Activity Groups have been closed

[MatthewFitbit]

Fitbit Update 6/14/19: We have removed the web-based activity groups from Fitbit.com. Our enhanced community features within the Fitbit mobile app provide users with a significantly better experience by allowing them to access fitness-related news and local events, connect and message with friends, discover public groups of like-minded individuals, and create their own private groups.

User-created groups on the Fitbit app also allow members to track their progress through group leaderboards and cheer each other on, just as they could through the web. The Fitbit mobile app is available for Android and iOS.

---

As of 6/13/2019, Web Activity Groups have been deprecated and will no longer be accessible.

We know that many of you have used this space to connect with friends and fellow Fitbit users, and we recommend considering the in-app Fitbit Community to continue those conversations. Along with topical public threads where you can discuss personal health goals, the Community also offers closed groups with many advantages - including space for up to 2,000 members, and leaderboard statistics.

For more information on joining and inviting your friends to these closed groups, check out this article. We know that this kind of transition can be difficult, but we are confident that you'll find lots to love in the new Fitbit Community!

[Spuds63]

Good for you.

I've been a Fitbit user since 2012, given several for gifts, and assisted others in purchasing them.

This HR will be my last. From my experience, they are cheaply made and expensive to buy and then the Company callously and without warning, dumps the Groups and historical stats.

I'm now looking at a quality Withings product, the one I should have gone with 7 years ago.

[RonnieT]

@MatthewFitbit - regarding the comment of turning off this thread is the equivalent of "driving the last nail into the coffin" for many clients. While the company may not appreciate some of the alternatives/work-arounds that have been suggested here - not foreseeing how the discussions/repercussions of the decision to remove the Activity Groups, is indeed shortsighted.

No doubt it is surprising on how many posts articulate the short-comings of the app-based groups, and the variety of suggestions on how to "recover" the client-base. Or that so many of the prior users of the groups have indeed utilize them for actual activities, versus a social-networking platform.

It is a well known rule of thumb that when people have a good experience, they will share it with 3-4 others (paying it forward). However, when that experience is bad/less than desired, they will share it with 12-17 people (more if larger amounts of money are involved). 

Management should be grateful that clients/users are willing to take their valuable time to post/share comments here in a centralized platform, rather through various threads on the numerous social platforms. 

[SD_Beaker]

This is just sickening.

I did not put on my Fitbit this weekend, nor today and I do not intend to again (although I went swiming, hiking and mountain bike riding).  After some deep consideration I came to realize that this one feature was the ONLY reason I used a fit bit.  A step is a pretty minimal effort output but it was the idea that we could compete and challenge each other at the office. I've run Ironman and actively participate in other activities, so I've been seen as the office fitness advocate and I was helping others to 'get out there'.  Other products are way superior (Garmin) but it was the website that swayed us to Fitbit.  With this gone, so are we.

I have an almost new 'spare' one that I was going to use when this one died.  Now I'm selling it on ebay.  Not that I want to promote someone else to join the FitBit community, but rather to have it result in one less product sold by them. 

Oh and if anyone wants my current (very used) Fitbit, just msg me and if you cover cost, you can have it.

Caio  

[kehoops]

In mid June, Fitbit suddenly, and with no notice, shut down all of the Activity Groups.  In their infinite wisdom, they decided that the groups available on the app were far better and a superior offering for their customers.  Despite the pleas of many of those same customers to bring back the smaller, more intimate activity groups, Fitbit mgt has steadfastly refused.  This has been a very frustrating and maddening situation, as many relied on their groups for motivation and inspiration.  The newer groups have thousands and, in some instances, millions of members.  It is hard to stay motivated when 'competing' against that many people.  Yet Fitbit does not care.  Just read the comments coming from Fitbit on that communication thread.  

[tjhsmom]

Trying to not be off-topic.  I have been in a quarrel with the City I live in for a week over what essentially boils down to poor communication.  What I am hearing from them is "We are the City and You aren't."  The end.  We don't have to deliver services if we don't want, we don't have to answer your questions, and if you stand up for yourself, we are ending this conversation and no we will not schedule a meeting about this.  Does this sound familiar in 18 days of trying to communicate with Fitbit?  I have always hated having to talk to the poor customer service reps that have instructions on what they can and cannot say, I know it is not their fault.  But what I have learned over the many years I have been in my position is that in mediation, everyone walks away unhappy because no one got everything they want.  The City needs to recognize that all they have to do is communicate, I have already acquiesced to a large part (not particularly happy), in order to keep the constituents happy.  Fitbit needs to recognize that they need to communicate and make some accommodations, and the customers won't be completely satisfied but they may be more accepting.  It shouldn't be "We are Fitbit, You aren't."  The end.  

