Charge 3 bricked since update

[mattysev]

Since I updated my charge 3 it has completely devolved.  It started with a dim screen, lines on the screen, and not tracking sleep anymore.  It then would not hold a charge.  It is now bricked.  I am have been a loyal fitbit customer for many years but I am really frustrated.  Please let me know how to fix this.  If I need to buy another device I will be going with another company.  

[BayAreaBruin]

@mattysev I will save you the trouble: If your tracker is in warranty, they will replace it. It it's out of warranty, they will offer you a discount to purchase a new one. I am one of thousands of people whose Charge 3 bricked with a FW update in early August. Fitbit will not acknowledge this has happened and is only taking care of products in warranty. Like you, I refuse to buy another product from a company that will not acknowledge fault and take care of their loyal customers. Charge 3 is my third tracker, which I purchased after my second tracker died just outside of warranty. I will not be doing that again. 

In addition to not acknowledging the issue, and not taking care of their loyal customers, they are inconsistently helping some and not others. You will find among these threads that some people are receiving replacements outside of warranty. I have not been so lucky; so far every CSR I have communicated with holds firm to no acknowledgment of the issue and only offers a discount on a new one. Would like to learn the secret to getting the CSR who knows how to take care of their loyal customers!

[Anndg04]

After I updated my charge 3 , the screen is not functioning ,I cannot reboot at all.  It however does charge, vibrates and synchronizes . Bought my charge January 2019. Please assist.

[Heatherdmiller]

Same. Did the latest update and now not working. Cannot sync. Have done hard restart etc.  Wondering if it was a forced destroy since the warranty is up......

[BayAreaBruin]

@Heatherdmiller that would indeed be sinister!

[Anndg04]

So what is fitbit going to do about this problem, who can solve this ? My
charge 3 was working 100% till the update was done. Will I have to buy one
every 1,5 year ? Can customer service refer me to someone that can help me?

[Anndg04]

I hope so too! I am in South Africa and nobody seems to be able to help us
😞

[Tobergel4]

Mine too. I love the device but really disappointed with this. 

[Heatherdmiller]

Got mine to sync and mostly work by telling the app I had a new tracker. Worth a try 

[Tobergel4]

Thank you. Tried but nothing other than vibrate no screen or connection

Sent from my iPhone

[RobCM]

Same has happened to me 100,% They claim they can't do any about it.

[dmok9874]

After I installed the update, the screen went blinky and was backwards.

[Vittal1217]

Fitbit Customer care responded that my Device is out of warranty.!

I just followed the instructions provided by the fitbit app and upgraded to the latest firmware version. I did not throw the tracker under the bus or smash it with a hammer.

The damage is not due to usage rather due to faulty patch provided by fitbit Charge 3 firmware team. Why should I be held responsible and pay for the mess created by the SW development team? I think, fitbit should take complete responsibility for this mess and clean it before it loses its customers!!

Pls provide a better solution to my concern than these automated responses.

[LittleRee6]

My Charge 3 bricked last night. This is my 3rd Fitbit that has bricked. I've only had this device for ~15 months. The previous devices last less than 12 months each.

I was disheartened this morning when I logged on to fitbit this morning to see they've launch a new line of devices. It's obviously planned obsolescence.

I have a life insurance contact that allows me to get a Garmin so I'm leaving the fitbit 'family' for good.

[Bakerman879]

Same here. This is my fourth (and last) Fitbit. I applied the update and like everyone else my charge 3 bricked. 

[LittleRee6]

I saw this and I had such high hopes. I worked for about a day then it went back to flickering and vibrating all the time.

[BayAreaBruin]

I have tried multiple approaches to get Fitbit to acknowledge this is a widespread problem. I asked what it would take for them to look into this as a widespread problem and they ignore my requests and continue to say they are managing it on an individual level. I agree with @LittleRee6 and others that this seems to be their approach to product upgrades. Well, I hope it backfires. Poor product quality + poor customer experience = lost customers. That was my last Fitbit -- I'm going to Apple. 

[robman501a]

@BayAreaBruin My issue is that my Charge 3 won't take the update. Fitbit Support says it's because my phone isn't on the compatible devices list so that's why it fails on the update. Well, in that case, I feel blessed that it won't work considering the update is bricking everyone's devices! Heck, I love my Charge 3 and before I was aware of this problem with the firmware, I was considering getting another Fitbit product, but now my feelings are starting to change and I'm slowly being pushed away from the Fitbit products because of what I am reading. I've tried to get support to admit they screwed up but they keep trying to pin the fault on the user and won't admit it is their fault. Maybe I'll start saving up for the Apple fitness trackers but I think they are only limited to the iPhone's, which are also crazy expensive.

[NotCedric]

Same here!