Charge 5 dead after swimming

[Mbi2022]

I swam on 2 consecutive days.

The screen went blank after 2nd day, decided to let it dry out before recharging.

Connected it to the   charger started flashing a light green screen & now its dead as a dodo.

Help?!!

[davitz]

In my case, I swam for 15 min and came out to check it out, nothing but black screen. No way to recharge or revive. Called Fitbit help and they made a few suggestions which didn'T work. ( I could see green light, felt vibration during charging, but the screen was black.) Bottom line is that Fitbit refuses to take responsibility for this as my warranty period has expired. Why do you tell your clients to go swimming with their device if you can't stand by this feature?

[ManuFitbit]

Welcome to the forums @davitz.

Thanks for providing the details regarding the inconvenience with uour Charge 5.

I would like to share with you that Fitbit products are made to withstand stringent testing to meet consumer standards and needs. However, the operation of our products from our consumers made us aware that certain unexpected factors that are outside of our control may cause damage.

I've been informed that you already contacted the Customer Support team for further assistance with this; in this case, please, I'd invite you to contact them again since they have already the information about your device. 

[JoeCarr]

Same thing happened to me. Swam 2 days in a row. After 2nd day, it wont work. Itll charge and it sees my app. Just wont show the time. Its the charge 5 an its junk. Not even waisting my time reaching out to them only to get the run around. Ill be finding a better product for sure.

[Nenzi]

Mine was the charge 5

[DonnaScruggs]

I know you are a moderator and will catch a lot of flack and I apologize. But double speak is still double speak. There is no way the fitbit 5 withstood "stringent" testing when it came to being able to be used to track swimming. This whole reply thread isn't just anecdotal evidence. Just imagine our percentage of failures are just those of us  that bother to report about this. My fitbit 5 (2 replacements in)  is currently gathering dust. I swim everyday, I can't be sussed with taking it off just to get in the water, when that is the main reason I bought it. 

[Lachyweb]

You are 100% right Donna. I have lost complete trust in fitbit due to the 'double speak' as you diplomatically call it. Having personally had 5, yes 5 charge 5's in a year which all failed in less than 2mtrs of swimming pool water it's hard to see it as anything other than dishonest to still sell them as suitable for tracking swimming.

[davitz]

I agree...Charge5 is not waterproof and should not be billed as such. If I had tested mine (swimming) within the warranty period, I would have had the same experience as you did. But in my case, for over a year I was convinced I shouldn't let it come in touch with water. I took it off before showering, etc. Then a friend told me the Fitbit Website indicates clearly this device is supposed to be waterproof. I verified it myself and once I saw that Charge5 is supposed to be waterproof, I wore it for a swim session. Bad idea! Black screen after 15 min, and no amount of tricks offered by Fitbit associates helped to revive it. It works, it charges, it still counts my steps (through my app) but no screen at all. Definitely wouldn't buy another one, and wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants to swim with it. 

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Maybe that is where I went wrong, I should have gone on Twitter or Instagram instead of contacting Fitbit! Clearly, this company doesn't stand by its products.

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Mine gives off the green light, it also vibrates, but still no screen at all...completely black. Considering how many people have had issues with the swimming, I would recommend to anyone NOT to use Charge5 for swimming. I wish I hadn't.

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Thanks for this post. I was offered the 35% discount, but there is no way I'm taking that bait. If I ever decide to buy Charge5 it will be on the understanding that it will be strictly for non-swimming, non-showering regimen, as I had it for the first 15 months of owning it. Then it worked fine, no complaints. My experience tells me it is an over-reach to call this product waterproof.  

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Dear ManuFitbit: I did contact your colleagues twice, and they were very professional, very polite, and I would even say sympathetic. Unfortunately, their hands are tied they said, they can't do anything except report the incident to the warranty section, and they sent me an email offering a 35% discount on the same device that I discovered the hard way doesn't withstand getting wet. I hope you'll understand that I won't be risking my money on this product. If I ever invest money in your products ever again, it will be with the understanding that I won't let it near water. I didn't have any complaints about step-counting, heart-beat measurements, etc. But water should be off-limits.

[EmilyBronte]

Hi @SunsetRunner yep, I got the Inspire 3 and I am very happy with it. I wear it round the clock, also in the gym/shower, but not for swimming, obviously 🙂

You cant use it to pay for things but I hardly used the Charge 5 for paying anyway.

Good thing is that it charges very fast (< 1 hour) and that charge lasts for 10 to 12 days, a real improvement on the Charge 5.

So yep, I never looked back, lol

[JoeCarr]

How long have you had the Samsung watch 5, and are you happy with it?

[SunsetRunner]

My Fitbit died yesterday after a swim. Charged up over night but screen has gone black and looks to be dead based on other accounts I’ve read. I’m moving on to an Apple Watch now.

[suzw56]

I was in the pool for less than 15 minutes and my change 5 died. It was 14 months old but I hadn’t used it in ware beforehand. They offered me only 35% off. If this is a standard thing, why do they say you can swim with it? 

[davitz]

One more testimonial about the shortcomings of Charge5 and fitbit client service. How long can they ignore the reality lived by their clients?

[Chilli27221]

I’ve had the exact same thing this week. It’s not okay to replace and not give the new one under the same warranty time. Surely there is something faulty with the product if it’s happening often. 

[SunsetRunner]

I agree and have ditched Fitbit and gone to Apple Watch.

Hasta luego, Becca

[davitz]

There is something definitely faulty with the Charge5. It should NOT be billed as waterproof, or at best they should define what they mean by water-proof. that it can handle a few drops of water touching the screen? Can the whole watch (including the charging contacts) be immersed in water? Their description was that this is fine up to a certain depth, and so it is not unreasonable for the user to attempt to keep it on swimming. So, misleading advertisement as far as I am concerned and failure to live up to the advertized commitments toward consumers and clients.