How long did your Flex last before it died?

[RoboMofo]

I was wondering how long do fitbits last before they die, in terms of steps and length of ownership.

I currently own a Fitbit Flex for about 18 months and have logged over 5.5 Million steps. I'm on my 3rd band. I was thinking about upgrading to a charge HR since they have a $50 trade in promotion at the microsoft store. I like the automatic sleep function on the Charge HR, but don't like that you can't change the band.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity. 

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hi everyone! Good to see you in the Community Forums! 🙂

@CoffeeNell, thanks for your question. At the moment, the limited warranty remains as one year and two years for users in the European Union and we don't have any information on it being extended.

@ecowan, I'm sorry to hear that. At the moment, you're already out of warranty, so a replacement wouldn't be possible. Most likely, our team can offer a discount on the purchase of a new tracker. Is this something you might be interested in?

@MarkH1, unfortunately, if you're already out of warranty and our team has already offered a discount, I don't think there would be other options available.

If you guys have more questions, I'm here to help!

[CoffeeNell]

Wasn’t wondering about extending the warranty just extending the longevity of the device. Why aren’t FitBits built to last?

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[BR67]

What kind of discount does one receive?

[MarkH1]

25% off older products (not Fitbit Charge 3). When I complained they
offered me 40% on a very high end tracker...was going to cost me about $250
(after discount) to replace my 18 month old Charge 2 (which cost me
$150)...more than I was willing to spend on a tracker that likely wasn't
going to last more than 18 months. --

(Google Inbox)

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[lumpypotatoes]

I posted awhile back after my fitbit died under warranty and was
replaced with an apparently refurbed fitbit that died again exactly as
the year warranty expired. (Almost like it had a built-in end
date/time bomb...*taking tinfoil hat off now.*) If the device is
supposed to last a year, there is no reason to expect that a
replacement shouldn't last at least a year as well. As you can see
in this thread, that is clearly not the case. The replacement
generally last long enough to make it to the 1 year mark. Why?

Same thing happened with my wife's fitbit and replacement during
warranty period.

I'd vowed never to buy fitbit again, but decided to take a gamble on
the new model. This time, I paid $20 extra for 2 year insurance from
the store where I bought it. (A little bit of a scam since the fitbit
is under manufacturer's warranty first year anyway.)

New model: Band broke, fitbit replaced under warranty. Band broke
again and battery charge not holding...no longer under fitbit
warranty. Sent in to insurance and they mailed back a check for the
price of the fitbit.

I'm currently wearing a spare from my mother in law who's fitbit died
under warranty. I expect this one to to time bomb/die within 3 months
like most replacements. Then I will make the call on buying new one
with insurance or going with another brand.

Moral here: Don't buy fitbit anymore or buy insurance because these
devices are designed to fail. Unfortunately if everyone goes the
insurance route...it is just a matter of time until they start
charging higher rates for fitbit devices, since they don't last or
stop covering them completely.

[CoffeeNell]

Depends on who you talk to but my experience is 10-20% off a new FitBit.

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[FerdinandFitbit]

Thank you all for getting back!

Our team is always striving to use durable materials to build the Fitbit trackers, however, as with most electronics, daily usage and how a they are used has a big influence on how long they will last. To ensure that you will get the most out of your tracker, I can suggest checking the wear and care guide here and take these tips into consideration.

Now, when it comes to the discounts offered, I don't have much information on this. This is handled directly by our Support Team who is in charge to evaluate your current warranty status and offer the available alternatives in the moment which could be subject to change.

Any other question you may have, let me know!

[lumpypotatoes]

Thanks Mod. While I appreciate this response, the problem is not wear
and tear. The devices are just junk.

My first Charge had issues where the band bubbled up. After that
issue, I babied the heck out of my replacement provided under
warranty. It did not get near water. Despite being water resistant
and ok for showering, I never took it into the shower. Heck, I even
removed it from my wrist when washing dishes.

Same problem happened and battery just flat out died on my replacement
after 2 months.

Charge 2 was a better design and more water resistant. Since the
discount didn't apply to newer models, I forked out more money of my
own for the 2. I still kept it out of the shower, removed for
dishwashing, etc...

