Charge 2 will not hold a charge

[GemBaysan]

My “Charge 2” has died on me after only 17 months. As someone who owned there (original) Charge’s, I know and I took meticulous care of my device. 

Yesterday it said my battery was low, so I charged it. When it was charged, it lasted a few hours and died overnight. This morning, it charged in minutes and drained in seconds. 

They offered me 25% off a new watch, but I can’t justify buying a Fitbit anymore as it is nothing but a temporary consumer device, with a very short life expectancy.  

When I told customer service 25% off wasn’t going to do it for me, they threw in free expedited shipping. (Woo hoo) 

Fitbit - you have great software but your hardware leaves a lot to be desired!

Gem Baysan 

[HeydyF]

Hello @GemBaysan, it is great to see new faces around! Thank you for sharing your experience and your feedback regarding the Fitbit environment, customer service, platform and devices. This has not gone unnoticed and be sure that I will pass this along. 

We don't want to create frustration in our customers. Fitbit has been designed to provide motivation and help you to reach your daily goals to success. Please note that our Customer Support team always try to offer the best solution possible based on each user's warranty. 

I understand you've invested in the Fitbit Family, however, we as any other company have policies to follow through.  While customer satisfaction remains our number one goal, the demands of running a global business require that we enforce our warranty consistently.   

If there any questions present, please let me know and I'll be glad to help.

[GemBaysan]

Thank you for your reply and I understand the constraints of business.

I have been a loyal customer who has owned five watches and a scale, have gifted two devices and have encouraged four friends to purchase your devices. I have even spent hundreds on straps, and now I am device-less.

Please work on your quality, because this will catch-up with you.

Gem Baysan

[HeydyF]

Hey my friend @GemBaysan! And here at Fitbit appreciate the loyalty of our users and I totally understand how you feel about this, trust me, the Community is a place where you can make your voice heard, since our team always focus their attention on the feedback posted here and take every comment into consideration 'cause meet our users expectations is our main goal. 

Let me know if you have further questions. 

[alanhouston · Accepted solution]

I compared the Fitbit Charge 2 with other brands selling for $70 and for $30.  I choose the $150 Charge 2 because the Fitbit software is superior and it has good customer support.

But, if a $30 heart rate tracker has a one year warranty, a $150 heart rate tracker needs to do more.  I would suggest providing ALL Fitbit customers the two year warranty provided in Europe, and offering an option for a third year at a resonable price, such as $30.

Fitbit customers pay premium prices and they expect premium support.

[RobynA11705]

I am having the same issues. It’s becoming very frustrating. To the point I’m looking at Apple Watches. I expected them to last longer than they do.

[GemBaysan]

I am looking at alternatives too.

it is a real shame that Fitbit’s hardware lasts on average less than a year (in my experience) while there software is great. 

I would love if I can use other hardware (like Apple Watch) but still use Fitbit’s software and do challenges etc with my friends.  I would even be willing to pay a buck or two a month to Fitbit for their software. 

[alanhouston]

There is a good chance that your battery is fine but there is a "bug" in your Fitbit's software or in the software on your phone.  Clean the contacts on the Fitbit and on the charging cable.  Plug the cable into a phone charger, not a computer and charge three hours.

Next, delete the Fitbit app from your phone, the reinstall the app.  Then, do a "factory reset" of your Fitbit which restores it to its Day One software.  Google "factory reset Fitbit Charge 2".  The factory reset takes about one minute.

After the reset you set up your Fitbit as a new device.  Last, charge it AGAIN for three hours.

Hopefully, these steps will give you four or five days per charge.  If the battery STILL does not hold a charge, Amazon sells a three year warranty for the Charge 2 for $12.  If your Fitbit can not be repaired (and its seems Fitbits are NOT repairable) Amazon will issue a gift card for the purchase price.

[GemBaysan]

Hi @alanhouston thank you for the recommendations.

Unfortunately that did not work either. I wish I could open it up and change out the battery.

Thank you again.

Best,

-gem

[skonthebass]

I am experiencing this same problem, what is the solution?

[81prelude]

I have had my Charge 2 for about a year and a half and one day last week the battery decided to die after 5 minutes.  Its disappointing to know the warrantee is only 12 months.  That said, it's a quality product.  Hurry up and release the Charge 3.  I'm going to wait for it...but not long those Android wearables are sweeeet!

Charge 3 pleaseeee!!!

Thank you....

[skonthebass]

1.5 yr battery life is not what I would call quality, unless the battery were replaceable.

[Looby52]

The strap broke on my.charge 2 and as I couldn't initially afford to replace it my charge was left in a draw for 3 months. I have now purchased a replacement strap and put it on charge. Nothing is happening. It was fine last time I used it. This is frustrating as I can't afford a new Fitbit and I have bought a new strap for nothing. I do not expect something that I saved the £120 to buy to only last one year. Furious is not the word. I'm diabetic and lost 4.5 stone with the help of the Fitbit and without it I have gained 2 stone back on. I'm doomed now as no way I can afford a new watch

[Floppyears10]

Mine is starting to require more frequent charging. If I have to replace the watch, I'll go back to a regular watch. I refuse to pay that much money every 15 months!

[81prelude]

i bought a charge 3 instead. honestly, its good but i wish i bought
another 2 at the time.

[PiggyToes]

I bought a $25.00 health tracker similar to Fitbit on Amazon. It works very well and unlike Fitbit it holds a charge. The Fitbit appears to not last very long. My wife’s Fitbit Charge 2 broke after only 2 years. It won’t hold a charge. It also cost a lot more than the $25.00 model I have that is not a Fitbit.