 16 months later!

[Barbaracg]

I decided to buy an Apple Watch. Have had it for two years now and no problems. Too bad as I loved my Fitbit but they don’t back up their product except for a very lame discount to purchase another one.

Sent from my iPhone

[NVFL]

I just bought an Apple Watch! Now I need to go get a new iphone as mine
is a 7 and the new Apple Watch only works with 8 or higher.

Yes, Fitbit gives a lame discount to buy from them time and time again. 🙁

Thank you for your input!

[Mavila4]

Same thing has happened to me. It is frustrating because I really liked my Versa but am tired of it breaking conveniently after the warranty runs out and not being replaced. I think I am going to try a different fitness tracker now 😞 Fitbit should consider either extending their warranty or at the very least giving a larger discount to purchase a new watch. They will probably continue to lose loyal customers if the watches continue to not work after the warranty is up and they only offer 35% off.

[mysticrose70]

I switched to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Series and have had the same one for
nearly 2 years with no issue at all. Absolutely LOVE it!!!!

--
Tracy St. Clair

[NVFL]

Agreed! I really liked my Versa too. Just can't get used to my Apple
watch, but at least I know it will last as every relative and friend I
talked to before my purchase had their Apple watch for 5, 6, 7, 8+ years
with no issues, so well worth the "Apple" price not to have to buy a new
fitness tracker every single year! Good luck with your venture away from
Fitbit.

[mysticrose70]

Same to you hun. It will be worth it in the long run for sure 🙂

--
Tracy St. Clair