And 5 years later there is still no decent response from fitbit. I know the mods have been on here over the years and talked about wear and tear and warranties, but the fundamental basics are that these items are not fit for purpose. I am on my 3rd Fitbit versa and my 5th overall fitbit now. Only one of those was my fault - I fell on to concrete and smashed the glass screen. The rest, my original fitbit HR+ strap bubbled and broke, the same happened to the second one (provided by fitbit customer service team). The first versa to die of its own accord did so less than a year after purchase in Jan 2019, customer service replaced it. That replacement, the screen has just died on it - it sort of glows and still vibrates when you hit random buttons but it's not working as a display anymore. The fitness tracking is still working - it synchs to my phone and I can see my activity there. Contacted customer services, lovely as ever, went through the resetting script - nothing on the versa screen. Conclusion it's f**ked, so they say they'll email me with my options - apparently it's out of warrantee, the replacement was sent out to me just under 2 years ago so it sounds like it lasted longer than most people on here's replacements did, though I didn't use it for most of the last year. I have been offered a discount on a new purchase.
Why would I buy another one? £130 (after discount) for the latest version on the off chance they've upped the technical quality and it lasts more than a couple of years? No. Now if they offered me lease of a brand new fitbit, £130 upfront for the 1st 24 months then with an option to renew to the latest model for another £130 in 2 years, yeah I would probably take it. Why? Because it would be fitbit being honest about the longevity of the product. They last 2 - 3 years at most with normal, careful use. Tech should not be disposable like this, I suspect my screen is totally repairable - as is the one which I smashed, but there are no options to do this.
Yes they do look prettier than the free Samsung Active that I got free with my Samsung phone earlier this year, and yes I MUCH prefer the fitbit app and the connection to my fitbit pals, but no I won't buy another one. I'll put up with the slightly chunky circular face of the Samsung and I'll put up with charging it more often. I won't put up with it failing and dying like a fitbit.