[kehoops]

I have to agree with the others @MatthewFitbit.  I have read every single post in this thread and I do not see where it is starting to go off topic.  Why would you close this thread?  We remain incensed that Fitbit either doesn't hear what we are saying or doesn't care.  The new 'experience'' is NOT better.  It is NOT motivating to compete against over a million other people.  We want the activity groups back.  So please know that if you close this thread, another one will be opened shortly thereafter.  Stifling our voices is not going to help this situation. Hearing our voices will.

[MatthewFitbit]

To clarify my earlier post - the off-topic content in this thread has been removed, so that we can have a focused conversation without branching into other topics.

Please understand that Fitbit's decision to keep web-based activity groups closed does not mean your feedback has not been heard by our team. Everything in this thread has been considered, but the Fitbit team stands by the closure of these groups. Since we've already discussed everything there is to say on this topic, I'll be closing this thread soon - I just wanted to give advance notice so that it wasn't a surprise.

[johnnypit]

@MatthewFitbit Good bye thanks for nothing.

[JBH59]

Now *that's* some comic relief - "advance notice so that it wasn't a
surprise". I think that's what I mentioned a couple of weeks ago when I
first commented on Fitbit disrespecting its users by suddenly eliminating
the Community Groups in the middle of the night.

[MatthewFitbit]

@JBH59 Exactly. Since I recognize that wasn't a good experience, I didn't want to repeat it here.

[ashwolve]

@MatthewFitbit Do you actually read your own posts before you submit them - you comment sounds really arrogant and condescending  - Fitbit needs to keep customers happy not alienate them

if there are comments that go off subject and you comment on them then it is pertinent that they remain so we can see what you deem off topic - this solves any confusion, have you even contemplated that those other comment may have had some link to this issue - because with the blind sided approach taken so far I very much doubt it

who are the Fitbit team - they work for us at the end of the day give us back what we want

yes the CEO had a great idea

yes he put together a team to implement his vision

sadly this is where Fitbits involvement of processes stops as without the customers to purchase the vision you have nothing - now please stop being a child about this and this is going to head office also and I will include every Fitbit email I can find - I have had enough of Fitbit knows best -you actually know nothing - you have gone from a secure site to one anyone can gather data from by connecting to the worse hacked sites every Google and Facebook, you continually tell us that what we say is wrong and if we are right you take it away from us anyway

As for advance notice the less you hear our feedback and take action (because with this response I really don't think anything has been considered ) you will lose customers and when they don't have enough money to pay anyone Fitbit will no longer exist - you have had a good run it was fun while it lasted - good luck in finding other employment when you go under (just some advance warning - it will happen)

and discussed?? - yet another definition that Fitbit is confused about so let me enlighten you that means meaningful 2 way conversation as to when, when, how and a possible solution that everyone can be happy with not us telling you what is wrong and you saying we don't care deal with it - as that is how it reads to us

Shocking , disgraceful, not very supportive,

over 500 comments on this page alone and you choose to ignore it - you are being discriminative against various demographics by not seeing the error in what you have done not only on the subject but on a multitude of others as well - you should be ashamed of yourselves

Wayne

[Phixy]

---

@MatthewFitbit wrote:

@JBH59 Exactly. Since I recognize that wasn't a good experience, I didn't want to repeat it here.

---

I realize you're not calling the shots, that you're just dealing with the fallout of some internal higher up that decided they had a great idea to save money, or the fallout from bad IT policies/staff.   That being said as someone whose moderated much larger forums than this, closing this thread will probably just spawn another thread.  You're better off leaving it open and just letting the complaining die out and funnel it into one thread, especially since there's bound to be a brand new wave come in since it's the beginning of the month.  Unless someone is instructing you to of course, then by all means do what's asked of you.

Anyways, let's get back on topic.  So we're not getting our fitbit activity groups back, whomever thought up this grandiose idea to close down activity groups is putting their foot down.  That's the result.

Is the functionality to view Monthly stats in a closed group coming?  All 3 stats as previously, with active minutes, steps, and distance?  If so, then a lot of the bad press/feeling coming out of this thread is likely to go away.  Sure, you're still going to have to deal with the fact that people who have communicated with community group friends in random groups for possibly years are unhappy because they literally just lost said friend and may have no way to contact them without notice, but let's assume for the sake of argument that the vast majority don't care and have people on their contact list somehow.  At least ensuring you have the same kind of stats available in the phone app will allow your company be able to retain the corporate groups who use these benchmarks for their challenges.  They just might grumble about the inconvenience of having to check it on their phone, but grumbling can be managed.

I'm not looking for a "It's coming next week", but if it's coming I can wait patiently and stop following this PR trainwreck that your company has going on here.  Whomever made this decision, which you as a moderator have to deal with, needs a right good talking to about something called a "Change Control Process".  It's funny how in large corps the people making the decisions generally never have to deal with the people they affect; it's how companies become disconnected from their client base.