The first time the band broke, the screw could not be tightened
anymore where the clip attached to the band. It just kept spinning.
Because the clip was constantly loose, it would disconnect from the
fitbit. Fitbit replaced it. The replacement band cracked where it
clips onto the watch face. The battery also started to lose charging
capacity after just 1 year.

While I usually hit 10k steps, I am not what you would call a heavy
user of the device. I am a cube dweller during the day, so my fitbit
isn't bounced around a lot or subject to a job with more rigorous
conditions. The band failing twice for such light use is pretty bad.
The fact that there is no way to replace the battery when it starts to
fail also stinks.

My wife experienced the exact same issues with her Charge (twice) and
Charge 2. My mother in law with her Alta.

Either my family and the rest of the folks in this thread are the
unluckiest consumers ever or the product needs some serious work on
longevity.

Can anyone at fitbit answer why folks in the US aren't graced with 2
years of warranty like the EU? I'm assuming it is because our
consumer protections aren't as good. Even so, if fitbit stands by
their product for 2 years in the EU...why shouldn't your US customers
get the same consideration. Either the product is supposed to last
for 2 years or not. Clearly fitbit has made a decision here that they
can save money if they don't stand by their product.

[MarkH1]

I too am not what I would consider tough on my Fitbit Charge 2. Also
average about 10000 steps a day, but I am not a runner, just a walker. No
issues with the band...never broke or wore out.

Ferdinandfitbit...can you tell us the expected life of a Fitbit Charge 2
(or any other Fitbit trackers)? Seems like everyone on this thread has had
less than 2 years (many closer to 1 year) before their Fitbit craps out.
If I knew going in to only expect 18 months out of a $150 investment, I
would never have bought one. I plan on going the $30 tracker route this
time and if I only get 1yr I will still come out ahead.

Now I understand why Fitbit stock has dropped from $51 high in Aug 2015 to
$4.23 low this month. Customer service is important!

[YojanaFitbit]

Nice to see that you're digging into the Forums @MarkH1 and @lumpypotatoes. 

Sorry for the issues with your Fitbit. Thanks for the feedback, it's very important to us to have your thoughts in regards our product and your customer support interactions. Fitbit is always trying to provide great products and customer experience. Each scenario is different, but I think that you can use the option available according to your warranty information, as it was mentioned by our support team. 

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 know that we provide feedback to our team based on community posts and we are always working on improving our devices and overall environment based on what you share here.

Thank  you for your understanding.

[MohanNadimpalli]

My Flex recently died after tracking my steps for more than 4 years.

Looking for an upgrade but unable to decide.

[DramaQueenDiva]

Flex 1: September 2015-May 2016

Alta HR: May 2016-Present

Ionic: October 2017-Present

Versa: June 2018-Present

Charge 3: October 2018-Present

[MarkH1]

Congratulations...sounds like you were one of the lucky ones.

Moderator edit: personal info removed

[YojanaFitbit]

Thanks for sharing your input @MarkH1, @RoboMofo and @DramaQueenDiva.

Thanks for your feedback. Be sure to support the idea I mentioned above, it is a great way to make your voice heard. 

Let me know if you have any further question

[BWRider360]

My second Surge has just passed away, each one lasted 18 months, I like the idea of a Fitbit tracking device, but I would expect something like this to last at least 3 years, and should be warranteed for 2 years. 

[Jay1919]

Totally agree, shelling out a $150' bucks every 18 months is a bit much.

--
~Jay

[CoffeeNell]

With all the comments you would think FitBit would respond to this issue but when they do it’s about discounts and buying new ones at a discount. Not once has a moderator said this is an issue they are working on. Lame

Elizabeth N.

Moderator edit: Removed personal information.

[Betina]

I agree. Mine barely make 6 months to a year. Subpar equipment and poor customer service. They should replace them for free instead of offering a discount on a new one. Im very dissatisfied with this company.:(Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

[CoffeeNell]

I couldn’t agree more. I have supported Fitbit almost from their beginning and they have no idea what keeps customers for the long term.

Get Outlook for iOS

[Betina]

Exactly. They tend to delete my responses to other unhappy customers. Try fixing the problem instead of silencing a three time customer. I've given them the opportunity to make it right, but they refuse. I could be a happy customer if they would replace the shoddy equipment, but they expect me to buy a FOURTH Fitbit?!?  Its very sad that a loyal customer gets repeatedly shafted.:(Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device