Is Fitbit Ionic Waterproof?

[malakai]

Have to say I have had an Ionic for precisely 3 weeks - waterproof....went for a swim in the sea for a couple of hours and then it stopped working - not waterproof then.

I spoke to support and went through all the reset options, even sending them a video to show what I was doing......no good - please return and we will send you a new one.

They received it last Friday, they have confirmed they have received it and yet they cannot send me another until their warehouse confirms receipt.....up to 5 days.....but they confirmed they have received it!

So in short 2nd new fitbit returned to them.....100% failure rate then and awful customer services - which I had stayed with Garmin

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject for Clarity

[Rich_Laue]

Unlike the competition, Fitbit doesn't fix the watch and then charge 75-80% for the repair. 

Basically it works out to cost the same as a repair but the user ends up with a new device. 

[Oso8680]

I find it hilarious that this watch has a "swim" mode under the Exercise app (Auto installed) and here we are with numerous people explaining their negative experiences while having their watch at minimal water depths. FB might want to look into that!

[BioPatches]

This answered all my questions 

[Rich_Laue]

@Oso8680 while the tracker has a water resistant rating of 50 meters under perfectly still water with a very, very, slow descent. In reality at best, according to the specifications for a 5atm rating, your tracker is good for only shallow swimming with no driving into water or hot tubs with their jets. Or wearing in showers. Since the screen is glued on, I would worry about hot water. 

Here is a 2 page document for the normal user. 

It could be that people are bringing it apon themselves by treating water resistant as water proof (there is no leagel definition, the title of this thread is incorrect), I see many posts of I wear in shower, dive, and hot tub. 

[DaveLanky]

My ionic was fine in the shower and pool but the moment it hit salt water it died, obvious condensation inside the unit. I tried to dry it out by leaving it in my hotpress, but when it had dried out it lasted one day, then stopped charging all together. 

The fitbit help was fine, obviously asking a list of questions from a template, and finally they caved in and are sending out a replacement.

My main issue is this... Its obviously a very popular company, with much used products, but they say they don't have anywhere to repair faulty units? Faulty units are just recycled. Bizarre 

[Stace1234]

Who do I contact because I am having the same issue?  thank you! 

[PaulMe]

@DaveLanky

They not designed for repair. No screws etc. Cheaper to throw away (hopefully recycled appropriately?). It's simply not cost effective to repair them, and would cost more to design them for repair ability.

[Rich_Laue]

@Stace1234 the contact link is in the top right slide out menu. Can also be found by following the below help link or the link to help in the Fitbit app.

Yes @PaulMe while some companies do service their devices with an enormous charge (or refuse to change a $10 power Jack in a phone that a 13 year old can do in less than 30 minutes) fitbit decides to give discounts. 

[Tara_B]

My first Ionic was great during swimming...until this summer. Ionic was 2.5 years old. Went swimming, and it blinked out and never came back on. 

Bought a new Ionic on Friday. Went swimming on Monday and....same thing. Totally quit! Thankfully my replacement is on its way. HOWEVER, I am terrified to get the new one near water. 😭

[Tara_B]

My 2nd Ionic was bought on a Friday, and on the following Monday I laid on a pool float in a 4ft deep pool. No actually "swimming" and it died. Just like my Ionic before that (but it was 2.5 years old)