Anywho, I'm done for now, I really only need an answer to my stats on the phone app question!  Unless you guys need ideas for a good change control process, then send me a PM. 🙂

[kehoops]

@MatthewFitbit , you wrote 'Since we've already discussed everything there is to say on this topic, I'll be closing this thread'

I disagree.  If everything has been said, why are we still getting multiple new posts per day on this thread, including from people new to this thread?  Maybe you have said all you want on this topic, but we the customers have NOT!  Does that even matter?  This issue is not resolved for us!

[Glencky]

@Phixy 

Exactly! This is what I have been saying since the start! No change management. It's just professionally painful to watch this happen. An update on the Fitbit debacle has become a standing item of interest in my daily team stand ups! The Product Owner I'm currently working with is horrified (as he smugly gestures to his rival device on his arm....)

It's also interesting just how many people on this thread do work in related roles. As I've said many times, I appreciate @MatthewFitbit  is in a difficult situation. It's the people who have made the decisions and are now leaving customers high and dry and Matthew on his own to face the fire I have no respect for. I have seen many errors in my change management career - mess ups and misjudgements some much bigger than this. But none handled this badly and none without somebody senior stepping up to lean into a resolution. 

It's clearly possible (though with worrying implications if true) that it really is difficult for Fitbit to row back this change even temporarily. This would mean the communities destroyed are gone for good. But they could mitigate some of the impact by at least ensuring the functionality missing from the apps is implemented as a priority. Yet nothing about even this. It's bizarre. 

[klamana-finn]

Yes, condescending.  "No you will not be allowed to discuss this further. I am warning you! I'm giving you advanced notice!" Wow.  Just wow. I'll tell you what Matthew, we won't shut up about this.  Nope, not at all. What Fitbit did and is still doing is horrendous, and we will not shut up even if we have to open another forum to discuss it! 

[SunsetRunner]

Lame approach, Fitbit. As they said in Shawshank Redemption, how "obtuse" on your part.

I'm going to keep posting my request to restore groups until my new Garmin arrives.

[RedondoWalker]

Matthew,

Just when I thought F-----'s treatment of their customers couldn't possibly get any more insensitive, you vomit out another little missive, essentially informing us that you're heard just about enough dissent from us, and you plan to close this thread to put a stop to it.

What color is the sky in your world?

Real companies (those that wish to remain profitable) take their customer satisfaction quite seriously.  F----- clearly does not.  Your actions speak even more volumes that your words.

Over the course of these past 13 days on this thread, loyal customers have begged and pleaded for you to restore what had great value to us, and cannot in many cases be replaced.  You have met those cries for help with an iron fist and a middle finger, while paradoxically stating that our voices are being heard.  You don't get to have it both ways.  If you truly were listening, you would have given us a chance to pick up the pieces.  Instead you repeat the same tired line; "F----- has no plan to restore..."

So, here we are, on the first day of a new month, with no way to see the cumulative numbers for the month of June.  I predict massive fallout once the companies reliant on their group leader boards log in to find your note directing them to the mobile app, because it is so much better.

Can't wait for the post-mortem on this.  It's not over yet.

[MatthewFitbit · Accepted solution]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm going to go ahead and close this thread now. Our goal here was to collect feedback around the closure of the web-based Activity Groups, and ensure that customer responses were heard. I believe we accomplished that goal, and I appreciate the rational, well-thought replies from many of you.

I understand that you may feel that your voice was not heard simply because the decision was not reversed. Hopefully it helps to hear that every post in this thread received individual attention and was included in internal reviews. I have heard that the lack of warning took many by surprise and didn't allow sufficient time to make arrangements elsewhere. I've also heard that the in-app groups don't offer the features you value most, or simply aren't what you're used to. I will make sure the larger team understands this sentiment so that we can provide the best experience possible for you in the future.

I encourage everyone to check out the in-app Community, as well as the Lifestyle Discussion boards on this forum. While not exactly the same as the Activity Groups, these are great places to make friends and find motivation toward your goals.

Thanks everyone for joining this discussion and providing your thoughts.

[Mom21]

What happened to my private group under Community?  The group we set up for our office challenge is no longer showing!

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Mom21 Welcome to the Fitbit Community Forums. Thanks for posting your inquiry here.

I've moved you post to this thread. You will find more details about what happened with Activity Groups. Thanks again for your interest in this topic.

As mentioned above, we encourage you to check out the in-app Community, as well as the Lifestyle Discussion boards on this forum. While not exactly the same as the Activity Groups, these are great places to make friends and find motivation toward your goals.

See you around.