Ionic counting steps on Challenges

[Arynna33]

I checked the forums on this and found others to find the same thing and that they received non-typical fitbit support on the report.  This disappoints me.  1) this is a higher, much more expensive model.  2) all my previous models tracked just fine when pocketed. 3) I pocket it BECAUSE I want it to track my steps when pushing a stoller or grocery cart, or because I don't want to get "steps" because I'm conducting. If the total tally feels and counts the steps ,why don't they go to the graph and challenge totals as well?  Is it because the heart rate isn't detected?  The Charge 2 doesn't have this "feature"/Challenge. I really hope that the true Fitbit type customer service and responses can come back, and this is fixed.  It really should be an easy fix given the device IS tracking the steps. It's not the end of the world that I lost out on 900 steps in an ongoing challenge, but when I pay $300 for a device, I expect it to work BETTER than the $150 device.  

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[jowanale]

All steps are on my dashboard... just the total is wrong in the challenges that I join! No problem if I start the challenge myself. Or hit rematch- I just have to be quick at the end of the weekly workweek hustle. 

[SkeletorMom]

Glad I’m not the only one who noticed if I start a challenge myself it’s ok🤣

Sent from my iPhone

[j0f0st3r]

This is ridiculous that they still can't fix this. Did a run and realised the heart rate hadn't been picked up. So none of those steps counted. Was on my wrist and everything but no heart rate detection meant no steps added to the challenge! Useless. 

Come on Fitbit you are better than this. Surely coding wise it's a case of removing the bit that says only count steps with a heart beat detected!!

[SkeletorMom]

I have the Versa and that happened to me the other day! On my wrist and everything but didn’t detect the HR so I lost 3k steps in a challenge 😡

[AdriAlv]

Fitbit is getting worse and worse, they totally lost their "startup" mentality and their focus on customer's feedback that they had originally. This issue is easy to review and they've been ignoring it for years. I've personally "fixed" my issue by moving the device to my underwear, just over the leg, but that works for me specifically because I'm using a treadmill...it can't be applied to everyone that's seeing this behavior.

Seriously, once this Fitbit device I have breaks I'll have a serious look at alternatives. After this thread and after how they're dealing with the feedback provided in a couple of scenarios (this one and another one about that dreadful new dashboard they pushed on us)...I don't trust this brand anymore.

PS: I'm also voting them with 0 stars in the store every time their app is updated. You know, it's silly but if they start annoying enough people those votes might actually give a small hit to their reputation.

[Dackerm]

I've had the same syncing issues ever since I got my iconic.  I thought it was because I switched to an android phone.  It makes since that I've been walking on a treadmill and pocketing my fitbit so I've been loosing  6K+ steps a day in my challenges.  There are many better options out there, I stay with the fitbit because of the challenges (i.e. fitbit community).  You think they would want to ensure there most important feature works correctly!

[j0f0st3r]

It is frustrating some of the features they seem to be ruining. They seem to be more focused on making it pretty rather than functional. Out of interest why don't you wear your fitbit on the treadmill? I select the Treadmill exercise and log it like I would an outdoor run. At least then it would include your steps in the challenge. 

[j0f0st3r]

This bug has now been open for over 12 months? What kind of turn around is Fitbit operating? It is extremely frustrating that Fitbit isn't addressing bugs that should be very simple fixes but instead just focusing on selling pretty watches that are no longer functional

[j0f0st3r]

I have also contacted support who say they are looking into it, which they have been saying now for 12 months.

I have posted another post in the Forum to see if people have any opinions on if Garmin treat their customers any better. After 5 years with Fitbit I feel they no longer seem to care about bug fixing. This is a simple fix, they obviously feel pretty watch strapss are more important than making sure the watch works.

Garmin is cheaper too and have introduced challenges. 

[AdriAlv]

Hey @j0f0st3r , I basically work from a treadmill but I need to keep my
hands on a pretty static position (there’s movement but not much since I’m
using a keyboard, mouse, etc) and this Ionic thing keeps on losing steps.
My previous Fitbit wasn’t losing that many, even if the hands were on a
quite fixed position it was counting them okay even with the minimum
movements I was doing on my hands...but the Ionic isn’t. That’s how I found
this issue that Fitbit keeps ignoring.

And yeah, I totally agree. They’re “beautifying” things that weren’t bad
instead of fixing stuff that’s broken. That new dashboard, for example, is
hideous and with poor usability than the new one. Not cool at all.

[j0f0st3r]

Impressed with working from your treadmill. The Ionic definitely seems to monitor things and behave differently from other watches. I have a Charge 2 and often have to switch to use that as it seems more responsive and accurate compared to the Ionic but wanted a watch with GPS built in. Starting my research into the Garmins I think now. Don't feel they are focused on sports people at fitbit.

[jowanale]

Well it just keeps on happening, steps on Fitbit and app are the same but all my challenges are  way down by 6000. 
I have bought a Garmin Fenix 5s which works perfectly. Only problem is the graphics are a bit dull and it sounds like my kids tamagotchi toy- but small price to pay for something that is so precise! 

[stepperstepper]

I just figured out that this is what's happening to me. If the heart rate isn't detected (whether it's on my wrist or not), the step graph/challenge total does not update. Come on, Fitbit! This has been going on for *years*. It should be a simple, quick coding fix, and they're just ignoring everyone with the issue. 

[Arynna33]

My ionic hit the garbage months ago. Lol. 

Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android

[Sue2995]

Bug been going for years now. Still haven’t fixed it yet 

[funfirefire]

I first posted about this in 2018, and Fitbit had remained silent over this issue.

I was recently on the market for a replacement for my Ionic, and have now gotten an Apple Watch.

While this issue wasn’t the only issue, the service and bugs associated with this device  and the fitbit app have convinced me to move on from this ecosystem.