Premium started but Fitbit device is on backorder

[FinnianG]

Folks, I ordered a Fitbit device on 18th December, which has yet to arrive.  However, the 6 month premium trial started immediately upon order.

Would it not make more sense to commence the premium trial when the device is shipped?

Reply appreciated, Google 🤷

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[Heather-S · Accepted solution]

Hi @FinnianG! Welcome to the community. You would need to discuss this with Customer Support. I agree, it would be nice if it started upon activation of the device, but Premium is tied to your email address/account, not the device.

[FinnianG]

Noted with thanks, Heather.

When my device arrives, I'll contact Customer Support.

If I'm super nice, they'll probably look after me 😁

[FinnianG]

UPDATE - my Fitbit arrived earlier this week, almost 2 months after it was initially ordered and paid for.  A 6-month Premium membership was included in the price...

However, membership started on the day the device was ordered and not when the device was dispatched.  So, in order to ensure 6 months 'effective' membership, I contacted Google to seek revision of my membership dates.

Google refused.

That simple. 

They have made up my mind about paying for any premium Fitbit services after the post purchase membership we expires.

I won't.  A service provider that is comfortable with reneging on promises advertised to encourage purchase in the first instance is not someone I want to support.

[Triletics]

@FinnianG this is a known practice that several users complained about in the past. I don't know why Fitbit activates Premium upon purchase not upon adding device to your account in the app 🤷 If you bought it from Amazon (from Fitbit store on Amazon) you'd be able to activate your Premium in the app after receiving the device (this is how I did it) so this practice is typical only for Fitbit's own store.

[FinnianG]

Thanks for that response.

Like you, I just cannot see the logic in being so rigid about the date from when a membership commences.  

And I think it's dumb, tbh.  If the stakes were much, much higher, I am of the view that if the practice was challenged, it would likely fail legally on grounds of misrepresentation.

I struggle to think of another service provider that has offered 'buy X and we'll throw in Y, for free'... you accept and pay the amount required to contract, but arising from operational difficulties on the part of the service provider, they break their promise and don't give you Y.

Part of the reason I bought a Fitbit was for full sleep analysis and readiness scores, which are part of the premium membership.  While I'm happy with the device, Google have turned me right off taking a future membership.

I'll see out my trial and I'm gone 👋