Charge 3 not working properly

[Stace-case]

So I had a Charge 2 and LOVED it! Then it broke. Fitbit offered a replacement but life got in the way and I never ordered it 🙁 then I got a Flex 2 and hate it. It was less expensive & waterproof and I thought that I would use it the same way. #untrue

it doesn’t have any screen so there is NO feedback unless you open up the app. There are some lights but who knows that they mean and it buzzes sometimes - again, who knows that the buzzes mean. 

All that being said - when I saw the Charge 3 was waterproof I thought I would ask Santa (aka husband) to get this for me... then I started reading the reviews #yikes! 

It looks like they are fixing problems slowly and my question is - is this a product worth getting, they way it isn’t now - not the “potential “ it could have if everything is fixed?

FYI - I have an Apple 6 phone.

 Thanks!  ~ Stacy

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[jayhalsey]

And twice the price.

[Kay001]

160 euros for nothing is infinitely more expensive than 270 euros for a beautiful piece of technology.

[jayhalsey]

So sorry.  $120 vs $230 according to Amazon, I was off by $10.  So something that works for the vast majority of users for $5 more than half the price.  

[Kay001]

I made my point. Enjoy your 120$ piece of plastic while I enjoy my actually functional smartwatch.

Shill.

[jayhalsey]

Maybe in your mind you did.  That a smartwatch that costs almost twice as much as an activity tracker is somehow "better" isn't that much of a leap to make. You spend twice as much on something, you do need to justify that somehow.  The point you seem to have missed is that there are many, many people that are able to work the Charge 3 as intended.  For them, they would rather have the same fitness functionality as you do with your galaxy, with half the cost.  And they do.  So bravo for proving your point that you spent almost twice as much money because you couldn't get your Charge 3 to work.

[NewbisFB]

---

@jayhalsey wrote:

Maybe in your mind you did.  That a smartwatch that costs almost twice as much as an activity tracker is somehow "better" isn't that much of a leap to make. You spend twice as much on something, you do need to justify that somehow.  The point you seem to have missed is that there are many, many people that are able to work the Charge 3 as intended.  For them, they would rather have the same fitness functionality as you do with your galaxy, with half the cost.  And they do.  So bravo for proving your point that you spent almost twice as much money because you couldn't get your Charge 3 to work.

---

Everyone I cross-checked regarding if their Charge 3 was really not counting false steps, were either unaware by cross-checking with an accurate device, not wearing it 24/7, or not ever doing anything with their arm unless they're walking. 

So I was actually unable to verify that anyone really has one that is accurate and does NOT count silly amounts of false steps. 

I think he was just relieved to have easily found a device that was accurate. He could just as easily bought a non brand tracker for $20 that would be far more accurate at step tracking than Charge 3

[jayhalsey]

Ahh yes.  That anecdotal evidence.  Means absolutely nothing when everyone I have checked with in real life that owns a charge 3 is more than happy with the performance, and finds them to be just as accurate as other step tracking devices.  

The only people that I have interacted with that have had problems with the units are on this board, and a very small portion of total users.  

That's fine that the other user is happy with his double price device.  I'm fine with paying half the price and having a device that I know is just as accurate.

[Kay001]

A Galaxy Watch does much much more than step tracking, it does everything a smartphone does, right on your wrist. I can make calls with it, access my google calendar, use it as a GPS, watch videos, browse the internet. It is well worth the price. 270$ is completely justified, I'd have paid more too had I known in advance how awesome it is. 

I did not "not get my charge to work" you dolt. It didn't work all on it's own. I owned a charge 2, I know how they work, it's not exactly difficult eh. Unless you're a dusty old grandpa perhaps. Are you? In any case, I think you're just reaching for stuff to continue arguing. I was joking about the shill thing before but now I'm not so sure. 

Finally anyone with Google and a keyboard can find the gazillions of threads about Charge 3 problems. Galaxy Watch: considerably less threads 😉

[jayhalsey]

Sigh.  Resorting to name calling.  Sure sign of a weak argument, as if we didn't already know you had a weak argument.

I am aware that your galaxy can do more than the Charge 3.  I don't care about any of that.  This is a forum for Fitbits, so all that I am concerned with is the fitness tracking aspects.  As far as I know, it doesn't do anything fitness related that the fitbit can't do.  Of course something that does more is going to cost more.  In this case almost twice as much.  For someone that is only interested in what a Charge 3 can do, spending twice as much, for the same functionality is stupid.

You said yourself that you couldn't get your charge 3 to work.  You do strike me as someone that is less than tech savvy, so it came as no surprise that you weren't able to figure it out.  Did you even try contacting Fitbit or sending it in for a warranty exchange before you spent twice as much for the Galaxy watch?  

