Returning my Blaze :(

[VictorB]

I just got my Blaze on Saturday and I am noticing a lot of things...it doesn't count my steps correctly, its tell me I took stairs when I didn't, it has me doing steps in the middle of the night (which is freaking me out by the way) and the heart rate monitor is not working right.  I don't want to return it but it just seems like all of these are common complaints and I don't know how to correct it other then returing it and seeing if a new one does the same thing....Help!  (this is my first fitbit, not a happy customer at this point).

[Fosse66]

If you are returning it (as per title) why post?

[VictorB]

Because I don't know if this is normal for Fitbit (I am new at the fitbit craze) and I want to see if anyone else is having the same problem.  Hence "Help" in my post.  If its just me I will return it and try another one.

[g-moo]

My first day with a Blaze was Saturday, too, but mine's been on target with everything.  Even checked heart rate during cardio on elliptical against strap and it was exactly the same.  No problems with stairs or steps, nothing counted while asleep.  Could use a little more "vibration" for notifications but that is my only, and very minor, gripe. 

Sorry you're having issues -- but maybe if you work with Support and the helpful people on the forums it will turn out to be worth it.  

Best of luck. 

[VictorB]

So maybe it is just a defective device.

[Nocturnx]

Mine seems to be pretty accurate with steps and HR.  I will notice extra stair levels/floors being counted sometimes when opening/closing a door because of the pressure change, but stair levels seem pretty inconsequential to me anyway.  I think it is a bit generous with calories burned while cycling...  but I love my Blaze.

[TechJunkie]

I am no FitBit expert, by a long shot, but I have read a lot of the posts here since I purhcased my Blaze last week.  I noticed a lot of recommendations to issues like yours were to perform a hard reset on the Blaze.  In some cases it seemed to solve such complaints.  A few even removed the app, peformed a hard reset and set the Blaze up a new again. Certainly worth a shot and if not the posts I have read here indicate that Customer Service is helpful in resolving some of the issues you described.  

[VictorB]

I called support and they agreed that my device is defective. They are sending me a new one. I hope this one works correctly.

[big9erfan]

Stair accuracy will vary with the weather.  It uses an altimeter which reads air pressure to determine elevation changes.  Storms, wind, high pressure, walking over hills, will all trigger "stairs" to be recorded. It's just how the tech works.

[ThePreacher]

Stairs is also of you walk up or down a hill as it uses air pressure. There is no way for it to know you are walking up an actual flight of stairs.

It is normal to record steps in the night. Anything which is a movement like walking. It counts me brushing my teeth as steps. Should be no more than double digits though.

[RoseStars]

Owning and enjoying your Blaze should not be this difficult. And, sadly, it is. From needing Support to take me through Setting Up because it would not set up (and this is my third FitBit). So that was a good hour and a half to "fix" the issue via Chat.  And, then...yesterday, I walked an hour and 4 miles and my Blaze said I did a whole .83 miles. And the steps were completely off. Today, I walked 3 miles and I stil got a .6 mile reading. My favorite issue was sitting at an hour meeting...SITTING, and I racked up 118 steps. Right. So back this Blaze goes. I guess I could try re-setting it, etc, but wow, I have only owned this thing for 5 days. So if this one is defective? I have already wasted too much time trying to get this Blaze to work the way it was designed to work. I am trying an Apple Sports Watch next! 

[Lisamarie071576]

What happens if you didn't purchase the blaze off of fitbit website Can you still return it for a refund?

[RoseStars]

I purchased mine from Amazon. I had purchased an Alta, but returned it due to the band was SO difficult to clasp!  And it was very simple to return it for a full refund. I only had it for about a week. Having said this, I have decided to keep the Blaze a bit longer. Resetting it seemed to have helped. Steps and miles seem more accurate. I looked into the Apple Sports Watch and does not seem to be what I want.....and, of course, more expensive. 

[AngelaMa]

Welcome to the Fitbit Community @RoseStars. @VictorB, @g-moo, @Nocturnx, @big9erfan, @ThePreacher! It's great to see you around 🙂  @Lisamarie071576 If your tracker was purchased from a retailer you will have to contact them directly for a refund. @VictorB I'm glad to hear your tracker was replaced. Also as @big9erfan mentioned trackers detects floors using an altimeter, which is a sensor that calculates altitude based on atmospheric pressure. Though your tracker is designed to look for pressure changes based on elevation gains, pressure changes due to other causes—such as a gust of wind, a weather change, or opening a door—can occasionally cause your tracker to register an extra floor or two. 

Happy stepping! 🙂 

[DblGee]

This is why I wear a Fitbit Charge on my ankle.  The way activity devices count your steps is based on

algorithms for arm movement.  Wearing it on my ankle may make me work a bit harder for steps...but at least I know it's because I'm moving my legs - not my arms.  I got in an extra 2,000 steps one night on my arm device ..........from knitting.

[AngelaMa]

Hello @DblGee it's great to have you here! 😉 Thanks for taking the time to share your experience just remember that for wrist-based trackers, its important to specify whether you wear the tracker on your dominant or non-dominant wrist. The dominant wrist setting decreases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving. The non-dominant wrist setting increases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any under counting of steps. Non-dominant is the default. You can edit your settings here. 

Catch you later! 

[DblGee]

Thanks for the feedback 🙂  When I started putting my device on my ankle - I compared the results with my my old Fitbit and my Polar when I first started doing it -  I'm good - wearing it on my Ankle is a tad bit harder to achive steps 🙂 

[Ginn4205]

I purchased my Blaze and so far everything works EXCEPT the heart monitor. It stopped working after one week.

[Fosse66]

Fitbit are replacing mine - went very glitchy.

Great service.

[AngelaMa]

Hello @DblGee, @Ginn4205 and @Fosse66, hope you are having  a great day! @DblGee I'm glad to know your tracker is working properly on your ankle. Thanks for sharing. @Ginn4205 if your heart rate is not working make sure the heart rate setting is turned "ON" or  "AUTO" and you can always try to restart your tracker. 

Let me know if this helps! 🙂