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Disappointed with Fitbit - no UK Food Database Bar Code Scanning!

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‎05-23-2017 13:11

‎05-23-2017 13:11

I have bought a Fitbit (first Fitbit - had a Jawbone before that, which had UK food bar code scanning). I cannot believe that Fitbit have only enabled food bar code scanning for users in the USA...so many people in the UK, Canada, Australia, etc, etc want it and Fitbit are not responding to their requests. Many just think it's a fault. This has been going on for over two years. Fitbit do not seem to be interested in giving customers outside of the USA what they want. If you want food bar code scanning - please search for posts, post yourself and up vote all the posts about it too...maybe eventually someone will sit up and take notice and realise that not providing everyone with the same features really is a very poor service and performance 😞

 
 
 
 
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‎05-23-2017 10:35

‎05-23-2017 10:35

I too am new to Fitbit ( UK based )  having given up on Jawbone. I have tried to scan ( unsuccessfully) two or three times now and yes, I thought it was just the particular few items I was trying to scan that were the problem. Seems odd given that they have given users  a choice to use a UK food database - which I do ,

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11 REPLIES 11

‎05-23-2017 10:35

‎05-23-2017 10:35

I too am new to Fitbit ( UK based )  having given up on Jawbone. I have tried to scan ( unsuccessfully) two or three times now and yes, I thought it was just the particular few items I was trying to scan that were the problem. Seems odd given that they have given users  a choice to use a UK food database - which I do ,

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‎05-23-2017 13:04

In response to Ged1957

‎05-23-2017 13:04

Hello, yes, I too set mine up for the UK Food Database thinking I needed to do that to scan...but I have had it confirmed through numerous people at Fitbit ("Customer Service" by way of standard responses that just get you going around in circles) and Fitbit Forum Moderators that scanning is only available for users in the USA. They all tell you to post it as something you would like - which is crazy, as we all bought it thinking we would have it! So post away in all Forums and maybe one-day someone at Fitbit will get this sorted out. 

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‎05-23-2017 14:39

‎05-23-2017 14:39

I agree, I am from Sweden and Fitbit do not have a swedish database.

 

I scan my food with myfitnesspal that is a free app and I sync it with Fitbit and it works well. It shows the macronutrients correct in fitbit on the computer but not via the fitbit android ap on my phone, but it shows the calories.

 

 

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‎09-26-2017 14:28

‎09-26-2017 14:28

I too am so disappointed that there is no UK food database on my Fitbit. I have just spent 3/4hr on a live chat only to find out that this UK database isn't available. The person I spoke to was extremely helpful, but if I had known this function wasn't going to work beforehand I may not have purchased my Fitbit. I really hope that Fitbit listen to us and change this asap. 

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‎09-26-2017 22:37

In response to Toscana

‎09-26-2017 22:37

Use myfitnesspal, its a free ap and just link it to fitbit, it have a UK database and barcode scanning. I use the swedish data base. Just try it, its great and easy. So I scan with the myfitnesspal and the consumed calories and macronutrients will be transferred to fitbit. I do ad different body stats as waist line in my fittnespal as fitbit only have weight and fat.

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‎09-27-2017 01:06

In response to messner

‎09-27-2017 01:06

Hi, I have downloaded the app but it doesn't seem to link to my Fitbit, will keep trying but I do feel that I shouldn't really have to do this as my Fitbit should have all of its functions working, such a shame. Thank you for trying to help me out.
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‎01-22-2018 23:36

‎01-22-2018 23:36

You can link your fitbit to my fitness pal. Add the food into my fitness pal using the barcode (dont add into fitbit) and it will then sync with your fitbit and show on the fit bit app

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‎03-29-2018 07:14

In response to messner

‎03-29-2018 07:14

Hi, I use fitnesspal to scan items when I cannot find them as Fitbit is missing this extremely relevant function. How do you sync it to your fitbit? That would very handy.

Thank you

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‎09-21-2018 09:41

In response to Ged1957

‎09-21-2018 09:41

Either Fitbit get this working or perhaps refer this to the Office of Fair Trading since an important features of the app does not work effectively in the UK so we should get a rebate on the purchase price

@Ged1957 wrote:

I too am new to Fitbit ( UK based )  having given up on Jawbone. I have tried to scan ( unsuccessfully) two or three times now and yes, I thought it was just the particular few items I was trying to scan that were the problem. Seems odd given that they have given users  a choice to use a UK food database - which I do ,

 

Best Answer

‎12-27-2018 13:10

In response to RickyCafe

‎12-27-2018 13:10

@RickyCafe wrote:

Either Fitbit get this working or perhaps refer this to the Office of Fair Trading since an important features of the app does not work effectively in the UK so we should get a rebate on the purchase price

@Ged1957 wrote:

I too am new to Fitbit ( UK based )  having given up on Jawbone. I have tried to scan ( unsuccessfully) two or three times now and yes, I thought it was just the particular few items I was trying to scan that were the problem. Seems odd given that they have given users  a choice to use a UK food database - which I do ,

 

Hi @RickyCafe,

 

Seems like you are thinking along the same line as me. As a new user of Fitbit I was extremely disappointed to find out that the UK barcode scanning feature was useless. I am on a bit mission to get a reasonable resolution to this. The thought crossed my mind like you, 'contact the office of fair trading', but I thought I would try a little diplomacy and pressure from the hundreds possibly thousands of Fitbit users who like us who feel a little cheated. I hope I can count on your support.

 

Thanks.

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‎03-11-2021 01:22

‎03-11-2021 01:22

The UK food database is awful!!!!  Having just been given the new Sense I was excited to ditch my old tracker and get myself back on track in 2021!!!!  The food database is a huge disappointment, at least with my previous tracker I could link to various sites such as 'fat secret' and 'my fitness pal', both who have brilliant UK food databases.  I gave my old tracker to a friend but without any improvement in the near future from fitbits services I'll definitely have to put this down to an enormous waste of money and change my device.... 

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