A simple google search yields 110 million results for "galaxy watch issues".  But for someone as non tech savvy as yourself, I'm sure that is less than the "gazillions" of threads of people with Charge 3 issues.

[Kay001]

Haha shill is mad now. Good. 

... Why do I even have this Fitbit account...? Deleting now so won't see your reply...I guess that means I get the l last word. That pleases me.

Toodeloo shill dolt 🙂

[jayhalsey]

Don't have a leg to stand on so double down on the personal insults.  Check.  

Poster is mad, and calls the person they are replying to mad.  Check.

Threatens to delete your account.  Check.

That's the checklist for a troll.

Judging by how you couldn't figure out how to work a Charge 3, I would be very surprised that you were actually able to figure out how to delete your account.  Suppose you could ask your grand kids to help you though.  

[Lis49dec]

I went thru 2 of them. But this one is working great... So glad I didn’t give up on this one…I love this !! Thanks for all the responses. Appreciate them..

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

[Harthelthylivin]

When I first received the charge 3 I was plagued with many issues. All
seemed Bluetooth related. After upgrading my device I have not had a single
issue. The Charge 3 is just not compatible to all devices.

[NewbisFB]

---

@jayhalsey wrote:

Ahh yes.  That anecdotal evidence.  Means absolutely nothing when everyone I have checked with in real life that owns a charge 3 is more than happy with the performance, and finds them to be just as accurate as other step tracking devices.  

The only people that I have interacted with that have had problems with the units are on this board, and a very small portion of total users.  

That's fine that the other user is happy with his double price device.  I'm fine with paying half the price and having a device that I know is just as accurate.

---

Did they crosscheck with something accurate, after wearing both 24/7 for a few weeks? 

Do they move their arms or drive?  (joke) 

No problems, you sound like someone is insulting your mum. It's just a fitness tracker but I guess brand advocates feel emotional about their beloved possessions. If you and everyone you know find the Charge 3 to be accurate and a great device that's awesome. You should start up a positive thread for it as 6 months here and all I see is masses of serious issues. 

Glad you love it and it's working perfectly for you. 

[jayhalsey]

How else would they know that the charge 3 was accurate if they haven’t checked it against another step counting device?  Aside from minor variances due to the different devices they were all accurate and continue to be. Yes they move their arms and drive and the appropriate steps are counted by their charge 3s. 

Im sorry that you apparently got a bad unit and are unwilling to accept the fact that there are many people out there that got good units that they are happy with. I’m not a “brand advocate” but I also don’t pile on negatively when it is unwarranted. 

Are you new to the internet or product forums? You using the fact that there are overwhelmingly negative threads on a manufacturers product forum sure seems to indicate so as that is what these types of forums are for. 

[Wrightie]

Can't set up my new charge 3, tried everything.  About throw it out if the window!!

[SunsetRunner]

I had a charge HR, which got 2 replacement within a year. The replacement couldn't even last for 6 months. They weren't suitable as there isn't one with waterproof function with a screen.

Then came the Fitbit charge 3 which I thought was a game changer for me. I bought it 8, but guess what? It broke withertical lines started appearing and the touch sensitivity went haywire. Couldn't even select anything. It was used normally, swam less than 5 times in it in a normal pool. Shower of less than 10 mins and no bubble bath tub soaking.

Replacement came in August last year, but guess what.... Horizontal lines are affecting the display. You don't notice them unless the entire screen is showing an image, for example, when the battery is being charged. The replacement also had several problems on arrival. 1) I couldn't use the Fitbit pay functionality (had to restart the entire Fitbit, cancel the payment cards and redo the whole process. It worked again so didn't think it was a problem). 2) I was clocking 4min/km for my runs, which is medal winning form, and I am not that fit. I tested it with my phone, and it was wayyy off the charts. Phone showing 7min/km while Fitbit is 4min/km. I could still live with this inaccuracy but the line was drawn when horizontal lines appeared. 

Reached out to Fitbit again to get a replacement of the replacement but was rejected due to the end of warranty. I felt this replacement sent was a faulty unit that was repaired but wasn't tested thoroughly. I got a lemon I believe. There isn't any warranty for the replacement unit. So I could be sent a rubbish unit and that's too bad for me. Waterproofing is crap for the charge 3. 

Conclusion : I'll swear off Fitbit for life. Buy it at your own risk, you have been warned. 

[SunsetRunner]

Did I also mention the all day sync hasn't been working for a while now? Fitbit is not doing anything about it either. Or I really did get a lemon piece and they will not honor a replacement.